Ethical reflections in welfare practices (MSO295)
Whether you work in child protection services, migration, mental health, or other welfare services, ethical knowledge and ethical skills are important. Broadly speaking, ethics is about matters of right and wrong conduct, good and bad qualities. This course seeks to advance the student's understanding of the interaction between ethics and the exercise of welfare work in different welfare services and country contexts. The student's background, history and professional practices will be used as a frame of reference in classroom discussions.
Course description for study year 2024-2025
Course code
MSO295
Version
1
Credits (ECTS)
10
Semester tution start
Autumn
Number of semesters
1
Exam semester
Autumn
Language of instruction
English
Content
This course will focus on the interaction between student's practice experiences, theories, and reflections. The aims are to provide knowledge about ethical theories, enhance critical reasoning and to increase the ability to reflect upon welfare practice logics in different contexts. To study contextual practices, students will critically reflect upon practice experiences and incidents raising ethical dilemmas.
Content of the course relates to the following themes:
- Ethical theories
- Contextual Practices
- Critical reasoning and Ethical reflection
- Emotional work
- Social justice and injustice
- Child participation
- Human rights perspectives
Learning outcome
Knowledge:
- Knowledge on ethics and human justice theories
- Knowledge on critical reasoning and ethical reflection
- Knowledge on the interaction between ethical theories and welfare practices
Skills:
- Analytical skills in applying different theories and approaches into practice
- The ability to critically reflect upon the contextual construction of welfare practices
- Enhance the ability to reflect upon ethical dilemmas and apply knowledge to describe how to understand and manage ethical dilemmas in welfare practices
- Develop intercultural communication skills through the multidisciplinary and international classroom (study group)
Competences:
- Advance the students' competence to understand and demonstrate how to use theories and methods when reflecting upon welfare practices
- Advance the students' professional competence to manage, justify and control his/her own educational development
Required prerequisite knowledge
Exam
Form of assessment | Weight | Duration | Marks | Aid |
---|---|---|---|---|
Home exam | 1/1 | 1 Weeks | Letter grades | All |
The exam is a semester assignment that will be handed out in the beginning of the course. The assignment should be handed in electronically by December. The language for the exam is English. In the individual written essay, the students will reflect upon a critical incident and/or a practice experience that raises ethical dilemmas and critically reflect on the dilemma in light of ethical theories/perspectives to broaden their understanding of the incident/experience. Word count: 3 000 words (+/- 10 %) including table of contents, notes, references, and bibliography. Reference style: APA 7th.