Childhood, Youth, (full day) School A specialization within the Social Work degree program

The specialization “Childhood, Youth, (full day) School” looks at the life phases of childhood and youth within the context of social work, and with the societal framework conditions of education, development and participation. The focus is on the central institutions of school, and child and youth welfare – including social work in and around school (such as school social work, and open-access children’s and youth work) as well as collaborations in multi-professional teams. As part of this specialization, you will learn how education opens up opportunities, but also how it can reproduce inequalities, and how structures can be made inclusive. The program looks at educational and coping exercises, as well as biographical transitions (for example, between educational establishments on a day-to-day basis, or between institutions on a resume). The starting point is an understanding of education as a basic human right, and which systematically takes up questions of educational justice.

You’ll be able to provide professional support to children, young people and young adults in educational and development processes – at school, in after-school childcare, and in institutions of child and youth welfare. You could work in areas such as after-school childcare, school social work, open-access/association-led children and youth work, help with parenting, counseling for families and on parenting issues, and social space-related projects. In these contexts, your work might be about supporting people with transitions, overcoming difficult life situations, counseling, supporting participation in society, and collaborating with various educational and other institutions, families, and other actors within the social space. This specialization is also relevant for jobs which involve the planning and coordination of after-school childcare, child and youth welfare services, or offers which operate at the interface between institutions.