The Programme Characteristic:

The interdisciplinary Social Work programme is located in social sciences. It is related to such disciplines as sociology, psychology, pedagogy. Social Work students gain theoretical knowledge and practical skills which are important for professional social workers. Apart from sociology, psychology and pedagogy courses the program includes such modules as: law, economy, anthropology. philosophy, etc. The aim of the programme is to provide students with general knowledge that enable them to communicate effectively and to interpret and explain social phenomena, and detailed knowledge which is concentrated on helping people. Thus, social work is an applied discipline focused on processes of understanding, helping and supporting in aspiration for independence those who are disadvantaged.

The main educational goal of the Social Work programme is to prepare students to work as professional social workers in institutionalized social assistance as well as in social service. They gain social workers’ professional skills during practical courses, i.e. trainings, workshops, projects. Besides, the stress is laid on creating proper and responsible attitudes among students – they should be focused on cooperation and partnership.

Social Work graduates are entitled to exercise the profession of social worker, which is regulated by law (according to The Social Assistance Act of 12.03.2004 as amended).

General learning outcomes

Social Work graduates have qualifications and skills which enable them to work in the broadly defined welfare sector, in nongovernmental organizations or in state and local government administrations responsible for the implementation of social policy tasks. They also display skills related to development of strategies for solving social problems and those connected with the management of social work. The sociological education of students is oriented towards the development and strengthening of social attitudes and of the willingness to participate in changes at local, regional and supra-regional levels. 

Social Work graduates acquire:

• general knowledge about human being, processes and social structures in which people are involved;
• sociological, psychological and pedagogical knowledge that enable them to understand man-environment system and human body processes which determine psycho and social wellbeing;
• knowledge of law and economy that provides them with understanding the specificity of social service system, the mechanisms influencing the system of division and the functioning of social services and their formal-legal instruments;
• competences and abilities indispensible for professional social worker, i.e.: they should be able to diagnose situations and phenomena which may cause social problems and pathologies; they should understand the reasons of social structures’ dysfunctions; they are able to identify factors which make said problems permanent; they can select an adequate model of aid or prevention program; they are capable to use methods, techniques and means typical for social intervention and to evaluate actions aimed at solving problems with: limited possibilities of reaching livelihood, the dysfunctioning of a family in fulfilling its tasks of care and upbringing, disability, social pathology and social maladjustment; they are able to restore or maintain proper interaction between individuals and society; they can stimulate individual resourcefulness (self-help activities); they should have the ability to predict social changes and to initiate new forms of aid to individuals, families and communities;
• abilities of solving problems connected with social inefficiency caused by poverty, orphanhood, homelessness, disability, old age, helplessness in matters of parental care (especially in single parent families and in large families), alcoholism, drug-addiction, delinquency, difficulties in adjusting to life after prison, migrations and refugeedom.

Other important aspect of the education is to prepare students to continue 2nd degree studies and to make them realize the importance of their professional skills permanent improvement.

Career opportunities

Social Work graduates are entitled to exercise the profession of social worker, which is regulated by law. They have qualifications and skills which enable them to work in the broadly defined welfare sector, in nongovernmental organizations or in state and local government administrations responsible for the implementation of social policy tasks. They are prepared to work in regional centres for social policy, social welfare centres, county family assistance centres and centres for social assistance, as well as for work  with foster families, in care and educational institutions, in social assistance homes for the elderly and for the intellectually, physically and mentally impaired, in the offices of organisations devoted to employment matters and the prevention of unemployment, in support centres, in facilities for the homeless, for alcoholics and drug users, in penitentiaries, in centres for immigrants and in the non-governmental organisations devoted to the diagnosis and prevention of the aforementioned problems.

Additional information for candidate

In the Social Work programme approximately 1/3 of the course is in the form of practice. Students acquire practical skills during practical courses (workshops, trainings, projects) and  in various welfare institutions. Students serve obligatory internships and participate in field practice, which aim to introduce them to social work practice (inspections and visitations at said institutions).

During the recruitment process (especially for the part-time programme) candidates and volunteers currently working in welfare institutions will be prioritized.

For candidates with NEW MATURA EXAM

Admission to studies is based on secondary school-leaving grades – the results of the written part of Matura exam are taken into consideration:

Matura exam from 2010:

* Basic level result multiplied x 0.6; advanced level result multiplied x 1.

The more favourable result for the candidate is taken into consideration.

** Chosen subject is understood as a subject taken by the candidate in the Matura exam as additional or mandatory. The chosen subject can also be Polish language, mathematics, modern foreign language,  provided that these subjects were taken at the basic and advanced level. The same subject cannot be indicated at the same level twice. The more favourable result for the candidate is taken into consideration.

Method of calculating the final result:

W = a*JP + b*M + c*JO + d*DowolnyP
where:
W — candidate’s final result
JP  – result in the Polish language
M — result in mathematics
JO  – result in a modern foreign language
Dowolny P — result in the chosen Matura exam subject
a, b, c, d — weights.

Matura exam until 2009 inclusive:

* Basic level result multiplied x 0.6; advanced level result multiplied x 1.

The more favourable result for the candidate is taken into consideration.

** Chosen subject is understood as a subject taken by the candidate in the Matura exam as additional or mandatory. The chosen subject can also be Polish language and modern foreign language, provided that these subjects were taken at the basic and advanced level. The same subject cannot be indicated at the same level twice. The more favourable result for the candidate is taken into consideration.

Method of calculating the final result:

W = a*JP + b*JO + c*InnyP1 + d*DowolnyP2
where:
W — candidate’s final result
JP  – result in the Polish language
JO  – result in a modern foreign language
DowolnyP1; 2 — results in chosen Matura exam subjects
a, b, c, d — weights.

For candidates with OLD MATURA EXAM

Admission to studies is based on secondary school-leaving grades – the results of all Matura exam subjects are taken into consideration.

The basis for admission is the arithmetic mean of the number of points, converted from grades in line with the below formula:

• The candidate who obtained the International Baccalaureate diploma, issued by the International Baccalaureat Organization based in Geneva, are subject to the same admission rules as holders of “new” Polish maturity exam. The results on the diploma of International Baccalaureate are calculated according to the following indicators:

In case the candidate does not submit the International Baccalaureate diploma, for the sake of qualification, the candidate is obliged to submit the certificate about the IB result issued by the appropriate institution and present the IB diploma immediately after its reception.

NOTE: If the admissions criteria for the programme assume additional entrance exams for the holders of “new” Polish maturity exams, the following factors are concerned during the qualification: result from IB diploma calculated according to the scale above and the results of the additional entrance exam.

The candidate who obtained the European Baccalaureate diploma, issued by European Schools in accordance to the Luxemburg Convention of 21 June 1994 about the European School status, are subject to the same admission rules as holders of “new” Polish maturity exam. The results on the diploma of European Baccalaureate are treated as results of the extended “new” Polish maturity exams and are calculated according to the following indicators:

In case the candidate does not submit the European Baccalaureate diploma, for the sake of qualification, the candidate is obliged to submit the certificate about the EB result issued by the appropriate institution and present the EB diploma immediately after its reception.

NOTE: If the admissions criteria for the programme assume additional entrance exams for the holders of “new” Polish maturity exams, the following factors are concerned during the qualification: result from EB diploma calculated according to the scale above and the results of the additional entrance exam.

The candidate who has obtained the secondary school graduation certificate (or another document) issued outside Poland may apply for studies. The document has to entitle the holder to undertaking Bachelor studies in the country in which the document was issued.

For candidates which are Polish citizens or apply for studies on the same rules as Polish citizens, the admission procedures defined in the programme’s description apply.

Foreign candidates applying for studies on other basis (tuition-paying, tuition-free, scholarships) are accepted for studies under regulations other than noted in the admission criteria. 

If programme’s admission criteria require mark in Polish language :
The candidates applying as Polish citizens or on the same rules as Polish, which finished secondary education outside Poland, will have the mark of that country’s language taken into account instead of Polish language mark.

In the case of candidates who have a secondary school-leaving certificate or other document authorising them to take up 1st cycle studies or long-cycle studies issued abroad, the grades in the document authorising them to take up studies in the country of document issue are taken into consideration. Additionally, WKR may take into consideration the grades in external exams in the countries where such exams are conducted, e.g.: result of CT exam in the case of Belarus, result of EGE exam in the case of Russia, and result of ZNO exam in the case of Ukraine. The results of these exams shall be regarded as equivalent to Polish advanced Matura exam.

Note: If programme’s admission criteria under “new” Polish maturity exam include additional entrance exams the results of BOTH entrance exam and secondary school graduation certificate are considered.