Master of Comparative Social Work

Objective
The objective of this Master Programme in Comparative Social Work is to develop students' ability to analyse social work practices through a comparative approach to welfare provision in different societies, emphasising the contextual and relational nature of social work.

Course Content and Organisation

Name of course/modules/seminars	Course Category *	Credits	Terms
Comparative welfare policy	C	10	Autumn
Social work in different contexts	C	10	Autumn
Comparative methodology and research design	C/F	10	Autumn
Research seminar	R	-	Autumn & Spring
Thesis	C	30	Spring

(*Compulsory courses=c, Elective/Supplementary courses=E/S, Individual courses/Research seminar=I/R, Fieldwork=F, Other=O)

The course will be taught in English and all curriculum literature will be in English. Different models of welfare regimes and their political and ethical foundation will be compared. The master will also focus on the interaction between global economic and ideological trends, and national governance of the welfare services and the welfare state. The social workers’ different mandates and their role in implementing social policy will also be dealt with. The courses will study how social work in different countries is legitimised and compare how different countries comprehend and treat social problems, ethical issues, human rights, the relationship between social work and other welfare professions, voluntary and political work.

Students are advised to base their master thesis on empirical research, preferably in their own country, but with a comparative perspective. This may entail a comparison between two cases at any level, whether between welfare system or different approaches to a specific social problem in one country. Students may choose to focus on one empirical case, but the analysis must still contain a comparative approach. Course content may be subject to revision.

Duration
The programme lasts one year, starting in mid-June 2005 and ending in mid-June 2006.  Students are recommended to perform one-month of fieldwork in their home country from mid-November until mid-December. There is a Christmas break from mid-December until the beginning of January.

Admission
Students must hold a three-year bachelor degree (or equivalent) in social work, sociology or other social sciences.

Course Curriculum
Social Work in Different Contexts (10 ECTS)
The goal of the course is to enable participants to increase their understanding of:

• The dynamic interaction between social problems, social work, and social policy.
• How communities in different socio-economic, cultural and political contexts respond to different types of problems. The use of concepts such as ‘human rights’ as a part of the foundation of values in social work, and how such concepts are applied in different contexts.
• The use of professional social work skills in different contexts.
• The validation of different forms of professional practice and an exploration of personal practice orientations.

To meet these objectives the course will explore:

• The professional values held by participants and how these values relate to social work in different contexts.
• Work with vulnerable groups through the use of consciousness-raising activity.
• The narratives we use to describe others and ourselves.

Comparative Welfare Policy  (10 ECTS)
The aim of this unit is to build competence in the critical analysis of welfare systems, its institutions and delivery services through a global and comparative focus.  The course examines:

• Different welfare systems
• The impact of marked thinking on welfare policy in a global perspective
• Social capital and civil society
• Struggles for citizenship
• Gender perspective, power and political mobilization to make private trouble into public issues
• Provider and receiver; implications of cultural differences and power relations
• Different models of welfare policies and their ethical and religious foundations
• The mixture of welfare services provided within the market, the civil society and the state
• Aspects of welfare in the students’ various countries of origin

Comparative Methodology and Research Design (10 ECTS)
The course aims to develop competence in comparative research through exploring a range of comparative designs and analyses. It is mainly an introduction to comparative methodology, as it is practised in social sciences. However, it contrasts the logic of comparative analysis with the logic of variable oriented analysis.  The course examines:

• Introduction to comparative research
• A review of comparative studies
• Qualitative and quantitative methods in comparative research
• Variable oriented and case oriented research design
• Case studies
• How to plan and carry out field study
• How to prepare and write master thesis.

Thesis and Examination
The programme consists of the last two semesters of a master programme in Comparative social work, 60 ETC and a total of 120 ETC for the whole two year master programme.

The exam form will consist of four parts:

· A school-exam in comparative welfare policy
· A research essay in social work in different contexts.
· A method and research design exam
· A master thesis, chosen by the student in close cooperation with the supervisor. The length of the thesis ought to be between 50 & 70 pages.

The grades are A, B, C, D, E and F (failure).

Research and study support
Students will be under the close supervision of the programme coordinators. Students will be linked to ongoing research projects in cases where these are relevant. Contact with institutions in the student’s home country will be encouraged. 

Academic Coordinator and Contact Person
Assistant Professor Carina Fjelldal
Email: carina.fjelldal@hibo.no
 
Responsible Faculty
Professor Johans Sandvin and Associate Professor Siv Oltedal
Email: johans.sandvin@hibo.no   siv.oltedal@hibo.no