Study Guide

Objectives

After completing your degree, you will have the skills to work independently in expert roles related to wellbeing and rehabilitation. You will also be prepared for independent and demanding decision-making tasks in the social and health sectors. You will be able to develop and innovate services that promote people's functional abilities as a member and leader of a multidisciplinary team. Additionally, you will be capable of expert communication within your area of expertise.

The key learning objectives of the degree programme are:

You will be able to promote the participation, agency, and functional capacity of people of different ages and in various life situations to ensure a client-centred approach at all stages of the rehabilitation process.

You will be able to acquire and utilise multidisciplinary and evidence-based knowledge to deepen your expertise and professional practice.

You will be able to promote multidisciplinary cooperation, work in networks, and follow national and international developments in your field to innovate rehabilitation practices.

You will be able to evaluate, develop, and lead service entities in the social, health, and rehabilitation sectors innovatively, with a future-oriented perspective, and by producing new knowledge to improve work practices.

Degree programme description

The degree programme (90 ECTS credits) is divided into three components: degree-specific advanced professional studies (30 ECTS credits), complementary competence (30 ECTS credits), and master's thesis (30 ECTS credits).

The key competence areas in the degree-specific core competence studies (30 credits) include future-oriented competence in rehabilitation services, multidisciplinary competence in promoting rehabilitation, and research, development, and innovation skills.

For complementary competence (30 credits), you can select courses based on your personal study plan from other higher education studies or from the extensive Master School selection at Xamk. The Master School selection includes themes such as digitalisation, leadership and entrepreneurship, international work environment, and research and development skills. These Master School courses are suitable for all fields of study and have been particularly praised for their multidisciplinary approach. Collaboration with different fields in Master School courses brings many new perspectives to the development of your own field. You must choose at least one course in leadership studies for your complementary skills.

The master's thesis (30 credits) is related to the development of your own work or work community. In the master's thesis, you will identify development needs in your field and plan and implement a research or development process that promotes change in the workplace. You can also complete your thesis in Xamk's research and development projects.

Implementation of studies

The studies are flexible, allowing you to complete the degree mostly alongside your work. Some of the courses are offered as online studies. During study days, we utilise Teams for communication. The degree-specific studies (30 ECTS credits) are scheduled over two semesters.

The multidisciplinary aspect is ensured by the Master School course selection, from which you can choose one-third of your studies based on your interests.

The programme's responsible teacher will support you in creating a personalised study path, and the meetings with the multidisciplinary student group during the study days will provide valuable peer support for your studies.

Career opportunities

This degree provides opportunities for various expert, development, and managerial positions. Master's degrees awarded by universities of applied sciences grant the same eligibility for public positions and duties as corresponding master's degrees awarded by universities. The exception to this is the role of a social worker, which requires a master's degree that includes or is supplemented with major subject studies or equivalent university studies in social work.

Degree titles: Paramedic (Master of Health Care), Physiotherapist (Master of Health Care), Geriatric Nurse (Master of Social Services and Health Care), Podiatrist (Master of Health Care), Sports Instructor (Master of Sports Studies), Naprapath (Master of Health Care), Registered Nurse (Master of Health Care), Public Health Nurse (Master of Health Care), Master of Social Services

RDI and cooperation with world of work

As a student, you have the opportunity to participate in RDI (Research, Development, and Innovation) activities in various projects alongside staff and industry representatives. Learning is based on genuine work-related development needs, allowing you to utilise and apply your previously acquired knowledge in real problem-solving situations. Xamk's organisational culture encourages innovative thinking, providing ample space for new ideas and innovations.

Learning environments

The program utilises Xamk's diverse learning environments, both on campuses and in the online environment (E-campus), alongside the students' own work communities and networks.

Students have access to library services on all Xamk campuses (Savonlinna, Mikkeli, Kotka, Kouvola).