Is social commitment very important to you, and are you keen to work with widely diverse individuals? As a social worker/social education worker, this Bachelor's degree prepares you for supporting people with difficult life circumstances and promoting their development. During your study programme, you can specialise in certain age ranges or social groups, for example children, young people or senior citizens, but also addiction sufferers, refugees or families from socially deprived areas.
Degree: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), including State Recognition as a Social Worker / Social Pedagogue
Teaching Language: German
Standard Period of Study: 7 semesters
Start of Studies: Winter semester
Application Period: February 1 to June 30 each year
Type of Program: Full-time, on campus
International Opportunities: Optional study abroad semester or internship abroad
Internship: Practical phase in a social institution or public authority (7 months)
Study Places / Admission: The Catholic University of Applied Sciences Mainz does not have a numerus clausus (NC). However, the number of study places is limited and spots are allocated based on a points system.
Costs: There are no tuition fees for this program. Only a semester fee is required, covering the semester ticket and additional services.
During your study programme you will learn how to identify, analyse and ultimately solve social problems together with those affected. To this end, you will acquire methodological skills such as conducting conversation, managing conflicts, as well as planning and coordinating support services. You will also develop academic skills, including reading and analysing specialist texts, applying a range of research methods and dealing with current issues in social work.
Furthermore, the course of studies also includes theories of social work and the basics of the important reference sciences comprising psychology, sociology, education and law. The degree is a generalistic programme by design - you will be qualified for a wide range of careers, enabling you to find a position in all fields of social work.
An important element of the course is a practical period spent in a social institution or authority, which lasts seven months and is mutually prepared, guided and reviewed. You can also complete all or part of your internship abroad. A semester abroad can, for example, also be undertaken at one of our partner universities around the world.
In the last two semesters, you will deepen your knowledge in one of two subject areas.
This action-specific specialisation allows you to put the art and media education skills you have learned in the lecture and the two media block weeks into practice. You will gain knowledge of methods and content related to cultural and media education practice, which you can apply directly in a self-organised project.
To prepare for the specialisation, you can attend a preliminary course on the same topic. This is optional and voluntary. To obtain the module grade, a term paper must be written in one of the two action-specific specialisations. The content of the term paper is the scientific classification and reflection of the practical projects.
You can obtain a separate certificate for participating in the action-specific specialisation in the field of cultural and media education. The prerequisites include passing the module examination ‘Cultural Education, Media Education, Communication’, full participation in the action-specific specialisation, including the completion of all required coursework (presentations, minutes, active contributions, lesson preparations, etc.), and participation in a freely chosen preliminary course in cultural and media education.
The following action-specific specialisations are currently offered in the field of cultural and media education:
In lectures and seminars, you will acquire basic information on health and disease phenomena relevant to social work:
Excursions and lectures by external speakers will give you direct insights into prevention and self-help-related fields of work and areas of public health care/health insurance.
Participation in a first aid seminar and two health-related training events of personal interest are expected. The creation of a prevention/information flyer on a freely chosen health topic and possibly a short presentation to the group is required coursework. These will be equivalent to an examination in combination with a term paper.
You should know beforehand: We are a cosmopolitan university and we welcome people of all religions as well as those of no religious denomination. Vital is that you share our humanistic values. This degree programme also requires that you demonstrate qualities such as highly developed social skills, empathy, tolerance and a sense of responsibility. It is also important that you possess strong communication skills and are able to deal constructively with conflicts.
If you also satisfy the following requirements, you can submit a direct application to us for a place on our degree course:
Head of Study Programme