Social Problems and Social Counselling (5cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Objective

The students master
• The concept of social problem and different approaches to prevent them
• The process of social exclusion and the methods of preventing the process
• The theory of welfare and the changes in Finnish welfare states
• The main features of European and Finnish social policy as well as different models of welfare states
• The main features of Finnish Social security system including social benefits and health services
as well as basics of social counselling

Content

• The theories and different models of welfare and changes in Finnish welfare state
• The different models of welfare and social security systems especially in Finland
• Social security system in Finland: The basic legislation, pension, insurance, social services, supplementary benefit and social counselling
• The concept of social problem, the different research trends of studying social problems
• The process of social exclusion and promoting inclusion
* The role of social councellor in preventive and constructive social work

Materials

• Wilkinson Richard & Pickett Kate 2009: The Spirit Level. Why Equality is Better for Everyone. Penguin Books. • Hoffler E. F. & Clark, E. J. (Eds) 2012. Social Work Matters. The Power of Linking Policy and Practice. • Uehara, E., Flynn, M., Fong, R., Brekke, J., Barth, R. P., Coulton, C., & Walters, K. (2013). Grand challenges for social work. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 43, 165–170.• Articles in academical journals (e.g. Yhteiskuntapolitiikka, Janus, Sociology)

Completion alternatives

• Full-time studies: Written group assignment and presentation in a workshop, individual assignment. •Blended learning: Written group assignment and presentation in a workshop, individual assignment.

Student workload

• Full-time studies: Contact learning 20 h, distant learning 115 h. Total 135 hours.• Blended learning: Contact learning 10 h, individual and group online learning, written assignment and an exam. Total 135 hours.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Excellent (5) The student are able to
• explain and evaluate the basic theories of welfare
• explain and evaluate the basic theory of social problem
• compare and analyze the different models of welfare and social policy in European context as well as analyze and evaluate the development and content of Finnish Social Security system
• interpret and make conclusions in promotion of social participation
• evaluate the concept and process of social exclusion in different situations and propose different approaches by utilizing the theory of social problem when preventing social exclusion
• generate their knowledge by sharing and receiving the information about the topic by using the proper instructions of Jamk

Very good (4) The students are able to
• explain the basic theories of welfare
• explain and evaluate the basic theory of social problem
• compare the different models of welfare and social policy in European context as well as analyze the development and content of Finnish Social Security system
• make conclusions in promotion of social participation
• analyze the concept and process of social exclusion in different situations and classify different approaches by utilizing the theory of social problem when preventing social exclusion
• generate their knowledge by sharing and receiving the information about the topic by using the proper instructions of Jamk

Good (3) The students are able to
• introduce the basic theory of welfare
• introduce the basic theory of social problem
• explain the different models of welfare and social policy in European context as well as explain the development and content of Finnish Social Security system
• explain the basic approaches in promotion of social participation
• explain the process and concept of social exclusion and name different approaches when preventing social exclusion
• generate their knowledge by sharing and receiving the information about the topic by using the proper instructions of Jamk

Satisfactory (2) The students are able to
• know some features of welfare theory
• know some features of the basic theory of social problems
• name different models of welfare and social policy in European context as well as explain the main content of Finnish Social Security system
• name some of the basic approaches when promoting social participation
• explain the concept of social exclusion and name some of the different approaches when preventing social exclusion
• know how to share and receive the information about the topic by using the the main ideas of instructions in Jamk

Sufficient (1) The students are able to
• know some features of welfare theory
• know some features of the basic theory of social problems
• recognize the main features of welfare and social policy in European context as well as identify some content of Finnish Social Security system
• name one basic approach when promoting social participation
• explain the concepts of social exclusion and name one approach when preventing social exclusion
• know how to share the information about the topic by using some of the instructions in Jamk

Qualifications

The students know the basic theories of welfare.