Bachelor's Degree Programme in Social Services
Key learning outcomes
A Bachelor of Social Services who has graduated from JAMK University of Applied Sciences undertakes to abide by the principles of professional ethics of the social services sector and promote the equality of citizens, justice and social security. They understand societal and ecosocial phenomena and their effects on the well-being of individuals, groups and communities. They are familiar with healthcare and social services, early childhood education services, the social security system and the legislation governing it, and the curricula. In their client and service guidance, a Bachelor of Social Services is capable of using, assessing and documenting evidence-based working methods, tools for digital interaction and methods that promote well-being and learning. They support, guide and strengthen the participation and activeness of different kinds of clients, families and communities in their daily lives, social relationships and changing life situations. Good interaction and dialogue skills and listening to and respecting the client are the strengths of a Bachelor of Social Services in encountering the client.
In the fields of adult social work, the Bachelor of Social Services is an expert in social and service guidance and social rehabilitation. As a Bachelor of Social Services in early childhood education, they serve as the counsellor of children's growth, development and learning and support the well-being and parenthood of families. A Bachelor of Social Services is able to develop and study the work in, and services and practices of, the social sector and take into account the changes that occur in them. The Degree Programme in Social Services provides them with the capabilities for entrepreneurship, and local and team management.
Education content and professional growth and know-how
The content of the Degree Programme in Social Services is based on human rights, social sustainability, support for the everyday lives of communities, individuals and families, social security and social services, and client encounters, networks, interaction and guidance. With these contents and the student’s own choices, the student’s competence focuses on social guidance or the work of a Bachelor of Social Services specialised in early childhood education.
The competence and professional identity of a Bachelor of Social Services will begin to form during the first year of study while pursuing common studies in health care and social services, studies that promote the student’s transferable skills, and the basics of work in the social sector. The professional core competence of a Bachelor of Social Services is based on ethics, human rights and equality, knowledge of social services and legislation, and competence in client work. The studies address comprehensively the practice of social guidance and the work, operating environments and networks of a Bachelor of Social Services specialised in early childhood education from the points of view of the individual, community and society.
The promotion of the citizens’ opportunities for inclusion and participation, the justification for the client’s interest, and the societal development and influence skills will develop along with the progress of the studies. After graduation, a Bachelor of Social Services is capable of working as an expert in the social services sector in multiprofessional and multidisciplinary cooperation.
Flexible studies
The studies in the Degree Programme in Social Services are implemented as part-time studies using flexible pedagogical solutions to enable learning and competence. Forms of teaching include classroom lectures, discussions and guidance, online guidance, group and team assignments and theme weeks, online studies, independent information seeking and reflection, and practical training that promotes professional skills in working life. Students may speed up their studies by demonstrating their competence that meets the objectives of the study module or course and the assessment criteria in accordance with the accreditation practices. Students may acquire complementary competence in accordance with their personal learning plan from EduFutura partner universities and by making use of the CampusOnline online course offering.
Higher level studies completed elsewhere may be accredited as part of your degree. The student must have a certificate or some other document to prove that they have completed the studies. Skills acquired elsewhere can also be described and demonstrated to enable accreditation. Further information is available in the Study Guide.
Working life oriented learning
In the Degree Programme in Social Services, the student will learn how to apply research knowledge and work in the social services sector in practical training to promote professional skills and in development assignments. The degree includes 45 credits’ worth of practical training completed in the operating environments of the social services sector.
Working life oriented learning is included in bachelor’s degree courses throughout the studies. These include practical training to promote professional skills, the thesis and various working life projects. At JAMK University of Applied Sciences, the operating model for working life oriented and student-driven learning is called JAMK Future Factory®. It combines working life operators, students, JAMK experts and working life oriented LAB environments and other learning environments. In addition to multidisciplinary and working life oriented project studies, it offers students a chance to develop their future working life skills, career paths and networks.
Studification is also among the options offered by working life oriented learning. It refers to combining work, project work, Future Factory activities, etc. with studies. Studification involves students drafting a studification plan and documenting it in the manner agreed with the teacher. Further information is available in the Study Guide.
Career opportunities and employment
Bachelors of Social Services are mainly employed in specialist positions in municipalities, the private sector in the field of social services as well as organisations, most often in various counselling and educational positions as well as managerial and supervisory positions in service units. Students who have graduated with a Bachelor of Social Services degree are employed as e.g. Bachelors of Social Services in early childhood education, social counsellors, counsellors and counsellors-in-charge, services counsellors, school social workers and managers of organisations.
Qualifications
The occupational title of sosionomi, a Bachelor of Social Services who is a social services professional, can only be used and the profession practised by a graduated licensed Bachelor of Social Services. The professional qualifications for a Bachelor of Social Services are regulated by law in the Act on Social Welfare Professionals (Laki sosiaalihuollon ammattihenkilöistä, 817/2015) and monitored by Regional State Administrative Agencies and Valvira (National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health).
For the position of a Bachelor of Social Services in early childhood education, a Bachelor of Social Services must have completed at least 60 credits’ worth of studies in early childhood education and social pedagogy.
Further studies
Students may, after graduation and a working career of at least two years, apply for studies leading up to a master’s degree. Studies can also be continued by applying for a university master’s degree programme or similar programmes as well as professional teacher education. After a bachelor’s degree from a university of applied sciences, it is also possible to continue studies at higher education institutes abroad on master’s degree level programmes. A university of applied sciences also provides opportunities for continuing education in the form of specialisation studies, open studies, an online study portal (CampusOnline) and working life based continuing education.
A student who completes a master’s degree at a university of applied sciences may apply to continue on to postgraduate studies in science or arts at universities (Act 558/2009, Section 37).
Education planning
The mappings of the future working life and education, such as the surveys of reform needs conducted by the Government (2018) and the Ministry of Education and Culture (2019), have been taken into account in the preparation of the curriculum of a Bachelor of Social Services. Furthermore, the results of the Periodic Evaluation of Degree-Awarding Education (2018) and the views of the stakeholders that participated in it (the university, working life representatives, students) have been taken into account.
Contact Information
Merja Nybacka
Senior Lecturer, Rehabilitation and Social Studies
+358401841498
firstname.lastname@jamk.fi
Bachelor's Degree Programme in Social Services
Timing plans by study path
Bachelor's Degree Programme in Social Services
Timing plans by study path
Bachelor's Degree Programme in Social Services
Timing plans by study path
Bachelor's Degree Programme in Social Services
Timing plans by study path