Social Work, Master of Arts

These are the requirements for the Master's in Social Work

With your Master's in Social Work, you could work, for example, as the head of a child and youth welfare facility or in the field of social services.

To be admitted to the part-time Master's program in Social Work with 120 ECTS at IU International University, you must have obtained a first academic degree from a state-recognized or public university, such as a Bachelor's or Master's degree. The final grade of your degree should be at least 'Satisfactory'.

Furthermore, your primary academic focus should be in the field of Social Work or a related discipline. If your primary degree does not have a focus on Social Work or a related field, you can still be admitted through a Master's entrance examination.

In addition, you can have extensive prior learning recognized to shorten your study time in distance learning and save on tuition fees. For instance, credits earned in previous Master's programs can be recognized. Extensive work experience in the field of Social Work can also be recognized by the university. It is best to submit your application for recognition along with your initial application.

These are the study contents in the online degree program Social Work

This Master's program at IU includes approximately 17 modules that you will take and complete over the course of 4 semesters of standard study time. Each module is worth 5-10 credit points (ECTS) and concludes with an examination, such as a term paper or an exam. In total, you will accumulate 120 credit points from module to module and from semester to semester.

The typical course progression plan for full-time studies in Social Work looks as follows:

• Semester 1: Methodology, Social Work Research I – Qualitative Methods, Leadership, Project Management Methods, Developmental Lines of Social Work in Discipline and Profession
• Semester 2: Social Inequality, Inclusion and Exclusion, Social Pedagogy, Clinical Psychology, Health Psychology and Sociology, Social Work Research II – Quantitative Methods, Intercultural and International Social Work
• Semester 3: Communication Skills, Counseling and Mediation, Current Topics in Social Work, Elective Module A, Elective Module B
• Semester 4: Master's Thesis

What distinguishes the Master's program in Social Work at IU are the many opportunities to deepen your knowledge in elective areas according to your own interests and professional fields.

For the first specialization, you can choose from these exciting modules: Early Childhood Education, Clinical Social Work and Health Promotion, Social Space Orientation and Networking.

For the second specialization, you can choose one of these study modules: Early Childhood Education, Health Care Management A, Human Resource Management, International Management, Clinical Social Work and Health Promotion, Communication and Public Relations, Organizational and Personnel Development, Employment Law, Social Space Orientation and Networking, Economics.

How flexible is the standard study time in distance learning Social Work?

At IU International University, in the part-time distance learning program for working professionals, you can choose from 3 study models:

• In full-time studies, the standard study time is 4 semesters or 24 months. You can extend the standard study time by up to 2 semesters or 12 months at no additional cost. Full-time studies in Social Work are particularly suitable for those who are not employed or work only a few hours per week.
• In part-time studies I, the standard study time is 6 semesters or 36 months. You can extend the standard study time by up to 2 semesters or 12 months at no additional cost. Part-time studies I are suitable, for example, if you work part-time alongside your studies.
• In part-time studies II, the standard study time is 8 semesters or 48 months. You can extend the standard study time by up to 2 semesters or 12 months at no additional cost. Part-time studies II are particularly suitable if you are heavily involved in your professional life alongside your distance learning studies.

By the way, you can also take a semester off during the course of your studies at no additional cost.

How does online learning work at IU?

A study program that adapts to your life: In online studies at IU, you learn flexibly and digitally whenever and wherever you want to learn.

In the Master's distance learning program in Social Work at IU International University, there is no attendance requirement – you learn continuously from home, in the library of your choice, or wherever you can best learn.

You can complete your modules and lectures whenever you want. This allows you to flexibly create your study plan and semester schedule.

Central to IU's distance learning is your interactive study scripts. You will receive the scripts in printed form as well as digitally as PDFs and for tablets. Through the smart IU Learn app, you can access scripts for your Social Work studies as well as from all other distance learning programs at IU.

Through myCampus, IU's online campus, you also have access to additional materials, such as videos. You can interact with your lecturers and fellow students, for example, in virtual live formats, such as interactive lectures.

And exams? You can take them as online exams if you prefer. You can take an online exam at any time once you feel sufficiently prepared with the study material. Alternatively, you can take the exam at one of IU's numerous exam centers throughout Germany.