Study structure

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The standard period of study of four semesters is divided into six compulsory and compulsory elective modules.

Module 1

Module 1 strengthens the focus on social work in social differentiation processes and teaches basic theories of social work in the context of social change, approaches to inequality research and current academic discourses on intersectionality and diversity. The overarching concept of diversity, which is discussed and questioned from various disciplinary perspectives, enables a broad reference to the issues and tasks of social work in the 21st century.

Module 2

In Module 2, students deepen the theoretical knowledge they acquired in Module 1 by focusing on selected areas. These focal points result from the broad research profile of the Institute of Social Work (for example, ageing research, migration research, gender research, social policy research).

Module 3 + 4

Qualitative and quantitative methods of social research are taught and practiced in Module 3. The methods of empirical social research are tested in seminars and in the form of practical exercises in research workshops. In the research internship, which is part of Module 4, students actively participate in the ongoing practice of an empirical study.

Research internship (Module 4)

The practical research module (Module 4) comprises 630 hours (45 minutes each), of which 600 hours are spent in the internship (including writing a research report) and 30 hours in the Research Colloquium, which takes place at the University of Kassel. Colloquium, which takes place at the University of Kassel. The internship can be completed in research projects at departments of the University of Kassel, at universities or research institutes within Germany and also at universities and institutes abroad.

Module 5

Module 5 focuses on perspectives of social work in international comparison and comparative welfare state research. The module usually takes place in the summer semester. The combination of modules 4 and 5 can be chosen alternatively and enables students to complete the research internship abroad.

Module 6

The last semester is reserved for writing an empirical Master's thesis in Module 6.
A detailed description of all course content and objectives can be found in the module handbook.