Diversity studies: social inclusion and justice in the areas of disability, ethnicity and gender

The master study programme Diversity studies: social inclusion and justice in the areas of disability, ethnicity and gender focuses on critical social work research in the area of disability studies, ethnicity and  migration and gender studies in social work. 

The students are encouraged to understand various dimensions, types and forms of discrimination, inequality and exclusion in neoliberalism and compare them with models of inclusive welfare systems based on social justice. The students are supported to analyse the consequences of trauma and the processes of recovery. They learn about ethical dilemmas in social work in a global perspective and become familiar with global ethical standards in social work.

The medical-asylum based approach still prevail in the treatments of persons with disabilities, therefore social workers need to learn about evidence-based research which can replace this model with a social and psychosocial transdisciplinary approach. Ethnicity and gender equality are primarily overlooked when the person enters social welfare institutions, or is treated by different welfare organisations.

Therefore, the program addresses critical social work knowledge in order to change harmful social norms and make sure that the students understand theories and methods of social work in their historical and contextual dimensions.