Social Work in Ecosocial Transition 5 op 5 ECTS
Responsible university: University of Jyväskylä, code of the course: STOS3013
Start of the module January 2025
Target group: Advanced studies of social work (not for exchange students)
Learning objectives/outcomes: The student understands the links between sustainable development and environmental and economic issues in social work, and that ecological sustainability is crucial for transgenerational, local and global responsibility in social work. The student understands the importance of ecosocial transition in social work and the role and opportunities of social work in the transition. The student recognizes different ways of implementing ecosocial work in social work environments.
Content: The course introduces the concepts of ecosocial transition and ecosocial approach, and their historical development and current discussions in social work. In addition, the course provides concrete applications and tools on how to implement ecosocial work in different settings.
Course structure: E-learning course
Content and assignment description: The course consists of online lectures and other material, on the basis of which the student makes assignments.
Election criteria (Sosnet e-learning course): The first 20 applicants (other than from the University of Jyväskylä) will be admitted to the course.
Assessment and grading: 0–5
Literature:
- Boetto, H. (2017) A Transformative Eco-Social Model: Challenging Modernist Assumptions in Social Work. British Journal of Social Work 47, 48-67.
- Ramsay, S. & Boetto, H. (2017) Environmental Social Work: A Concept Analysis. British Journal of Social Work 47, 68-86.
- Matthies, A. & Närhi, K. (2018) The ecosocial approach in social work as a framework for structural social work. International Social work 61(4), 490-502.
- Ranta-Tyrkkö, S. & Närhi, K. (2021) Striving to strengthen the ecosocial framework in social work in Finland. Community Development Journal 56(4), 608-625. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsab030
- Stamm, I. et al. (2023) The ecosocial paradigm in social work: striving for planetary well-being. In Elo, M., Hytönen, J., Karkulehto, S., Kortetmäki, T., Kotiaho, J.S., Puurtinen, M. & Salo, M. (eds.) Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Planetary Well-being. London: Routledge, 177-188. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/oa-edit/10.4324/9781003334002-18/ecosocial-paradigm-social-work-ingo-stamm-satu-ranta-tyrkk%C3%B6-aila-leena-matthies-kati-n%C3%A4rhi
and selected chapters from Matthies, Aila-Leena & Närhi, Kati (eds.) The Ecosocial Transition of Societies. The Contribution of Social Work and Social Policy. Abingdon: Routledge (ISBN 9781317034605 verkko)
and Other material to be announced separately in the course.
Number of participants: Limited.
More information: The module will be carried out in University of Jyväskylä Moodle.
Responsible university: University of Jyväskylä
Authors: Satu Ranta-Tyrkkö and Kati Närhi
Responsible teacher: Satu Ranta-Tyrkkö
Assisting teachers: Kati Närhi
Inquiries (other than JYU students): Mari Suonio mari.suonio(a)uef.fi