Social Work, B.A.

Social work and social challenges

Social workers are needed where societal structures meet concrete everyday situations. Whenever it is difficult to participate and shape one's life, when connecting to a globalised world with its demands for inclusion and diversity proves challenging. Many people need support to overcome these challenges.

The Bachelor's degree course in Social Work at HKS Ottersberg combines a state-recognised degree with the opportunity for artistically based personal development. It prepares you specifically for work in the current social field.

Professionalisation and personal development

In seven semesters, the programme offers comprehensive specialist and practice-related training that specifically leaves room for the artistically based development of your professional attitude. In the special context of HKS Ottersberg, the programme combines the entire range of social work knowledge with the development of artistically based and critical methodological skills. The wide selection of fine arts, dance and theatre courses is closely linked to the practical subjects that are geared towards future fields of work. Courses on case and case management and the legal foundations of social work impart practical knowledge.

Dance, theatre, painting, sculpture or performance and digital media - the social arts practised at HKS Ottersberg will enable you to develop an empathetic and introspective approach. The skills you learn will qualify you in particular for working with people for whom verbal communication is not possible or only possible to a limited extent - for example people with support needs or with a migration background.

Very good prospects

Social workers are needed and sought after everywhere and the fields of work are often found at the intersection with other disciplines (e.g. teaching). Social work graduates are involved in project work, familiarise themselves with specific cases and communicate professionally and in a process-oriented manner with participants and colleagues. The practice-based degree programme at HKS prepares you for these situations with close mentoring, intensive group work and interdisciplinary projects. The practical semester integrated into the degree programme leads into this and is the key to state recognition. Possible areas of work include educational and socio-cultural facilities at independent organisations and public authorities.

Completing the degree programme also opens the door to a subsequent Master's degree - also at HKS.