Social Work M.A.

Social work today faces numerous social and professional challenges: Social inequalities are worsening, the political climate is changing. Demographic developments demand answers to urgent questions of care and provision as well as a new way of dealing with heterogeneity and social diversity. Digitalization not only influences the everyday lives of the recipients of social work, but also the possibilities of social pedagogical action.

The Master's degree program gives students the opportunity to build up empirically sound expertise in order to be able to work professionally against the backdrop of these challenges. Both knowledge that can be used for the diagnostic reconstruction of living conditions and current concepts of methodological action are deepened. The analysis of institutions and fields of action opens up perspectives for the innovative design of social organizations. Building on the broadly oriented Master's program, teaching research projects offer students the opportunity to deal with specific questions of social work in depth and in line with their interests. In the tradition of 'research-based learning and teaching', the ability to act, transfer and reflect is trained. In this way, the Master's degree course prepares students in the best possible way for the social and professional demands placed on the social work profession.

The Social Work degree program deals with the following questions, among others:

• How are life courses, biographies and transitions of children, young people, adults and older people shaped against the backdrop of current social developments? What consequences can be derived from this for social work?
• How can social institutions be changed in a way that is sensitive to differences and in line with current requirements?
• What influence do regional, national and international policies have on life situations, social inequality and the framework conditions in which social work operates?
• How can professional social work be shaped against the backdrop of increasing digitalization? What opportunities and risks does this entail?
• Which research perspectives and methods characterize the current scientific discourse? How can these be made fruitful in the fields of social work?

The course aims to deepen theoretical, research and methodological skills as well as specialist skills in planning, management and organizational development, which are acquired in particular through teaching research projects. Counseling skills for the spectrum of social work tasks are deepened. The course qualifies students for management and advisory functions in institutions and associations of social work including the education system. It qualifies students for research and development tasks and thus for academic work at universities. It offers the prerequisite for a doctorate and thus distinguishes itself for the necessary expansion of young academics. As part of the university's internationalization efforts, a module with at least 5 ECTS is offered in English.

No state recognition can be obtained by completing the Master's degree course.