Sustainable Social Work: Child/hood and Family University of Applied Sciences Potsdam

Topics/Modules:

• Children's Rights
• Community & Care
• Counselling and Intervention
• Interdisciplinarity
• Research Labs with a Focus on Citizen Science
• Scientific Writing and Publishing
• Leadership Skills
• Deep Dives for Specialisation

This Master's degree programme is far more than a specialisation – it is a commitment: to sustainable practice, to children's rights and child protection and to social work that consistently focuses on justice, participation and inclusion. It is for all those who want to act as global citizens and help shape and promote a better future for children and families.

Study track in English or German – the choice is yours! Be part of an international community that brings together local and global aspects of social work.

This consecutive Master's degree programme prepares you to understand challenges for families and children in a globalised world and, with knowledge of international and local social work concepts and approaches, to develop and apply sustainable solution strategies to promote social justice, cohesion and living conditions for children and families. The global sustainability goals and social inequalities must be interpreted and implemented locally from a child- and family-centred perspective and require innovative responses and strategies.

An interdisciplinary view, relevant global sources of knowledge and multilingual student groups enable a sensitisation to international standards, different social, cultural and political contexts and their corresponding complex interactions. Only in this way can children and families be actively involved, a stable basis for long-term commitment and self-responsibility be created and sustainable interventions and equal-opportunity solutions be found.

Please find specific information on our website and in the module handbook.

Teaching-learning formats

• In-depth seminars in presence
• Digital courses (asynchronous, bilingual)
• Online seminar (synchronous, bilingual)
• Digital lecture (bilingual)
• Peer counselling and self-help concepts
• Research labs
• Small group projects
• Lab final thesis as a colloquium format for reflection and supervision of the final thesis in presence

Optional

Abroad module

In the third semester, you have the opportunity to study abroad. Information on partner universities and funding can be found on the website of the International Office. Voluntary internships abroad can be completed during the semester break.

Teaching and coaching experience

As a first entry/insight into an academic career, you can be actively involved in teaching and learning processes for the Bachelor's degree programmes in the department with continuous mentoring if you can demonstrate appropriate expertise in a subject area.

Internships are not integrated in the programme, but optional internships are feasible during the lecture-free period.

• Start of application period: approx. mid-May
• Application deadline: approx. mid/end of June

First professionally qualifying university degree (180 ECTS credit points) in degree programmes of social work, childhood education or in an academically-related discipline

361.80 EUR per semester

360° ZUKUNFT is the contact point for students seeking professional orientation or self-employment support.

Start-up counselling provides assistance in structuring and implementing your own start-up project. Additionally, the Flex modules of the FHP Entrepreneurship School offer training in management, business administration, or project development skills.

Work@Heart programme participants are prepared to start their careers. The study-related programme for career entry in Brandenburg offers students (including English-speaking students) guidance in choosing a career, provides targeted training in skills that will help them find their (dream) job and supports them in building a solid network.

https://www.fh-potsdam.de/en/campus-services/entrepreneurship-school-start-service-career-entry

The cost of rent is one of the biggest items in financing your studies. There are various ways to limit the costs.

The Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg offers an overview of all student housing locations in Potsdam. In addition to classic rooms in a large hall of residence, there are also shared rooms, one-room flats, rooms for couples and rooms for students with children, as well as housing options for the disabled. But beware: places in the student residences are limited and demand is high! You must apply in good time! You can apply for a place directly online on the Studierendenwerk website.

https://www.fh-potsdam.de/en/campus-services/campus-life/reside-potsdam

The University of Applied Sciences Potsdam feels particularly committed to advancing social development through the interdisciplinary combination of its range of subjects in the research clusters "Digital Space – Data, Interaction, Knowledge", "Social Space – Education, Participation, Community" and "Built Space – Design, Construction, Preservation" in a perspective of study and teaching, research, transfer and continuing education both regionally and in an international orientation. The close relationships with partners from the region, as well as from Germany and abroad, enable practice-oriented studies at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam from the very first day. Innovative teaching and research formats give students the opportunity to work together with fellow students and teachers from different departments and study programmes. Under the guiding principle of "research-based learning", students can familiarise themselves with the methods of application-oriented research at an early stage. Experienced, dedicated faculty, staff, well-equipped laboratories, workshops, and event rooms, a modern library, and interactive communication and learning platforms provide excellent conditions for efficient, hands-on study. Students are also allowed to participate in the courses of all Brandenburg universities.

The University of Applied Sciences Potsdam benefits from its location: Potsdam is one of Germany's most important science locations, a city of culture and nestled in a beautiful lake landscape. And the centre of Berlin can be reached in about 30 minutes.