This course deals with the living conditions of children, youth and families in a welfare society. The course aims to give students deeper knowledge of various theoretical perspectives in the field. Empirical comparisons of these conditions will be used to illustrate living conditions and social work interventions in relation to different forms of vulnerability. The course has a problem-oriented approach and builds on students’ active participation throughout.
The course has three parts. In Part 1, children’s social needs, rights and psychological development are examined. In Part 2, children and family needs, conditions and vulnerabilities are studied. In Part 3, students work individually on a written examination of a topic of their own choice. The course provides an advanced examination of different theoretical perspectives and research-based knowledge in areas relevant to children, youth and family in social work. In each of the course’s three parts, different themes will be examined using theoretical categories such as gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality and age, as well as the comparative tools of time and space.
