The Department of Social Work at Karolinska University Hospital has an agreement with the Department of Social Work at Stockholm University (SU) and with Ersta Sköndal University College (ESH) for trainee positions for social work students during their undergraduate education.
Social work program
The degree in social work requires 140–160 credits. The main subject is social work, which includes subjects such as law, social policy, psychology, and sociology. The program also includes science theory and methods for research, assessment, and development. The program concludes with an individual degree project for 10 credits. SU offers three programs: general focus, focus on social pedagogy, and focus on the elderly and people with disabilities. ESH offers a joint program for nursing and social work students.
Field studies and practical training at Karolinska University Hospital
During field studies (10 credits) in the third term, the role of the social worker is examined using scientific methods. Students become familiar with various aspects of the professional life of a social worker, write an essay about a subject relevant to social work in the healthcare setting, and present the results at a seminar in the hospital. The field studies are coordinated by contact person(s) at the Department of Social Work.
In terms 5 and 6 students spend 15–20 weeks in practical training under supervision at the social work clinic. During this period students accept increased responsibility under supervision for psychosocial treatment of patients and/or family.
Master’s program at Karolinska Institutet or Stockholm University
The psychosocial research unit at the Department of Internal Medicine, Karolinska Huddinge offers an independent 20-credit course in “Psychosocial work in the healthcare setting”. It can also be expanded upon for a master’s degree with a specialization in the subject (40 credits) at Karolinska Institutet or included in a master’s degree in social work at Stockholm University.
The master’s program in social work at SU will be completely replaced beginning with the fall term 2007 by a master’s program requiring 80 credits. Certain courses are jointly planned by SU and KI.
Postgraduate education
The program leads to a PhD and requires an additional 160 credits. Graduates from the school of social work and social workers may complete this program at either the Faculty of Social Sciences (SU) or Medicine (KI).