Social work

Within the subject social work we study people’s living conditions. In particular, we are interested in the contexts that create social problems. We also study society’s measures and how these affect concerned groups. The subject social work is included in the social work study programme but can also be studied as single-subject courses at first-cycle and second-cycle level.

Our social work study programme has one of the highest applicants per place ratio of all degree programmes at Linnaeus University and is offered in both Kalmar and Växjö. In the Swedish Higher Education Authority's latest assessment of all social work study programmes in Sweden, the social work study programme at Linnaeus University was considered to meet the requirements for "high quality".

We offer an education that combines scientific thinking with practical, professional skills and after completing your studies you will be well equipped for a future working life as a social worker.

Social work at Linnaeus University is a third-cycle subject area. The research carried out by us is primarily focused on areas linked to family, children and youth; elderly people and people with disabilities; violence and gender; migration, integration and diversity; evaluations; and social policy questions and welfare.

Education

Programmes and Courses

Research in social work

Within social work at Linnaeus University there are six main research areas:

Children, youth and family
Migration, integration and diversity
Social policy questions and welfare
Evaluation
Research on elderly
Violence and gender

Research groups

Research projects

Completed research projects

Collaborate with us

The department of social work has a responsibility to carry out research that is relevant to society and can be useful outside the academic world.
Investigations and evaluations

Investigations and evaluations

The department is also presented with a number of investigation and evaluation commissions.

The commissions we consider to be of relevance to our research areas are accepted. The distribution and responsibility for who carries out these commissions is a shared responsibility among researchers at the department. The reporting from such commissions is also an important part in the department's work to spread knowledge through evaluating researchers' writing of reports, participation in training days, conferences and panel debates with the aim to spread the results from investigations and evaluations.

The department carries out contract educations and continuously receives requests to create and offer additional courses at first-cycle and second-cycle level in the form of commissions.

We carry out research and education within areas that are important for practical social work:
• Social child care
• Children as next of kin
• Economic vulnerability and overindebtedness
• Violence in close relations
• Migration and integration
• Addiction treatment
• Elderly and disabled care
• Labour market questions
• Supervision
• Law
• Evaluation

Contract education

We offer courses to support the introduction of newly-employed social workers. When there is a need for skills development, we can together discuss courses (that generate credits), single lectures, and more according to your requests and needs.

More opportunities for contract education:
At the department of social work, skills development can take place by studying a master in social work.

On the master programme, you study courses in social work and scientific method and theory at second-cycle level. As a master student, you also write an individual degree project with the possibility to specialise in the field most relevant to your professional life and the area of activity in which you work.

We also offer curses in:

Family therapeutic course I
Methods for supervision in social work I and II (at second-cycle level)

Supervisor at internship

Would you like to welcome a student to your workplace? During their education, the social workers of the future need to gain practical experience in order to root their theoretical knowledge and develop their own professional identity. By accepting a candidate you gain access to a resource that views your activities with fresh eyes. It is also a good way to establish contact with students who are about to enter the labour market.

As a student, the internship should provide you with experience in social work; for instance, by meeting people in different vulnerable situations to increase the student's understanding of social problems and processes. An equally important part is to understand your part in the professional role and to develop a professional identity. The internship also gives you the opportunity to test your theoretical skills and to formulate questions for your future studies.

Supervisor
Every student is allocated a supervisor during his/her internship. The supervisor's task is to support and encourage the student in different ways in his/her professional development. The supervisor is offered to take a 7.5 credit supervisor course in parallel with having a student on internship.

Internship coordinator and course coordinator
The internship coordinator is responsible for the recruitment of internship positions and supervisors as well as for the placement of the students. The course coordinator is responsible for the students' theoretical assignments and the examination of the module. Both are responsible for providing support to both student and supervisor.

Close collaboration
The internship requires a close collaboration with experienced professionals within different social work activities. The department of social work at Linnaeus University provides support in the form of training and guidance to supervisors.

Interested in becoming a supervisor?
In Kalmar, contact Lena Gustafsson, lena.gustafsson@lnu.se, 0480-44 64 19
In Växjö, contact Kulla Persson Kraft, kulla.persson.kraft@lnu.se, 070-533 49 03

International opportunities

Internationalisation is a natural part of social work that permeates all activities within the subject field. Through the years, we have established a number of collaborations with universities all over the world. Thanks to these collaborations, both students and members of staff have great opportunities to study, do internships, carry out research or teach abroad.

There is also internationalisation at home. At the department of social work, you often meet students, teachers and researchers from international universities.
Our students can choose to study one or more terms at an international university.

It is also possible to carry out part or all of the student placement training period (VFU) abroad. In order to make it easier for students who want to do their VFU abroad, we offer so-called VFU programmes. Today, we have five different programmes in the following places: China, Vietnam, Kamerun och New Zeeland.

Student placement training abroad
Want to learn more about social work in an international context? Do you want to train language skills and develop your intercultural skills? Perhaps, for example, foreign-language studies are something for you. You can choose to do all or part of your internship abroad.