Master's Degree Programme in Well-being Promotion, Expert in Social Services: Master's Degree Programme in Well-being Promotion, Social Services

Descriptions

The Master’s Degree Programme in Well-being Promotion trains experts to meet the needs of well-being services counties, specialised healthcare and primary healthcare, as well as private and third sectors. The degree programme enhances students' development and leadership skills required in working life, critical thinking abilities, and competence to act as experts in changing operational environments.

The degree can be completed in 1.5 years but students may also opt to complete it in two years. Teaching is primarily delivered online, though some complementary competence courses may require on-campus attendance.

Within the Master’s Programme in Well-being Promotion, students can specialise in the following fields: Expert in Social Services, Expert in Occupational Therapy or Expert in Promoting Work Ability and Employment.

Eligibility Criteria:
Applicants must hold a degree in social or healthcare fields, depending on the chosen specialisation:

Expert in Social Services
- Bachelor of Social Services
- Bachelor of Elderly Care

Expert in Occupational Therapy
- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Expert in Promoting Employment and Work Ability
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy
- Bachelor of Nursing
- Bachelor of Social Services
- Bachelor of Public Health Nursing
- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
- Bachelor of Elderly Care

The degree title depends on the student’s prior qualification, with a prefix ‘Master’s’ appended to the title.
At Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, students in the Master’s Degree Programme in Well-being Promotion can graduate with the following titles:

- Physiotherapist (Master’s Degree)
- Nurse (Master’s Degree)
- Social Services Professional (Master’s Degree)
- Public Health Nurse (Master’s Degree)
- Occupational Therapist (Master’s Degree)
- Elderly Care Specialist (Master’s Degree)

Development

The curriculum development reflects the development needs of the field and working life. The curriculum will be continuously modified and updated in collaboration with the Advisory Board of the Programme in the Promotion of Well-being and the teaching team. Feedback from students is used to ensure a student-centred approach in curriculum development.

The curriculum's objectives and content align with the national (NQF) and European (EQF) framework for higher education qualifications at level 7. The curriculum is competence-based, in line with the guidelines set by the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences Board.

Further information

Structure of studies

The 90 ECTS programme comprises the following components:

- Core studies in the chosen specialisation (30 ECTS)
- Complementary competence studies (30 ECTS)
- Master’s thesis (30 ECTS)

Research-oriented development studies are integrated into the progression of the thesis to support its completion.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is applied for previously acquired knowledge and skills at the master’s level.


Core studies (30 ECTS)

Expert in Social Services

The core studies in the Expert in Social Services specialisation of the Master’s Degree Programme in Well-being Promotion provide a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the direction in which social services are developing. Key aspects of social services development and management include digitalisation of services, social policy phenomena, customer-oriented service development, change management skills, and especially the requirements of socially sustainable development.

The goal of the studies is to enhance expertise in social services, leadership, and research-based development (Social Services Network, 2023).

The core studies of the Expert in Social Services specialisation include:

Changing Social Realities (5 ECTS)
Basics of Research-Based Development Work (5 ECTS)
Implementation of Research-Based Development Work (5 ECTS)
Ethics and Ethical Issues in Social Services (5 ECTS)
Strategic Management and Sustainable Value Creation (5 ECTS)
Future-Oriented Customer Processes in Social Services (5 ECTS)


Expert in Occupational Therapy

The core studies in the Expert in Occupational Therapy specialisation provide a broad understanding and competencies required of present and future experts in occupational therapy. In the future, in-depth knowledge of occupational therapy, multidisciplinary skills and the ability to work in multidisciplinary networks will be needed. The specialisation option in occupational therapy emphasises development and management skills to make client services more user-centred, digitalisation of services and, in particular, accountability and sustainability in the reform of occupational therapy services. Another aim is to strengthen participants' capacity to work in international occupational therapy communities.

The aim of the studies is to strengthen a broad understanding of the fundamentals of occupational therapy and the impact of social, cultural and diversity issues on the field of occupational therapy and its development. A key focus is to strengthen the students’ research expertise and their development and leadership skills.

Occupational Therapist as a Future Expert (15 ECTS)

Science of Occupation as a Foundation for Promoting Well-being and Health (5 ECTS)
Enabling Participation, Well-being and Meaningful Occupations (5 ECTS)
Occupational Therapy in a Global World (5 ECTS)

Occupational Therapist as a Developer and Researcher in the Field of Well-being and Health (15 ECTS)

Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy (5 ECTS)
Development and Impact of Occupational Therapy (5 ECTS)
User-Centred Product and Service Development and Implementation (5 ECTS)



Expert in Promoting Employment and Work Ability

The Master’s Degree Programme in Well-being Promotion with the specialisation option Expert in Promoting Employment and Work Ability provides comprehensive skills and a broad understanding of what is needed in working life today and in the future. The multidisciplinary challenges of working life require an in-depth understanding of the impact of societal changes on the development, provision and management of employment and work ability support services. The studies seek solutions to respond to these challenges, especially by developing and managing client-oriented and financially sustainable services. The promotion of social accountability and a humane working life is at the heart of the studies. The studies will explore employment and work ability issues from the perspective of society, employers, organisations promoting employment and employees.

The core studies in this specialisation include:

Promoting Employment in Society (5 ECTS)
Impact and Research Knowledge in the Anticipation and Development of Employment and Work Ability Services (5 ECTS)
Developing Networking to Promote Employment and Work Ability Services at Organisational Interfaces (5 ECTS)
Developing Well-being at Work Wellbeing and Work Ability Management in a Diverse Working Life (5 ECTS)
Managing Good Practices in Multidisciplinary Assessment of Work and Functional Ability and Employment Support Methods (5 ECTS)
Basics of Research and Development in Employment Support and Work Ability (5 ECTS)


The complementary competence component (25 ECTS + 5 ECTS)

The student builds a complementary set of competences according to their own career goals, with an emphasis on management studies, support and development studies or deepening their expertise in the field of social services. During their studies, students choose a 25-credit supplementary competence package from the common offering of the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences for social and health services degrees.

In addition, students choose 5 ECTS of elective studies.

The student plans and implements the complementary studies in accordance with a personal study and career plan.

Master’s thesis (30 ECTS)

The Master’s thesis is an integral part of the programme. It develops the student’s expertise and advances well-being services and the competencies of work communities. The thesis can also be carried out within Metropolia’s research and development projects or in collaboration with its stakeholders.

Objective

The goal of the Master’s Degree Programme in Well-being Promotion is to strengthen the students’ future working life skills in demanding expert roles in the social and healthcare sectors. The core studies address current phenomena relevant to the chosen specialisation and deepen expertise using the latest research knowledge.