Multicultural Social Work (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Objective

After completion of the course the student is able to
- identify key topics related to multicultural social work
- identify the meaning of culture in communication and interaction
- analyze migrant experiences, forced migration and family reunification
- analyze how intersectional perspectives could be applied in social work practices
- apply issues of multicultural social work into social work practice.

Execution methods

Non-stop virtual course.
Teaching profile for University of Lapland: ONLINE 2.

Accomplishment methods

Lectures, readings, learning tasks and an essay.

Content

Anti-racist social work, intersectionality, migration and forced migration, inter-cultural communication and family reunification.

Location and time

Non-stop virtual course.
Teaching profile for University of Lapland: ONLINE 2.

Materials

Lectures: anti-racist social work, intersectionality, migrant experiences, inter-cultural communication, forced migration and family reunification.

Literature list is found in course Moodle. 

Teaching methods

This course is a nonstop virtual course in Moodle that consists of pre-recorded lectures, literature and an essay.

Exam schedules

Nonstop course, no essay deadlines. If you are not satisfied with your grade, you may improve your essay after a discussion with the teacher.

Student workload

Number of ECTS credits: 5 cr (average student workload: 135 hours)

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Fail (0): The assignment shows a very insufficient mastery of the themes of the course. The performance does not correspond to the scope, content and structure of the assignment. The assignment is done in a highly deficient or erroneous ways. The use of course materials does not correspond at all to the given instructions.

Sufficient (1): The assignment shows poor mastery of the themes of the course. The performance does not for the most part, in terms of content or structure, comply with the assignment. Performance is limited. The course's lectures and other material are discussed descriptively and one-sidedly. The text does not show much of one's own thinking and reflection. The text is mainly repeating the course lectures and/or other material. The performance may contain errors or ambiguities. There are clear flaws and ambiguities in the use of course material.

Satisfactory (2): The assignment shows a moderate mastery of the themes of the course. There are minor shortcomings in the compliance with the assignment. In the performance, issues are dealt with superficially. The assignment is focused on repetitively describing the course lectures and/or other material. The interpretation of the lectures and other material remains thin and uncritical. In execution, the use of sources does not fully correspond to the assignment.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good (3): The assignment shows mastery of the main themes of the course. The performance follows the given task. Lectures and other material of the course are discussed in accordance with the given instructions. There is independent thinking in the performance, but critical reflection and argumentation is quite moderate.

Very good (4): The assignment shows a good mastery of the themes of the course and is done according to the given task. Lectures and other materials of the course are discussed in an interpretative and reflective manner showing independent thinking. The approach is analytical, selective and summarizing. The use of course materials corresponds well to the instructions for assignment.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5): The assignment shows an excellent mastery of the course themes. The performance matches the assignment perfectly. The assignment is carefully executed and versatile showing independent, analytical and critical thinking. Lectures and other materials are used generating new insights. The use of sources corresponds perfectly to the given instructions.

Further information

Essay instructions:
Write an essay on multicultural social work. You can use the following question in preparing your essay:
-what is multicultural social work: what is the content of it and what are the important concepts in multicultural and culturally sensitive social work
-what is culturally competent social work: what is its objective, what are its features and dimensions, what are culturally appropriate intervention strategies in working with a diverse clientele

The paper should be 12-15 pages long and in addition to the lectures you should use at least four scientific articles in the essay. You can use the articles mentioned in the lectures but you can also use other scientific articles on the subject.