Completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Services gives the student the competence to work in social care. A person who has completed the degree can apply for the right to work as a licensed social service professional (sosionomi) from the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) (Section 8 of the Act on Social Welfare Professionals 817/2015). The Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Social Services – Early Childhood Education and Care includes early childhood education and social pedagogical studies of at least 60 ECTS. The degree gives the competence to work in the position of a licensed social service professional (sosionomi) within early childhood education and care as referred to in section 27 of the Act on Early Childhood Education and Care (540/2018).
The degree includes 90 credits of theological studies and vocational studies related to parish and church work as referred to in the decision by the General Synod on 26 August 2020 (Church statutes no. 139). The degree gives the competence required from those who hold the office of a parish coordinator for early childhood education and care in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.

BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMME IN SOCIAL SERVICES – EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE (210 ECTS)

BASIC STUDIES:
Language and communication studies 11 ECTS, Orientation studies 2 ECTS

VOCATIONAL STUDIES:
vocational studies 136 ECTS, work placement 45 ECTS, first aid in social and church sector work 1 ECTS

THESIS 15 ECTS

The studies comprise of seven thematic sections divided into study modules.
The thematic sections are:
• The basis of professional encounters and the service system 32 ECTS
• Inclusion and guidance 31 ECTS
• Variety of life paths and customer work 29 ECTS
• Applied and developing professionalism 30 ECTS
• Applied and developing expertise 32 ECTS
• Inclusive development 42 ECTS
• Critical social competence and advocacy 14 ECTS

Church studies (90 ECTS) are partially integrated with social service studies and partially separate.
They have the following structure:
• Theological studies 20 ECTS
• Church vocational studies 40 ECTS
• Parish and church working life studies 15 ECTS
• Thesis 15 ECTS

The studies follow the Community-Based Participatory Research model (CBPR) where learning and assignments can be used to benefit the development needs of the working life.

• Diak_Curriculum_BD_in_Social_Services_Early_Childhood_Education_and_Care_2020_FIN.pdf
• Diak_OPS_2019_Sosionomi_kirkon_varhaiskasvatus_2020.pdf
• vko opinnot ops2020 tod liite sosv.pdf