Social Work and Exclusion - an international study programme in English - SPRING SEMESTER APRIL 2022 TO END OF JULY 2022

How do you work in different fields of social work and special education? International fields of social work such as migration, political crisis and processes of globalization play a mayor role in learning social work today. With the nowadays challenges for social work, it is safe to say that international qualification in social work becomes more essential than ever. And that is why you will be profiting from our curriculum of “Social Work and Exclusion”, which we offer each summer semester at our campus in Muenster. It will help gain knowledge, skills and experiences in social work practice and theory.

As an international student, you will form one group during the whole semester. You will study side by side with our local students and be a part of our small family campus. Also, you will be provided special support by student buddies and faculty members. Starting with a welcome week and taking part in a one-week excursion to Berlin will highlight your studying with us.

Within the programme, you can obtain up to 30 ECTS. Your learning outcomes will be documented in a transcript of records.

Take a look at our courses: 

1) EMERGENCY CASES AND CRISIS INTERVENTION IN SOCIAL WORK, Prof. Dr. Thomas Hülshoff

The course is designed for domestic and foreign students who want to deal with emergency cases and crisis interventions in practical social work. Particularly, the course is dedicated to students planning an Erasmus semester abroad, an internship or a humanitarian mission abroad. Further, it is open for all students with interest in international aspects of social work. Crises and emergency cases as well as assistance and crisis intervention are presented and discussed. Practical and concrete perspectives will be taken.

2) DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, Prof. Dr. Christiane Rohleder

The issue of domestic violence – in our context defined as violence in hetero- or homosexual partnerships – has gotten more and more public attention in Germany. In this course, we will discuss sociological approaches to explain domestic violence and its dynamics on the basis of English texts and studies, as there is more research in Anglo-American countries about this social problem.

3) MEDIATION, Prof Dr. Georg Albers

Mediation is a method for intervening in conflict-affected systems. It is the concept of conflict management. In this seminar, we will work on the theoretical knowledge base as well as on the practical implications for social work. The seminar requires the willingness for role-plays as well as for intensive casework.

4) NARRATIVES IN SOCIAL WORK, Prof Dr. Georg Albers and Phd. Iryna Starovoyt (UCU, Ukraine)

Touching real aftereffects of political violence across generations in Germany and Ukraine.

5) DISABILITIES, DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AND MEDICAL GENETICS, Prof. Dr. Swantje Notzon

The goal of this seminar is to discuss medical aspects of the most frequent disabilities and developmental disorders, for example down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. We will understand why and how these disorders develop, with which typical symptoms they present themselves and what can be done to support people suffering from these disorders.

6) POVERTY AND SOCIAL INEQUALITY – CHALLENGES FOR SOCIAL WORK, Regine Müller, M. A., Dipl. social worker

The seminar gives an overview about analyses on social inequalities and poverty in focusing both a German and an international comparative perspective. It especially focuses on poverty and asks how poverty reflects unequal chances of life regarding economic, cultural and social participation in society in Germany and countries all over the world. This course will offer open discussion, professional reflection and basic knowledge on social inequality and poverty situations worldwide.

7) SOCIAL SKILLS FOR TRANSCULTURAL SOCIAL WORK, Michael Rölver, M. A., social worker

Based on practical experiences, students will reflect their own cultural identities and their relevance for professional capabilities. Intercultural learning is a process and a basis for the acquisition of practical skills.

8) PROFESSIONAL DISCRETION AND SOCIAL WORK, Michael Rölver, M. A., social worker

Decision-making is a basic process in social work and inclusive education. Professionals decide how to approach their clients and how a particular case is treated. This seminar will discuss the degree to which discretion is necessary for social work and inclusive education and how it effects practice.

9) PRACTICAL SOCIAL WORK IN GERMANY, Dipl. Andreas Plenge, social worker

The students will explore social institutions in Muenster and in its immediate vicinity. They will have the possibility to interview professionals and to compare and discuss the social work in Germany with the social work in their home countries.

10) SUPERVISION, Prof. Dr. Martina Meyer-Schwickerath

In this course, international students will have the possibility to reflect the exchange, the study programme and the visited institutions. Supervision will be held in a group with all international students.

Language requirements: 

The language of conduction of the “Social Work and Exclusion” programme in Muenster is English. A good knowledge of English is therefore essential. Each international student applicant must master the English language sufficiently well to be able to understand lectures and to be able to work with English academic texts. The applicants must proof English language skills with an English language certificate of B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). 

Application: 

The nomination deadline is 30 November each year. Please contact our team for more detailed information on the application process.