Program Overview

Course Overview

The Social Responsibility of the Child Protection and Child Welfare Profession is a foundation course at level I, worth 15 credits. It is taught in Norwegian and takes place over one semester, starting in Autumn 2025, in Trondheim.

Course Content

The course focuses on the social responsibility of child protection and child welfare workers, as stated in the national guidelines for child welfare education. It covers knowledge about children, childhood, and socialization, as well as professional roles and ethics in child welfare work. The course includes lectures on communication theory, pedagogy, and social pedagogy, and provides a method for child interviewing through skills development training. Fieldwork at primary schools is also a central part of the course, where theoretical knowledge is deepened through practical experience.

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge: The student will have knowledge of the social responsibility of the child protection and child welfare profession, including the best interests of the child, children's upbringing and socialization, children's activities, and childhood. They will also gain knowledge of communication and relationship theories, pedagogy, social pedagogy, and the use of activities in child welfare work.
• Skills: The student will be able to account for topics and theories within the child protection and child welfare profession, master relationship building and methods in interviewing children, and collaborate with children using activities. They will also be able to reflect on their own skills and self-development in interaction with others.
• General Competence: The student will have insight into the social responsibility of the child protection and child welfare profession, basic concepts of communication, ethical and emotional work, and group processes. They will master activities to promote play, learning, and inclusion in collaboration with children.

Learning Methods and Activities

The course involves student-active participation, including learning groups, self-study preparation assignments, lectures, in-depth assignments, skills development training, video, and fieldwork. Parts of the teaching and learning material may be given in English.

Compulsory Assignments

• Participation in skills training with subsequent video documentation (group).
• Participation in fieldwork.

Evaluation

The course has a compulsory activity that involves skills development training in the use of drama, play, and activities for self-development, relationship building, and communication. This is documented with a video of 3-5 minutes. Approved video submissions are a prerequisite for participation in fieldwork. The course is assessed through two written exams: an individual home exam based on participation in the fieldwork and a three-hour individual written exam. Both exams must be passed to pass the course.

Specific Conditions

Admission to a program of study is required, specifically the Social Education and Child Welfare (HSGBVB) program or similar.

Required Previous Knowledge

The course has study rights requirements, meaning it is reserved for students admitted to the Bachelor in Child Protection and Child Welfare at NTNU.

Course Materials

Course materials will be announced on Blackboard at the beginning of the course.

Credit Reductions

The course has academic overlap with BBV1001, taken in Autumn 2020. If overlapping courses are taken, a credit reduction will be applied to the course with the lowest grade or the one completed most recently if grades are the same.

Subject Areas

• Child Welfare

Examination

The examination arrangement is an aggregate score, with a grade of Passed or Not Passed. The ordinary examination in Autumn 2025 includes a school exam and a field assignment, each weighted at 1/2. The school exam is a 3-hour written exam, and the field assignment is submitted over one semester. Similar arrangements are in place for the Spring 2026 examination.