Social Problems and InequalityLaajuus (3 cr)
Code: SO00CJ65
Credits
3 op
Teaching language
- Finnish
Responsible person
- Tuija Ketola
Objective
The aim of the course is to understand what and what kind of social problems, structures of inequality and practices are behind social problems.
Competences:
Ethical competences in the social field
Critical and Inclusive Social Skills
Learning outcomes:
You will identify and know how to promote the position of vulnerable individuals and communities in society. You know how to promote equality, equity and diversity in an ethical and socially sustainable way and prevent social problems.
You can evaluate the significance of social phenomena and power structures and their impact on the opportunities of individuals, groups and communities to act in society. You can analyze inequality, underprivileged social position and well-being producing structures and processes. You understand social work as influencing work. You can name ways to promote the participation, agency and participation opportunities of clients, client groups and communities.
Content
The course focuses on the concepts of social problems and vulnerability, inequality, explanatory models of social problems, prevention of social problems and structural social work.
Qualifications
You can describe the key ethical principles and values, work targets and contexts in the social services field. You identify key legislation in the field.
Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)
1= You can present the concepts of social problems, vulnerability and inequality and describe the position of individuals and communities in vulnerable positions in society. You are able to describe how social problems and inequalities appear in society and what discriminatory social structures and practices underlie inequalities. You can name ways to promote equality, equity and diversity ethically and socially sustainably. You recognize ways to prevent social problems and the opportunities of individuals, groups and communities to act in society. You recognize structural social work as a method of influencing work. You can name ways to promote the participation, agency and participation opportunities of clients, client groups and communities.
2= You can define the concepts of social problems, vulnerability and inequality and give examples of them. You can describe and give examples of the position of individuals and communities in vulnerable positions in society. You are able to describe how social problems and inequalities appear in society and what discriminatory social structures and practices underlie inequalities. You can describe ways to promote equality, equity and diversity ethically and socially sustainably. You can choose appropriate ways to prevent social problems. You can tell about the opportunities of individuals, groups and communities to act in society and describe with examples what kind of meanings social phenomena and power structures have. You can define social work as influencing work and describe structural social work. You can name and give examples of ways to promote the participation, agency and participation opportunities of clients, client groups and communities.
Assessment criteria, good (3)
3= You can explain the concepts of social problems, vulnerability and inequality and give examples. Identify the role of vulnerable individuals and communities in society from different perspectives. You can present different ways of promoting equality, equity and diversity in an ethical and socially sustainable way and of preventing social problems.
You can demonstrate the importance of social phenomena and power structures and their impact on the ability of individuals, groups and communities to function in society. You can explain how social structures and processes generate inequality, underprivileged social positions and well-being. You are able to describe the social sector and structural social work from different perspectives as a form of social empowerment. You are able to identify ways to promote the inclusion, agency and participation of clients, client groups and communities.
4= You can analyse the concepts of social problems, vulnerability and inequality and the role of vulnerable individuals and communities in society. You are able to evaluate different ways of promoting equality, equity and diversity in an ethically sound and socially sustainable way. You are able to draw conclusions on ways to prevent social problems.
You can assess the significance of social phenomena and power structures and their impact on the ability of individuals, groups and communities to function in society. You can justify how social structures and processes produce inequality, underprivileged social positions and well-being. You can analyse the social sector from different perspectives as a means of social empowerment. You are able to classify ways of promoting the inclusion, agency and participation of clients, client groups and communities.
Assessment criteria, excellent (5)
5= You can assess the concepts of social problems, vulnerability and inequality in an ethically sustainable way. You are able to analyse and critically examine the position of vulnerable individuals and communities in society from different perspectives. You are able to assess a wide range of ways to promote equality, equity and diversity in an ethically sound and socially sustainable way. You can make well-founded proposals on ways to prevent social problems from a new perspective.
You are able to analyse the significance of social phenomena and power structures and their impact on the ability of individuals, groups and communities to function in society. You can assess and justify how social structures and processes generate inequality,underprivileged social positions and welfare. You are able to critically analyse the social sector from different perspectives as a means of social empowerment. You are able to classify ways of promoting the inclusion, agency and participation of clients, client groups and communities.
Enrollment
18.11.2024 - 09.01.2025
Timing
13.01.2025 - 09.03.2025
Number of ECTS credits allocated
3 op
Virtual portion
3 op
Mode of delivery
Online learning
Unit
School of Health and Social Studies
Teaching languages
- Finnish
Seats
20 - 45
Degree programmes
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Social Services
Teachers
- Riikka Rantanen
- Jenni Koivumäki
- Tuija Ketola
Groups
-
ZJASOS24SMAvoin AMK, sote, AMK-polut, sosionomi monimuoto
-
SOS24SMSosionomi (AMK)
Objectives
The aim of the course is to understand what and what kind of social problems, structures of inequality and practices are behind social problems.
Competences:
Ethical competences in the social field
Critical and Inclusive Social Skills
Learning outcomes:
You will identify and know how to promote the position of vulnerable individuals and communities in society. You know how to promote equality, equity and diversity in an ethical and socially sustainable way and prevent social problems.
You can evaluate the significance of social phenomena and power structures and their impact on the opportunities of individuals, groups and communities to act in society. You can analyze inequality, underprivileged social position and well-being producing structures and processes. You understand social work as influencing work. You can name ways to promote the participation, agency and participation opportunities of clients, client groups and communities.
Content
The course focuses on the concepts of social problems and vulnerability, inequality, explanatory models of social problems, prevention of social problems and structural social work.
Learning materials and recommended literature
Wilkinson, Richard & Pickett, Kate: Tasa-arvo ja hyvinvointi: Miksi pienet tuloerot koituvat kaikkien hyväksi?
Niemelä, Mikko & Saari, Juha. 2013: Huono-osaisten hyvinvointi Suomessa. Tampere. Saatavissa: https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/40230/Huono-osaisten_hyvinvointi.pdf
Liukko, E., Muurinen, H., Kokkonen, T. ja Santalahti, V. toim. 2022. Vaikuttava
rakenteellinen sosiaalityö. THL raportti 1/22.
Matthies, A-L, Svenlin, A-R ja Turtiainen K. toim. 2021. Aikuissosiaalityö. Tieto, käytäntö ja vaikuttavuus. Soveltuvin osin.
Metteri, A. 2012: Hyvinvointivaltion lupaukset, kohtuuttomat tapaukset ja sosiaalityö. Väitöskirja. https://trepo.tuni.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/66973/978-951-44-8956-3.pdf
Virokannas, E., Liuski, S. and Kuronen, M. 2020: The Contested concept of vulnerability -a literature review. European Journal of Social Work.VOL.23, No.2, 327-339. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369457.2018.1508001
Other articles and materials announced during the course.
Additional material:
Hoffler E. F. & Clark, E. J. (toim.) 2012: Social Work Matters. The Power of Linking Policy and Practice.
Teaching methods
The course uses webinars, independent work, completion of the THL online course (Confronting Gender-Based Violence in Schools) and a reflection assignment, an article assignment and a group written assignment and related presentation as teaching and learning methods.
The webinars will be interactive learning situations. Participation in webinars requires a working camera, headphones and microphone.
If you use artificial intelligence in your assignments, please include a verbal description of how, to what extent and where you have used it.
Practical training and working life connections
Possible visitor lecture
Exam dates and retake possibilities
THL's online training and reflection on it
Article assignment
Written assignment and presentation in groups
Detailed timetables can be found in the Moodle workspace.
Alternative completion methods
You can apply for admission on the basis of previous equivalent higher education studies (content/objectives/extent). Discuss your studies with your tutor and, if necessary, submit an e-application form at least two weeks before the start of the course.
Student workload
Webinars 12 hours
Learning tasks and independent work 69 hours
Total 81 h
Further information for students
The course will be assessed by the completion of the THL online training course and reflection on it (approved-fail), an article assignment (approved-fail) and a group written assignment (0-5) and related presentation (approved-fail). The numerical grade for the course will be given on the basis of the group written assignment.
Evaluation scale
0-5
Evaluation criteria, satisfactory (1-2)
1= You can present the concepts of social problems, vulnerability and inequality and describe the position of individuals and communities in vulnerable positions in society. You are able to describe how social problems and inequalities appear in society and what discriminatory social structures and practices underlie inequalities. You can name ways to promote equality, equity and diversity ethically and socially sustainably. You recognize ways to prevent social problems and the opportunities of individuals, groups and communities to act in society. You recognize structural social work as a method of influencing work. You can name ways to promote the participation, agency and participation opportunities of clients, client groups and communities.
2= You can define the concepts of social problems, vulnerability and inequality and give examples of them. You can describe and give examples of the position of individuals and communities in vulnerable positions in society. You are able to describe how social problems and inequalities appear in society and what discriminatory social structures and practices underlie inequalities. You can describe ways to promote equality, equity and diversity ethically and socially sustainably. You can choose appropriate ways to prevent social problems. You can tell about the opportunities of individuals, groups and communities to act in society and describe with examples what kind of meanings social phenomena and power structures have. You can define social work as influencing work and describe structural social work. You can name and give examples of ways to promote the participation, agency and participation opportunities of clients, client groups and communities.
Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)
3= You can explain the concepts of social problems, vulnerability and inequality and give examples. Identify the role of vulnerable individuals and communities in society from different perspectives. You can present different ways of promoting equality, equity and diversity in an ethical and socially sustainable way and of preventing social problems.
You can demonstrate the importance of social phenomena and power structures and their impact on the ability of individuals, groups and communities to function in society. You can explain how social structures and processes generate inequality, underprivileged social positions and well-being. You are able to describe the social sector and structural social work from different perspectives as a form of social empowerment. You are able to identify ways to promote the inclusion, agency and participation of clients, client groups and communities.
4= You can analyse the concepts of social problems, vulnerability and inequality and the role of vulnerable individuals and communities in society. You are able to evaluate different ways of promoting equality, equity and diversity in an ethically sound and socially sustainable way. You are able to draw conclusions on ways to prevent social problems.
You can assess the significance of social phenomena and power structures and their impact on the ability of individuals, groups and communities to function in society. You can justify how social structures and processes produce inequality, underprivileged social positions and well-being. You can analyse the social sector from different perspectives as a means of social empowerment. You are able to classify ways of promoting the inclusion, agency and participation of clients, client groups and communities.
Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)
5= You can assess the concepts of social problems, vulnerability and inequality in an ethically sustainable way. You are able to analyse and critically examine the position of vulnerable individuals and communities in society from different perspectives. You are able to assess a wide range of ways to promote equality, equity and diversity in an ethically sound and socially sustainable way. You can make well-founded proposals on ways to prevent social problems from a new perspective.
You are able to analyse the significance of social phenomena and power structures and their impact on the ability of individuals, groups and communities to function in society. You can assess and justify how social structures and processes generate inequality,underprivileged social positions and welfare. You are able to critically analyse the social sector from different perspectives as a means of social empowerment. You are able to classify ways of promoting the inclusion, agency and participation of clients, client groups and communities.
Prerequisites
You can describe the key ethical principles and values, work targets and contexts in the social services field. You identify key legislation in the field.
Enrollment
18.11.2024 - 09.01.2025
Timing
13.01.2025 - 09.03.2025
Number of ECTS credits allocated
3 op
Virtual portion
0.5 op
Mode of delivery
84 % Face-to-face, 16 % Online learning
Unit
School of Health and Social Studies
Campus
Lutakko Campus
Teaching languages
- Finnish
Seats
20 - 35
Degree programmes
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Social Services
Teachers
- Riikka Rantanen
- Jenni Koivumäki
Groups
-
ZJASOS24SMAvoin AMK, sote, AMK-polut, sosionomi monimuoto
-
SOS24SMSosionomi (AMK)
Objectives
The aim of the course is to understand what and what kind of social problems, structures of inequality and practices are behind social problems.
Competences:
Ethical competences in the social field
Critical and Inclusive Social Skills
Learning outcomes:
You will identify and know how to promote the position of vulnerable individuals and communities in society. You know how to promote equality, equity and diversity in an ethical and socially sustainable way and prevent social problems.
You can evaluate the significance of social phenomena and power structures and their impact on the opportunities of individuals, groups and communities to act in society. You can analyze inequality, underprivileged social position and well-being producing structures and processes. You understand social work as influencing work. You can name ways to promote the participation, agency and participation opportunities of clients, client groups and communities.
Content
The course focuses on the concepts of social problems and vulnerability, inequality, explanatory models of social problems, prevention of social problems and structural social work.
Learning materials and recommended literature
Wilkinson, Richard & Pickett, Kate: Tasa-arvo ja hyvinvointi: Miksi pienet tuloerot koituvat kaikkien hyväksi?
Niemelä, Mikko & Saari, Juha. 2013: Huono-osaisten hyvinvointi Suomessa. Tampere. Saatavissa: https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/40230/Huono-osaisten_hyvinvointi.pdf
Liukko, E., Muurinen, H., Kokkonen, T. ja Santalahti, V. toim. 2022. Vaikuttava
rakenteellinen sosiaalityö. THL raportti 1/22.
Matthies, A-L, Svenlin, A-R ja Turtiainen K. toim. 2021. Aikuissosiaalityö. Tieto, käytäntö ja vaikuttavuus. Soveltuvin osin.
Metteri, A. 2012: Hyvinvointivaltion lupaukset, kohtuuttomat tapaukset ja sosiaalityö. Väitöskirja. https://trepo.tuni.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/66973/978-951-44-8956-3.pdf
Virokannas, E., Liuski, S. and Kuronen, M. 2020: The Contested concept of vulnerability -a literature review. European Journal of Social Work.VOL.23, No.2, 327-339. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369457.2018.1508001
Other articles and materials announced during the course.
Additional material:
Hoffler E. F. & Clark, E. J. (toim.) 2012: Social Work Matters. The Power of Linking Policy and Practice.
Teaching methods
The course uses webinar, face-to-face learning, independent work, completion of the THL online course (Confronting Gender-Based Violence in Schools) and a reflection assignment, an article assignment and a group written assignment and related presentation as teaching and learning methods.
Both webinar and face-to-face learning will be interactive learning situations. Participation in webinar requires a working camera, headphones and microphone.
If you use artificial intelligence in your assignments, please include a verbal description of how, to what extent and where you have used it.
Practical training and working life connections
Possible visitor lecture
Exam dates and retake possibilities
THL's online training and reflection on it
Article assignment
Written assignment and presentation in groups
Detailed timetables can be found in the Moodle workspace.
Alternative completion methods
You can apply for admission on the basis of previous equivalent higher education studies (content/objectives/extent). Discuss your studies with your tutor and, if necessary, submit an e-application form at least two weeks before the start of the course.
Student workload
Webinar 2 hours
Face-to-face learning 10 hours
Learning tasks and independent work 69 hours
Total 81 h
Further information for students
The course will be assessed by the completion of the THL online training course and reflection on it (approved-fail), an article assignment (approved-fail) and a group written assignment (0-5) and related presentation (approved-fail). The numerical grade for the course will be given on the basis of the group written assignment.
Evaluation scale
0-5
Evaluation criteria, satisfactory (1-2)
1= You can present the concepts of social problems, vulnerability and inequality and describe the position of individuals and communities in vulnerable positions in society. You are able to describe how social problems and inequalities appear in society and what discriminatory social structures and practices underlie inequalities. You can name ways to promote equality, equity and diversity ethically and socially sustainably. You recognize ways to prevent social problems and the opportunities of individuals, groups and communities to act in society. You recognize structural social work as a method of influencing work. You can name ways to promote the participation, agency and participation opportunities of clients, client groups and communities.
2= You can define the concepts of social problems, vulnerability and inequality and give examples of them. You can describe and give examples of the position of individuals and communities in vulnerable positions in society. You are able to describe how social problems and inequalities appear in society and what discriminatory social structures and practices underlie inequalities. You can describe ways to promote equality, equity and diversity ethically and socially sustainably. You can choose appropriate ways to prevent social problems. You can tell about the opportunities of individuals, groups and communities to act in society and describe with examples what kind of meanings social phenomena and power structures have. You can define social work as influencing work and describe structural social work. You can name and give examples of ways to promote the participation, agency and participation opportunities of clients, client groups and communities.
Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)
3= You can explain the concepts of social problems, vulnerability and inequality and give examples. Identify the role of vulnerable individuals and communities in society from different perspectives. You can present different ways of promoting equality, equity and diversity in an ethical and socially sustainable way and of preventing social problems.
You can demonstrate the importance of social phenomena and power structures and their impact on the ability of individuals, groups and communities to function in society. You can explain how social structures and processes generate inequality, underprivileged social positions and well-being. You are able to describe the social sector and structural social work from different perspectives as a form of social empowerment. You are able to identify ways to promote the inclusion, agency and participation of clients, client groups and communities.
4= You can analyse the concepts of social problems, vulnerability and inequality and the role of vulnerable individuals and communities in society. You are able to evaluate different ways of promoting equality, equity and diversity in an ethically sound and socially sustainable way. You are able to draw conclusions on ways to prevent social problems.
You can assess the significance of social phenomena and power structures and their impact on the ability of individuals, groups and communities to function in society. You can justify how social structures and processes produce inequality, underprivileged social positions and well-being. You can analyse the social sector from different perspectives as a means of social empowerment. You are able to classify ways of promoting the inclusion, agency and participation of clients, client groups and communities.
Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)
5= You can assess the concepts of social problems, vulnerability and inequality in an ethically sustainable way. You are able to analyse and critically examine the position of vulnerable individuals and communities in society from different perspectives. You are able to assess a wide range of ways to promote equality, equity and diversity in an ethically sound and socially sustainable way. You can make well-founded proposals on ways to prevent social problems from a new perspective.
You are able to analyse the significance of social phenomena and power structures and their impact on the ability of individuals, groups and communities to function in society. You can assess and justify how social structures and processes generate inequality,underprivileged social positions and welfare. You are able to critically analyse the social sector from different perspectives as a means of social empowerment. You are able to classify ways of promoting the inclusion, agency and participation of clients, client groups and communities.
Prerequisites
You can describe the key ethical principles and values, work targets and contexts in the social services field. You identify key legislation in the field.