Double Degree in Social Work + Practical Theology

There are many intersections between social work and practical theology: Social workers and social education workers support individuals experiencing difficult life circumstances - often including a religious dimension. And due to growing communities, pastoral work increasingly demands a social space-oriented work ethic, which in turn requires social work skills and expertise. This double degree programme unites the scope of both disciplines - qualifying you for a variety of fields of work at the interface of social work and pastoral care.

Quick facts about the course
• You will obtain the academic Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) in both study programmes as well as state recognition as a social worker/social education worker.
• The full-time study programme takes place in person and is a modular course.
• The standard course length is ten semesters.
• Credits obtained at another university shall be recognised as long as the scope and contents do not deviate significantly. Any equivalent skills and qualifications obtained shall be recognised as up to one quarter of the university course.
• We do not require you to pay tuition fees. As with any university, you only pay a semester fee for your semester ticket and other services. This fee currently stands at 320 euros. You may receive a refund for part of the fee under certain conditions.
• The double degree course is offered annually, commencing in the winter semester.

What awaits you
Within the framework of your social work course, you will learn how to identify, analyse and ultimately solve social problems together with those affected. To this end, you will acquire methodological skills such as conducting conversation, managing conflicts, as well as planning and coordinating support services. You will also develop academic skills, including reading and analysing specialist texts, applying a range of research methods and dealing with current issues in social work. Furthermore, the course of studies also includes theories of social work and the basics of the important reference sciences comprising psychology, sociology, education and law.
The study of practical theology, in turn, will provide you with important knowledge of theological disciplines such as church history, pastoral theology and liturgical studies. You will also be introduced to professional methods, and as such you will learn to preach, how to teach religion, how to manage crisis talks and much more besides. In addition to academic learning, vocation-related spirituality also plays an underlying role. This concerns questions such as: What does spirituality mean to you and to others - and how can you respectfully promote and attentively support any form of religious expression?
During the double degree course, you will complete a total of three practical phases, all of which are framed by lectures and seminars. Both elements of the double degree programme contain several identical areas of competence that are mutually recognised. As such, the double degree course enables you to obtain two Bachelor's degrees in only ten semesters.

What you should bring with you
To embark on this degree programme you should be a member of the Catholic Church. You will also be interested in social and theological issues and intrigued by the interdisciplinary examination of social and church topics. It is also important that you possess strong communication skills and a keenness for networking. Ideally, you will have been active in the social and/or church sector in a voluntary capacity before starting your studies.
If you also satisfy the following requirements, you can submit a direct application to us for a place on our degree course:
• You either possess the general or subject-specific higher education entrance qualification, or the advanced technical college entrance qualification.
• Or you have completed vocational training with a grade of 2.5 or better. Alternatively, you are able to demonstrate further professional qualification in the form of a master craftsman's examination or a comparable examination.
• If you have no previous practical experience in the social sector, you also need to complete a three-month pre-study internship so that you can determine whether this career path is truly right for you.