Courses / Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences

Bachelor's Degree in Social Work

General Objectives of the Course

The bachelor's degree in Social Work by including a complex articulation of (multidisciplinary) theoretical, methodological and practical knowledge is intended to make the future social workers capable of critically analysing, evaluating and transforming social policies and contexts, under the approach of life quality, social development, human rights and Social Justice. Thus, by means of a substantiated use of knowledge about human behaviour and social, economic and political systems, Social Work is a chief and widely recognised mechanism in responding to complex and transversal social needs and problems, in planning, evaluating and implementing social policies, as well as in building integrated strategies for social cohesion reconstruction and for execution of human and territorial development.
This course is organized in seven semesters and includes a curricular pre-professional internship in the last academic semester.
Number of credits required to accomplish the course and obtain this qualification: 210 ECTS.
4 years.

Admission Requirements

One of the following tests: (02) Biology and Geology or (04) Economy or (18) Portuguese.
-Minimal marks: application mark – 100 points entrance exams -100 points.

This information does not exempt the consultation of the webpage of the Directorate General of Higher Education (DGES) and/or of the Applicants website. Please, visit the DGES and the Applicants websites

Professional Goals

-Social Security (community planning and intervention; youngsters under 18 at risk; adoption; implementation, planning and evaluation of social policies; social emergency; social studies and evaluations, among others);
-Local Administration (community intervention; educational social action; social housing; studies and projects of local social intervention, among others);
-Portuguese Private Organizations of Social Solidarity, Portuguese Misericórdias, Associations for Social and Community Development;
-Health Institutions (social intervention in hospitals; health prevention projects; risk behaviour projects, among others);
-Education Institutions (Services of Psychology and Orientation in schools; educational social action; vocational training centres, among others);
-Law Institutions (Portuguese Institute for Social Rehabilitation - adults and young criminals; prisons; Victim Support Services, among others);
-Work and Employment (employment centres; private and public enterprises and institutions; social integration enterprises and social cooperatives, among others);
-Teaching and scientific research (higher education).

Mode of Study

The course is delivered in full time or part time attendance and daytime schedule.

Teaching / Evaluation language(s)

The course is delivered in full time or part time attendance and daytime schedule.

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

As assessment is a pedagogical activity inseparable from the teaching process, its aim is to establish the students' competencies and knowledge, their critical sense, ability to recognize and resolve problems, as well as their written and oral presentation skills. Students may only register for exams for classes they are currently registered for under the terms of number 6 of article 4 of the University of Coimbra Pedagogical Policy. The following are examples of assessment items: Oral or written exams, written or practical work, individual and group projects that may require an oral defense, as well as class participation. Assessment for each class may include one or more of the above mentioned items. Grading is based on a scale of 0 to 20 and a grade of 10 is required to pass. Whenever assessment includes more than one item, the final grade is calculated by taking into account the relative weight of each item according to a formula published in the course outline under the terms of number 2 of article 7 of the UC Pedagogical Policy.

Learning Objectives and Intended Skills

The rationale for an educational program and the determination of the underlying objectives and competencies must be based on a reflection on the epistemological basis of a given field of knowledge and on the historical and political
transformations of a particular profession and the contexts in which it falls. The evolution of contemporary societies and the new set of problems and inequalities are confronting the actual social work with renewable, social, political and economic demands, and with the need for a training capable to enable for a global understanding, an appropriate intervention and a profound reflection/ arguments concerning new settings, heterogeneous populations and changing environments. Thus, the social and political mandate which is currently consigned to Social Work requires the use of a set of processes, strategies and techniques to not only respond to social problems and enforce policies, but also, and above all, to promote "social change", establishing itself as an agent of social, institutional and interpersonal mediation, contributing to the evaluation of social policies and macro, micro and mezzo dynamic and plural contexts analysis, to replenish the societal links and to the strengthening of citizenship and participation. In this perspective, to achieve these objectives, the S Work student must acquire the following competences: a) cultural and cognitive (communication and argumentation, logical and mathematical reasoning, analysis and interpretation and historical and
cultural background comprehension); b) practical-instrumental (problem-solving and decision making, use of professional techniques, contextual analysis and empowerment); c) interpersonal (autonomy management, assertion of the sense of citizenship, ethics and deontology). These competences/ descriptors underpin specific competencies and descriptors: social management, communication, social mediation, monitoring and guidance, planning and evaluation. The formulation of learning objectives and their realization in the syllabus follows a logical progression: from more simple to more complexes, from introductory (1st semesters) to more operative skills (last semesters). The learning objectives (resulting from a team reflection considering the international quality education standards) led to
the formulation of the Manual of Course Competences and consequent online surveys for evaluation of competences acquired by students at either the end of the course, within S. Work curricular units or at the end of each school year.
The evaluation focuses on theoretical knowledge, methodological, operational and social competences with exceeded / not exceeded indicators. The results are assessed in the teachers’ team and lead to possible improvements in the
teaching-learning strategies.

Course Coordinator(s)

Joana Carla Marques Vale Mendes Guerra
uc37684@uc.pt

ECTS Departmental Coordinator(s)

Lisete Santos Mendes Mónico
lisete_monico@fpce.uc.pt

Recognition of Prior Learning

The provisions of article 45 in the Decree Law no. 74/2006, 24th March, with the words of Decree Law no.107/2008, 25th June shall apply.

Qualification Requirements and Regulations

The legal framework for the qualification is established by Decree Law no. 74/2006, 24th March, amended and republished by DL no. 107/2008, 25th June; Ordinance no. 782/2009, 23rd July.

Graduation Requirements

The 1st cycle of studies in Social Work includes a compulsory curricular internship, carried out in the 7th semester and corresponding to 22 ECTS (425 hours in institutional context).
This internship, which is supervised in the Faculty and in the various institutions where it is carried out, is closely connected with the previously acquired theoretical and scientific training and is a privileged moment in the creation of a professional profile. In this sense, this course is intended to develop analytical and operating competences and the reflexive acquisition of professional values, attitudes and skills.
By the end of the internship, students should deliver and publicly defend, before a board set up for that purpose, an analytical and descriptive report on the pre-professional work experience.

Access to Further Studies

Access to a Master’s Degree.

Study Programme

Social Work

Academic year
2021-2022

Course Type
1st Cycle Studies

DGES Code: 9238

Qualification Awarded: Bachelor's Degree

Duration: 7 Semester(s)

ECTS Credits: 210.0

Applications

Call for Applications

Calendar

1st Semester: Start date: 20-09-2021
Start date (first year): 06-10-2021
End date: 18-12-2021
2nd Semester: Start date: 07-02-2022
End date: 21-05-2022

Accreditations

Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior: 2020-07-31 a 2026-07-30
Direcção Geral de Ensino Superior: Nº Registo: R/A-Ef 1682/2011/AL02; 2022-04-14