Elective Module in the BA Social Work Programme
In the elective module, students deepen or broaden the knowledge and skills they have acquired so far, in line with their individual academic or professional goals. The courses offered within this module provide new insights into current topics, theories, methods of practice or research, or areas of professional social work practice. The module allows students to pursue a personalised area of specialisation.
The module is open to all lecturers. Interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary and international perspectives are particularly welcome, as are innovative teaching formats that expand professional and methodological skills and encourage critical reflection on professional identity. There are few content restrictions, but a clear connection to social work must be made.
Submitting an Elective Module Course Proposal
Course proposals for the elective module can be submitted each semester by the relevant re-registration deadline. The selection committee of the programme will review the submissions based on the criteria listed below. Currently, 18 courses are selected per semester. The selected courses will be included in the teaching plan for the following semester, and you will be informed accordingly.
Please submit the completed application form via the programme coordination office: sozialearbeit@ash-berlin.eu. Thank you!
Programme Selection Committee
The selection committee consists of the programme director, the module coordinator, a member of the programme coordination team, and a student assistant. The committee meets shortly after the application deadline (in May and November). Applicants will be notified promptly by the coordination office or the module coordinator, including any conditions for approval if necessary.
Application Criteria
Submission must meet the relevant deadline (1 May / 1 November of the preceding semester).
The application must be complete:
- Completed application form (max. 4 pages)
- Seminar outline including the following:
- Learning objectives
- Course content
- Teaching/learning methods
- Target group
- Participation requirements
- Information on assessments
- Literature
- Short CV and teaching experience (not required for ASH faculty members)
- Elective courses should be creative, complementary, or in-depth offerings, beeing related to social work and not already covered in the core BA Social Work curriculum.
- A diverse range of topics and teaching methods should be offered each semester.
- Courses with high demand may be repeated once per academic year (but not necessarily every semester).
- Lecturers may submit a maximum of one course per semester.
- ASH faculty members have priority over external lecturers, provided the above criteria are met.
Teaching Formats in the Elective Module
Sessions should generally take place weekly with 2 semester contact hours / one 90-minute session per week at a fixed time. Some sessions of the course may also be conducted in block format on a maximum of two days per block week (there are two block weeks per semester).
Some courses may be offered as full block courses (compact seminars) particularly during the lecture-free period in the winter semester in February/March and in the summer semester in August/September. If such an option is of interest to you please indicate this in the application form.
A participation limit (below the requirement of a maximum of 30 participants) is not permitted. Exclusion criteria may also not be specified.
Assessment
Examination/ Prüfungsleistung (PL): The elective module consists of two units that students complete during their studies. In one of the two courses, an examination (ungraded, pass/fail) must be completed. Accepted formats include: written exam, academic paper, other written formats, oral exam, presentation, or similar.
Coursework/ Studienleistung (SL): Active participation is required to receive credit for the course when no formal examination is taken. Active participation is demonstrated through ungraded coursework, which is significantly lighter in scope than an examination. The format and expectations for coursework will be communicated in writing at the start of the course
