Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- demonstrate in-depth knowledge about central theoretical debates and key concepts in international social work and discuss their relevance for different societies
- demonstrate knowledge of the conditions for and role of international social work in specific geographical contexts
- demonstrate knowledge of the relationship between global processes and social work.
Competence and skills
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- identify and discuss international social work responses to global challenges
- independently identify and apply a selection of relevant theoretical concepts to a case of international social work of their choice
- analyse international social work from the perspective of global relations of power and justice issues.
Judgement and approach
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- reflect critically on ethical dilemmas in international social work
- reflect critically on social work in relation to global challenges
- critically discuss and evaluate the potentials and challenges of global visions of social work in relation to local variations and the diversity of social work practices
- critically reflect on their socio-cultural positioning, biases, cultural values and approaches in relation to international social diversity work.
Course Content
The course introduces the students to key concepts and current theoretical debates in the field of international social work. Through the use of case studies from Asia, Australia/Oceania, Africa, America and Europe, it discusses definitions, forms, and meanings of social work in different multicultural societies around the world. A primary focus is on international social work practice and its ethical challenges, but the course also addresses policies and global dimensions in domestic social work. The students get the opportunity to write their own case study on sustainable approaches to social work in an international setting of their own choice. Throughout the course, the student will develop a conceptual toolbox in order to critically discuss global relations of power, social, economic and environmental justice issues, as well as sustainable, culturally relevant and decolonial approaches to international social work.
The course is open to international students and may be opted as a preparatory course for international social practice abroad by Swedish students.
Assessment
- Seminars
- Written assignments
- A final written take-home examination
Grades
The grading scale used for the final course grade is U–VG.
The Swedish grades are: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).
Grades are reported as follows:
- Module 1: Group work - 1.5 Credits | U–G
- Module 2: Writing assignments - 2.5 Credits | U–G
- Module 3: Take-home examination - 3.5 Credits | U–VG
Prerequisites
- 90 credits in the field of Social Science or Caring Sciences, including a thesis of 15 credits and English 6
Other Information
Language of instruction: English.
For an online course, the student has to be able to communicate with sound and image using a coputer or equivalent.
Some segments in this course are given together with the corresponding course at first cycle level.
This course cannot be counted towards the same degree along with courses that have equivalent content.
If the student has received a decision/recommendation granting study support from Dalarna University because of a disability, then the examiner has the right to offer an alternative examination arrangement. The examiner takes into account the objectives in the course syllabus when deciding whether the examination can be adapted in accordance with the decision/recommendation.