There are many intersections between social work and practical theology: Social workers and social education workers support individuals experiencing difficult life circumstances - often including a religious dimension. And due to growing communities, pastoral work increasingly demands a social space-oriented work ethic, which in turn requires social work skills and expertise. This double degree programme unites the scope of both disciplines - qualifying you for a variety of fields of work at the interface of social work and pastoral care.
Degree: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - includes state recognition as a social worker/social pedagogue
Standard period of study: 10 semesters
Start of programme: Winter semester
Application deadline: 1 February to 30 June of each year
Type of programme: Full-time, on campus
Internationality: Semester abroad possible
Internship:
Social work: Practical phase in a social institution or public authority (7 months)
Practical theology: Internship in a social welfare institution or parish (7 weeks); school internship (5 weeks)
Study places / NC: There is no restricted admission (NC) at the Catholic University of Applied Sciences Mainz. However, study places are limited. Places are allocated according to a points system.
Costs: There are no tuition fees for this programme. As at any university, only a semester fee is payable for the semester ticket and other services.
Within the framework of your social work course, 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 study of practical theology, in turn, will provide you with important knowledge of theological disciplines such as church history, pastoral theology and liturgical studies. You will also be introduced to professional methods, and as such you will learn to preach, how to teach religion, how to manage crisis talks and much more besides. In addition to academic learning, vocation-related spirituality also plays an underlying role. This concerns questions such as: What does spirituality mean to you and to others - and how can you respectfully promote and attentively support any form of religious expression?
During the double degree course, you will complete a total of three practical phases, all of which are framed by lectures and seminars. Both elements of the double degree programme contain several identical areas of competence that are mutually recognised. As such, the double degree course enables you to obtain two Bachelor's degrees in only ten semesters.
The course content and objectives are identical to those of the Bachelor's degree programmes in Social Work and Practical Theology:
With this dual degree, you will be ideally qualified for a career in various fields, e.g.
Potential employers include dioceses, charitable institutions, church associations, welfare organisations, as well as cities and municipalities.
To embark on this degree programme you should be a member of the Catholic Church. You will also be interested in social and theological issues and intrigued by the interdisciplinary examination of social and church topics. It is also important that you possess strong communication skills and a keenness for networking. Ideally, you will have been active in the social and/or church sector in a voluntary capacity before starting your studies.
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