Master in Comparative Social Work at Bodö Regional University

Objective

The main objective of the master program in Comparative Social Work is to provide social workers with the necessary tools to be capable of analysing, critical assessing and developing:

• Social work in dynamic interaction between welfare regimes and societies.
• Competence in critical analysis of the welfare system, its institutions and delivery of services, in a global perspective.
• Competence in comparative research design and to qualify for a PhD programme in social sciences.

Course content and organisation

(*Compulsory courses=c, Elective/Supplementary courses=E/S, Individual courses/Research seminar=I/R, Fieldwork=F, Other=O)

The different models of welfare regimes and their political and ethical foundation will be compared. The economic organisation and management of the welfare systems and services will be focused on. The same applies to the interaction between global economic and ideological trends, and national governance of the welfare services and the welfare state. The social workers’ different mandates and their role in implementing social policy will also be focused on. The course will study how social work in different countries is legitimised and compare how different countries comprehend and treat social problems, ethical issues, human rights, the relationship between social work and other welfare professions, voluntary and political work. An element of the course will be an analysis of the existence of differing professional boundaries between social work and other professional groups, leading to an exploration of different constructions of social work. The students will have the opportunity to carry out comparative studies of social work and welfare systems in Norway and other countries. The course will explore the extent of comparative research in the field of social work, critically appraising comparative research methodologies to enable students to build skills that they might use in their home environment to develop a comparative approach to practice. Studies may also be directed at comparing phenomena in the student’s home country for example between urban and rural social work and set in a historical perspective. The research may include fieldwork.

Main issues

• Different welfare systems.
• Changes in social policy in late modern society.
• Legitimisation and professionalization of social work
• The dynamic interaction between social work, social problems and social policy
• Comparative research design

Duration

The programme starts approx. July 15th, 2004 and ends in mid-June 2005. There is a Christmas break from mid-December until the beginning of January.

Number of semesters

2 semesters (1 year)

Application deadline

1. December 2003

To the nearest Norwegian Embassy/Consulate

Application requirements

General requirements:

• Nationality: See list of countries in chapter 1
• Relevant professional experience of 2 years
• Leave of absence from your job in your home country
• The admission requirements are further specified in chapter 2,3 and 7
• English language skills are documented by: either TOFEL test (min. 550 points) or IELTS band 6.0)

 Academic qualifications:

1. A bachelor’s degree (BA) in social work or sociology and completed two semesters (60 ETC) at master’s level in social work or sociology,

or

2. Individual assessment of four years relevant higher education at university level

Thesis and examination

The program consists of the last two semesters of a master program in Comparative social work, 60 ETC and a total of 120 ETC for the whole two year master program.

The exam form will consist of four parts: 

• A school-exam in comparative welfare policy,
• A research essay in social work in different contexts. (The first has to be passed before the next is taken). The research essay should preferably be thematically linked to the master thesis.
• A method and research design exam
• A master thesis, chosen by the student in close cooperation with the supervisor. The length of the thesis ought to be between 80 & 100 pages. The students are to give a final lecture based on their thesis, in which the student present and defend their thesis by responding to questions from an appointed opponent. The final evaluation will be based on an assessment both from the courses, the written thesis and the oral defence. The grades are A, B, C, D, E and F (failure).

Students information

Available student places for NORAD Fellows:6

Place

Bodö Regional University, Bodö, Department of Social Sciences
N-8049 Bodö
NORWAY

Contact person: Jan R. Störkersen
Telephone: +47 755 17 200/ +47 755 17 328
Fax: +47 755 17 378
Jan.R.Stoerkersen@hibo.no

Research and study support

Students will be under the close tuition of the programme co-ordinators. Students will be linked to ongoing research projects in cases where these are relevant. Empirical work will preferably be carried out in the student’s home country and in Norway. Support links with the student’s university in his/her home country will be encouraged.

Personal support

Bodö Regional University collaborates closely with the counselling centre at the Student Welfare Organisation. The Foreign Student Counsellor assists international students concerning questions of practical and personal nature. Bodø has its own International Centre where people from many nations meet regularly for social occasions.

Supervision

A tutor is appointed to each student. Regular tuition is to be a feature throughout the whole programme, through seminars and individual tuition. A tuition contract will be drawn up.

Reading room facilities and IT-support

Students have excellent study facilities. Each student is given access to Internet and personal e-mail account. Master students working with their thesis share offices with other master students.