The lives of people, of groups and communities are exposed to constant change. Occasionally, people need support when confronted with these changes in order to be confident in recognising the best way forward.

Social workers ensure that people have access to resources and services. They encourage social change, offer assistance to people in need, and help them recognize opportunities which can improve their lives.

In addition they have

• Broad knowledge of social and humanistic sciences
• Varied methodical approaches to act professionally
• Management, communication and co-operation abilities
• Ethical orientation and a readiness for personal reflection

As a social worker you can be emplyed in church affiliated welfare institutions. You can also choose to work in any other private and public organization in the field of social work.
For example…

• Specialized services and assistance for disabled people
• Diaconal welfare services
• Marriage, family and personal counselling centres
• Probation and court assistance
• Offices for youth and social affairs
• School social work
• International development aid
• Youth associations
• Social services in hospitals and rehabilitation centres
• Specialist counselling for child day care centres
• Institutions to assist the homeless
• Services for old people’s welfare

The main focus during your studies will be other people:

• Their personal resources
• Their individual biographies
• Their contact networks
• Their social relationships

While studying, you broaden your experience and abilities as you develop professionally.

You acquire…

• Orientation, planning and practical capabilities
• Interdisciplinary theory and research competences
• An ability for theological and ethical judgement and reflection
• Gender competence
• Intercultural competences
• Problem solution and conceptual capacities
• Integrative competence (understanding and communication skills),
• Aesthetic-cultural media competence
• Self reflection and evaluation capacity

We train you scientifically in order to enable you to be sensitive to the needs of other people. Theory and practice of social work will be closely linked and deepened through frequent discussion.

Social work science incorporate different fields of knowledge and action:

• History, theory and practice in social work
• Social and scientific references to social work,
• Legal, political and economic framework for social work,
• Methods and concepts, aesthetic forms of professional practice
• Projects and practical study semesters
• An emphasis of this course: theological, ethical and diaconal dimensions of social work

• International, intercultural and inter-religious perspectives of social work
• Theological and ethical perspectives of social work
• Project studies
• Organization of professional client relationships, support of daily life requirements (counselling and work with groups)
• Case history, case management and support planning
• Legal background and administrative regulations of social work
• Organization and support of educating, learning and education processes
• Diaconal requirements and duties: theological and ethical competences for social work
• Social management and organizational development
• Welfare state and social politics

1. University entrance qualification or its equivalent
2. Special entrance qualification test

If more applications are received than places available, the university applies a special selection procedure for admission.