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Degree Programme in Social Services

Degree:
Bachelor of Health Care

Degree title:
sosionomi (AMK), Bachelor of Social Services

Credits:
210 ects

Objectives

Bachelors of Social Services support, counsel and care for people in various life situations. They promote people’s wellbeing and help them learn to cope in the daily course of life.

During your studies, you learn to encounter people in challenging situations and support them at the turning points of their lives. You learn to use different methods in your work and advise your clients to search for available services. You also examine the related social legislation.

After graduation, you will be able to further develop your competence and contribute to improving practices in the field.

Degree programme description

The curriculum is based on the following nationally defined competence areas:
• Ethical competence
• Client work competence
• Social service system competence
• Critical and participatory social competence
• Research, development and innovation competence
• Work community, managerial and entrepreneurial competence

The curriculum includes core competence studies and complementary competence studies. On the Savonlinna Campus, the Degree Programme in Social Services is focused on school wellbeing and school social work, and therefore, the contents focus on children and young people and the promotion of their wellbeing in educational environments. The proportion of practical training is large; 40 ECTS credits.

The structure of the curriculum:

Core competence 165 ECTS credits
• Introduction to social welfare 15 ECTS
• People in sociocultural environments 10 ECTS
• Social security and social services 10 ECTS
• Client work in social welfare 35 ECTS
• Management, leadership and development in social welfare 10 ECTS
• Common studies 30 ECTS
• Bachelor's thesis 15 ECTS
• Practical training (internships) 40 ECTS

Complementary competence 45 ECTS credits

A wide range of optional studies is also available to all students. There are four optional 15 ECTS study modules in the degree programme's curriculum. Students can include one or two of them in their personal study plans. The study modules are:
• Competences of social pedagogues in early childhood education and care
• Effective interdisciplinary collaboration in demanding child and family work
• Nature-based activities and action-based methods in rehabilitation work.
• School wellbeing

You can also take advantage of complementary studies from other degree programmes.

Implementation of studies

Daytime studies in Kotka, Mikkeli and Savonlinna:
You can complete daytime studies in Mikkeli, Kotka or Savonlinna. In daytime studies, the first two years of study are mainly classroom teaching on campus. Starting from the third academic year on the Kotka and Mikkeli campuses, the teaching is carried out more as independent online studies, although there may be some occasions which require real-time attendance in an online environment. In Savonlinna, there is a certain amount of contact teaching also in the third academic year.

Blended studies in Mikkeli:
The blended studies start in Mikkeli in January, and they mainly include online work. During the first two academic years, there are also some days of contact teaching on campus. As a rule, third-year studies are organised online. As a whole, there may be about 2 to 6 days of contact teaching in the first semesters. Online teaching can include online lectures or various seminar-type meetings, which are announced in the group-specific schedule. Contact teaching (both on campus and online) generally requires participation in the teaching event.


Online track in Kotka:
In the online track, the teaching is not tied to the campus, but the student must arrange to participate in the scheduled teaching according to the schedule. The teaching and guidance shown in the schedule require active and interactive participation in joint learning situations, so the student must reserve time for studying in a quiet space with audio and video connection. On average, real-time online teaching is arranged for one full day per month. In addition to that, there are some occasional classes between 4 and 6 p.m.

Complementary competence studies are most often online studies in all forms of study.

The average duration of studies is 3 - 3.5 years.

In practical training (internships) and work-related cooperation, you get to familiarise yourself with the various tasks and jobs of a social worker under the guidance of a professional. Through practical training, you also have the opportunity to get employed in your own field.

Career opportunities

After graduation, you can find employment, for example, as a social advisor, counsellor, service supervisor, family worker, project worker and service home manager. However, the variety of job titles for social service professionals with a bachelor’s degree has decreased in recent years, and most typically, in compliance with the current legislation, your title will be social service supervisor.

Your job title can be, for example:
• social pedagogue in early childhood education and care
• social counsellor
• service supervisor
• school social worker
• project worker
• organisation employee
• director of a service home
• family worker
• rehabilitation instructor

Only qualified, licensed professionals can work in the profession of Bachelor of Social Services. After completing the degree, you apply for professional rights from the Social and Health Licensing and Supervision Agency, Valvira. More information on professional rights is available on Valvira's website. If you want your bachelor of social services (AMK) degree to be eligible for the tasks of social pedagogue in early childhood education and care, you must complete at least 60 credits of qualifying studies.

The employment prospects for graduates from the Degree Programme in Social Services are excellent, and over 80% of them find a job immediately after graduation, some even before it. However, fixed-term contracts and short periods of unemployment between jobs are typical for social service workers today.

RDI and cooperation with world of work

Part of your studies is completed outside the classroom, in practical training and in different kinds of projects. Simulation and online environments (Ecampus) are also used. The bachelor’s thesis is related to local development projects or other work-related development tasks.

Learning environments

Up-to-date digital learning environments, especially the Learn environment, and work-related cooperation are utilised in the degree programme. Simulation pedagogy is included as a natural method for studying.

Social services, part-time studies
Code
(SOMI25KM)
Social services, part-time studies
Code
(SOMI24KM)

Social services, part-time studies
Code
(SOKT24KM)
Social services, part-time studies
Code
(SOKT23KM)

Social services, part-time studies
Code
(SOMI23KM)
Social services, part-time studies
Code
(SOMI22KM)

Social services, part-time studies
Code
(SOKT22KM)
Social services, part-time studies
Code
(SOKT21KM)

Social services, part-time studies
Code
(SOMI21KM)

Timing 10.02.2025 - 31.05.2025 Code SO00FA46-3002 Groups SOMI25KM
Timing 03.03.2025 - 11.05.2025 Code SO00FA46-3003 Groups SOKT25KV
Timing 24.03.2025 - 18.05.2025 Code SO00AD36-3037 Groups SOMI24SP
Timing 28.02.2025 - 30.04.2025 Code SO00AD36-3038 Groups SOKT24SP
Timing 02.09.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code KY00DS47-3239 Groups SOMI24KM
Timing 02.09.2024 - 22.12.2024 Code KY00DS47-3252 Groups SOKT24KM
Timing 01.01.2025 - 31.05.2025 Code KY00DS47-3291 Groups SOMI24SP
Timing 13.01.2025 - 30.05.2025 Code KY00DS47-3296 Groups SOKT24SP
Timing 02.09.2024 - 20.10.2024 Code KY00DS46-3205 Groups SOMI23KM
Timing 06.09.2024 - 14.12.2024 Code KY00DS46-3216 Groups SOKT23KM
Timing 13.01.2025 - 30.04.2025 Code KY00DS46-3258 Groups SOMI23SP
Timing 13.01.2025 - 30.03.2025 Code KY00DS46-3269 Groups SOKT23SP
Timing 02.01.2025 - 31.12.2025 Code SO00FA59-3001 Groups SOMI25KM
Timing 01.05.2025 - 31.12.2025 Code SO00FA59-3002 Groups SOKT25KV
Timing 27.01.2025 - 31.07.2026 Code XY00EX57-3020 Groups SOKT25KV
Timing 27.01.2025 - 31.12.2025 Code XY00EX57-3035 Groups SOKT25KV SOMI25KM
Timing 12.08.2024 - 10.11.2024 Code SO00DT99-3016 Groups SOMI24KM
Timing 12.08.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code AV00DF84-3012 Groups AVMIYPSOS24S
Timing 28.10.2024 - 13.12.2024 Code SO00DT99-3018 Groups SOKT24KM
Timing 01.01.2025 - 31.05.2025 Code SO00DT99-3019 Groups SOMI24SP
Timing 01.01.2025 - 31.07.2025 Code SO00DT99-3020 Groups SOKT24SP
Timing 02.09.2024 - 29.11.2024 Code SO00AD47-3016 Groups SOKT22SP SOMI22SP
Timing 28.01.2025 - 30.05.2025 Code SO00AD47-3020 Groups SOKT23KM SOMI23KM
Timing 12.08.2024 - 20.12.2024 Code VV00EW83-3005 Groups VV2024-2025
Timing 02.09.2024 - 02.12.2024 Code SO00DT48-3013 Groups SOMI23SP
Timing 16.09.2024 - 18.10.2024 Code SO00DT48-3016 Groups SOKT23SP
Timing 20.01.2025 - 30.05.2025 Code SO00DT48-3018 Groups SOMI24KM
Timing 03.02.2025 - 30.03.2025 Code SO00DT48-3019 Groups SOKT24KM
Timing 19.05.2025 - 17.08.2025 Code AV00CW14-3017 Groups VV2024-2025 VV2025-2026
Timing 02.09.2024 - 11.12.2024 Code SO00AD17-3031 Groups SOMI24SP
Timing 01.08.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code SO00AD17-3034 Groups SOKT24SP
Timing 02.09.2024 - 01.11.2024 Code SO00AD18-3031 Groups SOMI24SP
Timing 28.10.2024 - 13.12.2024 Code SO00AD18-3034 Groups SOKT24SP
Timing 02.01.2025 - 31.12.2025 Code SO00AD39-3026 Groups SOMI22SP
Timing 01.01.2025 - 31.12.2025 Code SO00AD39-3032 Groups SOKT22SP
Timing 01.01.2025 - 31.12.2025 Code SO00AD39-3033 Groups SOKT22KM
Timing 26.08.2024 - 10.11.2024 Code KY00DS62-3106 Groups SOMI22KM
Timing 02.09.2024 - 22.11.2024 Code KY00DS62-3109 Groups SOKT22KM GEKV22KM
Timing 13.01.2025 - 16.03.2025 Code KY00DS62-3139 Groups SOMI22SP
Timing 10.03.2025 - 30.04.2025 Code KY00DS62-3145 Groups SOKT22SP
Timing 13.01.2025 - 30.05.2025 Code SO00FA47-3001 Groups SOMI25KM
Timing 01.04.2025 - 31.05.2025 Code SO00FA47-3003 Groups SOKT25KV
Timing 02.01.2025 - 31.12.2025 Code AV00EW98-3002 Groups VV2024-2025 VV2025-2026
Timing 16.09.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code SO00AD48-3019 Groups SOKT22SP SOMI22SP
Timing 02.01.2025 - 30.05.2025 Code SO00AD48-3020 Groups SOKT23KM SOMI23KM
Timing 09.08.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code SO00AD25-3029 Groups SOMI23SP
Timing 14.10.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code SO00AD25-3032 Groups SOKT23SP
Timing 02.01.2025 - 31.07.2025 Code SO00AD25-3035 Groups SOMI24KM
Timing 01.03.2025 - 10.05.2025 Code SO00AD25-3036 Groups SOKT24KM
Timing 21.10.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code SO00AD51-3013 Groups SOMI22SP
Timing 01.04.2025 - 30.05.2025 Code SO00AD51-3015 Groups SOMI23KM
Timing 02.09.2024 - 01.11.2024 Code SO00DT52-3005 Groups SOMI22SP
Timing 13.01.2025 - 14.03.2025 Code SO00DT52-3007 Groups SOMI23KM
Timing 01.10.2024 - 30.11.2024 Code SO00DT53-3005 Groups SOMI22SP
Timing 10.02.2025 - 30.04.2025 Code SO00DT53-3007 Groups SOMI23KM
Timing 26.08.2024 - 29.11.2024 Code S00Y200-3008 Groups VV2024-2025
Timing 01.05.2025 - 02.08.2025 Code SO00AD40-3014 Groups SOKT23KM
Timing 15.01.2025 - 30.05.2025 Code SO00AD42-3009 Groups SOKT23KM SOKT22SP SOKT22KM SOMI22SP SOMI23SP SOMI22KM
Timing 09.09.2024 - 18.10.2024 Code SO00AD27-3024 Groups SOMI23KM
Timing 02.09.2024 - 13.10.2024 Code SO00AD27-3026 Groups SOKT23KM
Timing 13.01.2025 - 28.03.2025 Code SO00AD27-3027 Groups SOMI23SP
Timing 13.01.2025 - 16.02.2025 Code SO00AD27-3030 Groups SOKT23SP
Timing 15.08.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code SO00CU97-3031 Groups SOMI24KM
Timing 02.09.2024 - 18.10.2024 Code SO00CU97-3033 Groups SOKT24KM
Timing 07.01.2025 - 31.05.2025 Code SO00CU97-3035 Groups SOMI24SP
Timing 13.01.2025 - 21.02.2025 Code SO00CU97-3036 Groups SOKT24SP
Timing 31.03.2025 - 25.05.2025 Code SO00AD37-3026 Groups SOMI23SP
Timing 02.01.2025 - 31.12.2025 Code SO00AD37-3032 Groups SOMI24KM
Timing 01.04.2025 - 02.06.2025 Code SO00AD37-3033 Groups SOKT23SP
Timing 01.01.2025 - 31.12.2025 Code SO00AD37-3034 Groups SOKT24KM
Timing 02.05.2025 - 10.08.2025 Code AV00DM17-3008 Groups VV2024-2025
Timing 02.01.2025 - 30.05.2025 Code OP00AA43-3273 Groups SOMI23KM
Timing 01.01.2025 - 07.07.2028 Code XY00EX56-3024 Groups SOKT25KV
Timing 13.01.2025 - 31.07.2028 Code XY00EX56-3037 Groups SOMI25KM
Timing 26.08.2024 - 17.12.2027 Code KY00DS63-3310 Groups SOMI24SP
Timing 26.08.2024 - 31.12.2027 Code KY00DS63-3321 Groups SOKT24SP
Timing 02.09.2024 - 15.12.2024 Code SO00DT51-3005 Groups SOKT22SP SOMI22SP
Timing 13.01.2025 - 30.05.2025 Code SO00DT51-3009 Groups SOKT23KM SOMI23KM
Timing 04.09.2024 - 31.05.2025 Code AV00FE63-3001 Groups VV2024-2025 VV2025-2026
Timing 01.01.2025 - 30.05.2025 Code VV00ES13-3003 Groups VV2024-2025 SOKT24SP SOKT24KM SOKT23SP
Timing 24.09.2024 - 29.11.2024 Code SO00AD26-3025 Groups SOMI23SP
Timing 28.10.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code SO00AD26-3028 Groups SOKT23SP
Timing 20.01.2025 - 30.05.2025 Code SO00AD26-3030 Groups SOMI24KM
Timing 31.03.2025 - 30.05.2025 Code SO00AD26-3031 Groups SOKT24KM
Timing 13.01.2025 - 31.12.2025 Code SO00AD33-3025 Groups SOMI23SP
Timing 13.01.2025 - 30.05.2025 Code SO00AD33-3026 Groups SOMI23KM
Timing 01.01.2025 - 31.05.2025 Code SO00AD33-3027 Groups SOKT23KM
Timing 02.09.2024 - 31.05.2025 Code AV00FE62-3001 Groups VV2024-2025 VV2025-2026
Timing 01.08.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code SO00AD28-3024 Groups SOMI23KM
Timing 01.08.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code SO00AD28-3026 Groups SOKT23KM
Timing 02.01.2025 - 21.03.2025 Code SO00AD28-3027 Groups SOMI23SP
Timing 20.01.2025 - 06.03.2025 Code SO00AD28-3029 Groups SOKT23SP
Timing 02.09.2024 - 30.11.2024 Code SO00DT49-3012 Groups SOMI23KM
Timing 04.11.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code SO00DT49-3014 Groups SOKT23KM
Timing 13.01.2025 - 31.03.2025 Code SO00DT49-3015 Groups SOMI23SP
Timing 02.03.2025 - 24.04.2025 Code SO00DT49-3017 Groups SOKT23SP
Timing 01.08.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code MO00DP02-3009 Groups SOKT22KM SOMI22KM
Timing 01.01.2025 - 31.07.2025 Code MO00DP02-3010 Groups SOKT22SP SOMI22SP
Timing 12.08.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code SO00DT50-3009 Groups SOMI22SP
Timing 09.09.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code SO00DT50-3012 Groups SOKT22SP
Timing 17.02.2025 - 30.05.2025 Code SO00DT50-3014 Groups SOMI23KM
Timing 14.01.2025 - 28.05.2025 Code SO00DT50-3015 Groups SOKT23KM
Timing 01.08.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code SO00AD41-3008 Groups SOKT22KM
Timing 01.08.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code SO00AD16-3032 Groups SOMI24SP
Timing 02.09.2024 - 04.10.2024 Code SO00AD16-3035 Groups SOKT24SP
Timing 12.08.2024 - 15.12.2024 Code SO00AD20-3032 Groups SOMI24KM
Timing 02.09.2024 - 18.10.2024 Code SO00AD20-3034 Groups SOKT24KM
Timing 07.01.2025 - 31.05.2025 Code SO00AD20-3035 Groups SOMI24SP
Timing 13.01.2025 - 23.02.2025 Code SO00AD20-3036 Groups SOKT24SP
Timing 07.10.2024 - 08.12.2024 Code SO00AD19-3031 Groups SOMI24SP
Timing 28.10.2024 - 15.12.2024 Code SO00AD19-3034 Groups SOKT24SP
Timing 01.01.2025 - 18.04.2025 Code SO00FA45-3002 Groups SOMI25KM
Timing 01.01.2025 - 31.05.2025 Code SO00FA45-3004 Groups SOKT25KV
Timing 10.03.2025 - 25.05.2025 Code SO00AD38-3036 Groups SOMI22SP
Timing 02.01.2025 - 31.12.2025 Code SO00AD38-3037 Groups SOKT23KM
Timing 02.09.2024 - 30.11.2024 Code AV00EV56-3002 Groups VV2024-2025
Timing 20.01.2025 - 01.06.2025 Code AV00EV56-3003 Groups VV2024-2025
Timing 01.01.2025 - 31.12.2025 Code VV00FP39-3001
Timing 09.09.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code MO00DS25-3188 Groups SOMI23SP
Timing 02.09.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code MO00DS25-3208 Groups SOKT23SP
Timing 13.01.2025 - 16.05.2025 Code MO00DS25-3281 Groups SOKT24KM
Timing 01.01.2025 - 30.04.2025 Code MO00DS25-3289 Groups SOMI24KM
Timing 09.09.2024 - 18.10.2024 Code SO00AD29-3024 Groups SOMI23KM
Timing 28.10.2024 - 15.12.2024 Code SO00AD29-3026 Groups SOKT23KM
Timing 13.01.2025 - 30.05.2025 Code SO00AD29-3027 Groups SOMI23SP
Timing 02.03.2025 - 17.04.2025 Code SO00AD29-3029 Groups SOKT23SP
Timing 02.09.2024 - 15.12.2024 Code SO00DT47-3013 Groups SOMI23SP
Timing 02.09.2024 - 04.10.2024 Code SO00DT47-3016 Groups SOKT23SP
Timing 13.01.2025 - 31.05.2025 Code SO00DT47-3018 Groups SOMI24KM
Timing 13.01.2025 - 07.03.2025 Code SO00DT47-3019 Groups SOKT24KM
Timing 02.09.2024 - 13.12.2024 Code KY00DS51-3301 Groups SOMI24SP
Timing 01.08.2024 - 31.12.2024 Code KY00DS51-3322 Groups SOKT24SP
Timing 13.01.2025 - 30.05.2025 Code XY00EX59-3020 Groups SOKT25KV
Timing 13.01.2025 - 16.05.2025 Code XY00EX59-3035 Groups SOMI25KM
Timing 02.09.2024 - 18.10.2024 Code MO00DS31-3008 Groups VV2024-2025 SOKT22KM SOMI22KM
Timing 13.01.2025 - 16.03.2025 Code MO00DS31-3010 Groups SOKT22SP SOMI22SP
Timing 01.08.2025 - 31.12.2025 Code SO00AD28-3028 Groups SOMI24KM