Contents of studies Social Work
Sound basis & practical experience
The Bachelor's degree in Social Work at the FHV has a generalist orientation. Our goal is to provide a sound scientific and methodological qualification in the field of Social Work as a science of action.
Throughout all six semesters, the program combines theory and practice in a balanced way. Self-directed, cooperative, experiential and problem-oriented learning ideally complements teaching/learning methods such as counseling workshops, case studies, role and business games, exercises, coaching, field trips, e-learning, supervision and biography work. We select social fields of action and case studies in such a way that you acquire the necessary knowledge and skills for entering the profession and understand the laws and overarching contexts of Social Work.
You communicate intensively with your lecturers and often work with other students in teams. This fosters your ability to critique, reflect, and argue. You will gain intercultural experience through exchanges with guest students from all over the world or in so-called Short Term Study Programs. You yourself have the chance to study at a partner university in the fourth semester and consolidate your English in courses taught in English.
The content of studies of the six-semester bachelor's degree programme is divided as follows (percentages rounded): Methods and Skills of Action (21%), Practice (21%), Social Fields of Action (17%), Scientific Foundations (17%), International Social Work (17%), and Fundamentals of Research (7%).
Study programme structure
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| Fundamentals of social diagnostics | 3 | 2 |
| Biography work and professional identity | 2 | 2 |
| Digital transformation | 1 | 1 |
| Introduction to scientific work | 2 | 1 |
| Consulting Workshop - Basics | 2 | 2 |
| Basic concepts and history of SA | 1 | 1 |
| Theories of action of SA | 1 | 1 |
| Theories of SA I | 2 | 1 |
| Basics law | 3 | 2 |
| Basics psychology | 2 | 2 |
| Basics sociology | 2 | 2 |
| Organization and practice | 2 | 1 |
| Orientation internship preparation | 3 | 1 |
| Social fields of action Livelihood security Basics | 2 | 2 |
| My biography *E | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 30 | 23 |
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| Individual case work | 3 | 2 |
| Work with groups | 3 | 2 |
| Fundamentals of empiricism | 3 | 2 |
| Theories of SA II | 2 | 1 |
| Basics social medicine | 2 | 2 |
| Basics pedagogy | 1 | 1 |
| Consulting Workshop I | 2 | 2 |
| Orientation internship and reflection | 4 | 1 |
| Social fields of action Family | 3 | 2 |
| Law Social fields of action Family | 2 | 2 |
| Social fields of action Migration | 2 | 2 |
| Law Social fields of action Migration | 1 | 1 |
| Our generation *E | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 30 | 22 |
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| Community work | 3 | 2 |
| Crisis intervention | 2 | 2 |
| Quality assurance I | 2 | 2 |
| SA as a science of action | 4 | 2 |
| Theories of SA III | 2 | 1 |
| Consulting Workshop II | 2 | 2 |
| Professional practical training preparation | 1 | 1 |
| Social fields of action Age | 3 | 2 |
| Law Social fields of action Age | 1 | 1 |
| Social fields of action work | 3 | 2 |
| Law Social fields of action Work | 1 | 1 |
| Social fields of action health | 3 | 2 |
| Law Social fields of action Health | 1 | 1 |
| Complex systems *E | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 30 | 23 |
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| Innovative methods *E | 2 | 2 |
| Gender and diversity training *E | 2 | 2 |
| Ethics and social philosophy | 2 | 1 |
| European Social Policy *E | 6 | 2 |
| Human rights *E | 5 | 2 |
| Peer to peer action platform *E | 2 | 1 |
| Social Justice *E | 5 | 2 |
| Transcultural Dialogue *E | 2 | 2 |
| World Society, Global Developments *E | 4 | 2 |
| Total | 30 | 16 |
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| Social pedagogical group experience | 2 | 2 |
| Quality assurance II | 1 | 1 |
| Consulting Workshop III | 1 | 1 |
| Professional practical training Reflection | 1 | 1 |
| professional practical training | 24 | 0 |
| Supervision | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 30 | 6 |
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| Economics and project management | 4 | 2 |
| bachelor's thesis | 7 | 0 |
| Theories of SA IV | 3 | 2 |
| Social Policy | 2 | 1 |
| Consulting Workshop IV | 2 | 2 |
| Professional practical training, evaluation and networking | 2 | 1 |
| Elective action fields *WHF | 8 | 8 |
| final bachelor's examination | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 30 | 16 |
*E | Courses in English
*S | Emphasis
*WHF | Elective Courses (four courses to be chosen per student:in):
- Social Education
- Youth and School
- Subsistence and homelessness
- Criminal justice assistance
- People with disabilities
- Social dialogue
- Social psychiatry
- Addiction
- Self-directed learning
SA: Social Work
ECTS: Performance points according to the "European Credit Transfer System". According to international standards, 180 ECTS points must be earned over 6 semesters.
SWS: One hour per week (SWS) corresponds to 15 educational components of 45 minutes each.
Learning content in detail
Professional practical training - your entry into the job!
If you prefer to test acquired knowledge directly in practice, this is your study. Because practical phases are a particularly important element here. Often work placements are a door opener for the professional entry into Social Work.
We coordinate closely with partner organizations and companies. In the second semester, you complete an orientation internship of 100 hours in a regional social organization. This is followed by the professional practical training with a total of 600 hours in the fifth semester. The bachelor's thesis in the sixth semester is related to the professional practical training.
You can also complete the professional practical training as an internship abroad. One example is the Global Social Dialog internship program for full-time students in the social fields of action International Social Work/Development Work. Preparatory, accompanying, and follow-up seminars and supervision round out the practical units.
| Orientation Internship | Professional practical training | |
| Hours | 100 hours | 600 hours + Supervision |
| Time to Completion of work placements |
approx. 8 weeks (between 1st and 2nd semester) | approx. 24 weeks |
| Early start | early February | Start 5th semester |
| Latest graduation | end of March | End of 5th semester |