Social Work

The lecture is an introduction of social work in Germany from a historical and theoretical perspective.

Current trends and challenges will be discussed and the interconnection of social work as a profession and the social system is highlighted

Social work is a human rights profession. The theoretical background of this conceptualisation will be introduced.

Case examples will elaborate the role of social work in human rights violations

Street-level bureaucracy theoretically centres on the normative values and practices of front-line workers in public services, as street-level bureaucrats enact public policy in their everyday routines and thus create citizenship.

In the seminar, students discuss literature on different aspects of the theory like organisation, activation, digitalisation and discrimination.

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Culture, society and history are deeply inscribed in the human body. "Disability Studies", "Cultural Studies", "Queer Studies" or "Gender Studies" reflect the discourses of power that make a difference between what's normal and what's deviant.

Looking at the body being a social and cultural construct offers a chance to intervene in social conditions.

This lecture is about the meaning of the Convention of the United Nations on the rights of persons with disabilities as a widely ratified legal document of human rights?

What's it's impact on Social Change and Cohersion from the point of view of people who are adressed as disabled and inferior?

Knowledge about theories of racism as well as racist relations and racism-critical educational work as a basis for racism-critical social work.

Awareness of racism-critical competence as key qualification in the social work by practically oriented exercises and analysis of case studies.

Students know the basic perceptions and scientific definitions of the terms education, literacy and socialisation. They understand the meaning of these conceptions and they know that social workers deal with target groups in every state of human development.

Students are also able to define the phases early childhood, childhood, youth and adulthood. Students reflect family, peergroup and school as living environments and they get first ideas about the challenges of social work within these contexts.

Why is it useful and necessary for Social Workers to think in a sociological way? We do not think and act just as individuals, but as members of society.

Being socialised, educated and enculturated in a modern world gives us an idea of freedom but in the same moment also an idea of dependency.

Analysing society is necessary to both understanding the dynamic processes of social change and questioning it's inescapability.

Talking about culture always seems to make a difference. Some may say there are inevitably clashes of culture. Cultural differences lead to conflict.

Culture defines belonging and affinity. All these attitudes towards culture widely ignore the fact that any culture is constantly changing and developing.

Understanding culture therefore means understanding the powerful processes that distinguish between inclusion and exclusion.

In this seminar, students engage with current theoretical aspects of social philosophy, citizenship and governance.

The course will provide an introduction to all three fields and students will apply these theories to current social problems.