Curricula

Key learning outcomes

During your studies, you will acquire capabilities for demanding decision-making in nursing and learn to act as a specialist in mental health and substance abuse work in different cooperation networks. You will strengthen your competence in promoting mental health and in developing and reforming mental health and substance abuse work. You will learn to proactively assess global and national phenomena affecting mental health and to develop existing and new mental health and substance abuse work methods in a future-oriented manner together with customers. You will also acquire the skills to assess and develop your work community's dialogical and reflective working methods, also using digital methods. Furthermore, you will be able to critically examine and develop cooperation practices from the perspective of cultural sensitivity and diversity.

Education content and professional growth and know-how

The scope of degree programme is 90 ETCS credits. The programme includes a joint study module in management (5 cr) and multidisciplinary research and development studies (10 cr). You will also deepen your competence in mental health and substance abuse work (30 cr), in your thesis (30 cr) and through elective studies (15 cr).

Joint Management Competence, 5 cr

The study module focuses on human and financial management as well as strategic management.
- Development as a Leader or
- Human Resource Management or
- Strategic Management or
- Financial Management

Research and Development 10 cr

Through research and development studies, you learn key methods for work-life development, the use of different research methods and research communication. You also learn to apply research data in your field and use it to develop the activities of your own organisation or another organisation.
- Research-based Development
- Qualitative Research or
- Quantitative Research

Core Studies 30 cr

Core studies help you deepen your competence in encountering mental health and substance abuse patients and in the reform and development of mental health and substance abuse work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Human rights, social inclusion and recovery approach (5 cr)
- Dialogical collaboration (5 cr)
- Advanced clinical practice in mental health and substance abuse nursing (5 cr)
- Renewable and sustainable mental health and substance abuse care (5 cr)
- Reflective expertise (5 cr)
- Family, network and community-based approaches (5 cr)

Master's Thesis 30 cr

Writing a master's thesis is a core competence in the degree programme. In the thesis, you apply research data, develop your chosen field and deepen your professional expertise from the perspective of mental health and substance abuse work.

The thesis is a research and/or development project that serves the world of work, where you apply your research skills in practice and support your own career development. The thesis and the development assignments allow you to develop your own work.

Elective Studies 15 cr

You can select courses offered by the degree programme, Jamk's other master's degree programmes (e.g. Prescription for Nurses or Pallative Nursing), EduFutura, Summer School or other universities of applied sciences.

You also have the opportunity to complete a double degree (DDP) as a joint implementation between Jamk and Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS) in Austria.

Flexible studies

The degree programme consists of both online studies and intensive periods on campus. The intensive periods included in the courses are organised once on the campuses of TAMK, Jamk, OAMK, SAMK and Turku AMK, and participation in them is recommended but not mandatory. This requires travelling to the campuses at your own expense. Other on-campus days related to the studies are organised in Jyväskylä.

The studies also include distance learning, which requires basic digital skills, the development of which is supported during the studies. Distance learning includes webinars, group work, online discussions with the group or supervisor, independent assignments, video lectures and other independent studies. A key aspect of the learning process is the interaction and sharing of experiences between multidisciplinary student groups.

Webinars are held either during the day or on weeknights, depending on the course. It is recommended that students participate in the webinars or complete a replacement assignment. The student group's wishes are taken into account in the implementation. It is also recommended that students build their networks independently and schedule meetings online or face-to-face. Students receive support from their course and tutor teachers through their studies.

You can choose your alternative or elective studies from EduFutura partner institutions (University of Jyväskylä and Gradia) and international studies from European EUDRES higher education institutions. You can also choose from Finnish and foreign partner universities, such as other universities of applied sciences and universities. You can apply for accreditation of higher education studies that you have completed elsewhere.

Working life oriented learning

Learning and development assignments related to studies can be integrated into the development of your own work community. Through active interaction, the competence and expertise of team members is utilised in learning for the benefit of the entire team.

The accreditation of prior competence and study attainments (section 17 of the Degree Regulations) provides flexibility for the studies by shortening the study time and partly reducing the amount of studies. If the student has acquired working life skills that meet the degree programme's intended learning outcomes, studification of work is also an option for accreditation.

Career opportunities and employment

Graduates of the degree programme can find employment in various expert, supervisor, development, management and coordination positions in public, private and third-sector organisations in the health care and social services sector. After graduating, you also possess the skills needed to work as an entrepreneur or as an expert in international and multicultural development tasks.

Qualifications

The degree grants you eligibility for public posts and positions that require a master's degree. The degree corresponds to level 7 of the European Qualification Frameworks (EQF7) and the National Qualifications Framework (NQF7) for qualifications and other learning.

Further studies

You may, after graduating, apply for postgraduate studies at universities or studies at the School of Professional Teacher Education. You can also continue your studies by applying for corresponding further education programmes in foreign higher education institutions, such as EUDRES higher education institutions. The university of applied sciences offers opportunities for competence development in various institutes, such as the open university of applied sciences, specialisation training and work-oriented continuing education.

Education planning

The degree programme has been developed in dialogue with Jamk's other master's degree programmes and the universities of applied sciences network. The programme's contents are based on extensive preliminary evaluation and competence foresight work. All universities of applied sciences participating in the development have the same degree structure for mental health and substance abuse work. The new competence and development needs of wellbeing services counties have also been considered in the planning, and the degree programme is developed in cooperation with working life actors. Students and alumni of Jamk University of Applied Sciences are our lifelong partners, with whom we cooperate in the development of education quality.

Contact Information

Sari Järvinen
Principal Lecturer, School of Health and Social Studies
+358404861080
etunimi.sukunimi@jamk.fi