The group of study fields:
Social Sciences
Field of study program:
Social Work
Code of study program:
6531JX015
Type of study program:
Undergraduate (college higher education) study programme
Cycle of study program:
Professional Bachelor degree programme
Language of study program:
Lithuanian, English (for ERASMUS+ only)
Credits and form of study program:
180 credits. Full-time studies - 3 years, part-time studies - 4 years.
Social Work – Your Path to a Meaningful Career and Creating Change in Society
If you care about people, want to contribute to the well-being of society, and are looking for a meaningful and responsible profession, the Social Work study programme could be your choice. The programme is delivered by the Faculty of Medicine. Upon completion of the studies, you will be awarded a Professional Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences and the qualification of a social worker.
Why choose this programme?
Flexible study opportunities. The programme is delivered using a modular system that provides flexibility and encourages student independence and responsibility. You can choose between full-time session-based studies (3 years) or part-time studies (4 years), allowing you to combine studies with work. Full-time students are covered by state-funded compulsory health insurance.
Practical experience from the first year. Throughout your studies, you will be actively involved in practical activities – participating in student conferences, projects, volunteering initiatives, and collaboration with social partners. This will help you gain experience and better understand real-life social work practice.
Experience in a real working environment. Professional placements are carried out in various institutions and community settings providing social services. Internships are organised based on cooperation and social partnership principles, ensuring that your knowledge is applied in real-life situations.
International opportunities. Students have the opportunity to study and undertake placements abroad (Latvia, Turkey, Portugal, Poland, etc.), gaining international experience and broadening their professional perspective.
Career opportunities. After graduation, you will be able to work in social protection, education, healthcare, law enforcement, and other sectors – in public, non-governmental, or private organisations. Social work is carried out at the level of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society. You will acquire competencies to initiate social change, empower individuals, strengthen their independence and responsibility, and contribute to the development of social well-being and the protection of human rights.
Further studies. After completing the programme, you may continue your studies at the Master’s level and later pursue doctoral studies, in accordance with the requirements of higher education institutions.
For students admitted from 2022
The aim of the study programme is to prepare social workers who are able to to initiate social change in society, empowering people and increasing their social responsibility and the social responsibility of society's institutions, thus contributing to the achievement of society's goals, such as civic participation, the creation of wealth and the guarantee of human rights.
Expected learning outcomes are:
Knowledge and its application. A graduate:
1.1. Have knowledge of social work theory and methods, the development of the social work profession in the country, theories of human behaviour and change, social problems and their expression in the social environment, the principles of professional ethics, applied research methodology, human rights and social justice, national social policy, the organisation of social work, interprofessional co-operation, information, communication and assistive technologies, and the principles of sustainable development, and applies this knowledge to the identification of the need for social services, the provision of social services to clients and applied research
1.2. Have a basic understanding of theories in the social sciences, humanities and other sciences and apply them in the delivery of social services to clients.
Research skills. A graduate:
2.1 Carries out practice-oriented applied social work research and interprets its findings in the context of specific social service delivery institutions and social policy.
2.2. Applies applied research findings to specific social problems, professional development and social work innovations.
Special abilities. A graduate:
3.1. Identifies, analyses and assesses the needs and strengths of the individual, family, group, community (hereinafter referred to as the client); follows regulatory legislation and institutional documents; develops the social, hygiene and work skills of the individual; predicts the possible occurrence of social problems in the community, plans, provides and documents social services, assesses their impact on the client, applies various social work methods, building a relationship of mutual trust with the client, representing the rights and interests of the client, using internal and environmental resources, motivating and empowering the client for self-help.
3.2. Develops and implements client support plans and social projects at institutional, regional and national level, allocates resources appropriately, evaluates the effectiveness of social services and programmes.
3.3. Cooperates with representatives of various institutions in the organisation and delivery of social services to empower clients, thereby contributing to social well-being.
3.4. Analyses and explains the impact of social policy on the promotion of human rights and the reduction of social exclusion.
3.5. In practice, is guided by the principles of social justice, human rights, social work values and professional ethics, and provides insights for improving their implementation.
Social skills. A graduate:
4.1. Communicate and cooperate effectively with clients, colleagues, team members and other professionals, politicians, the media and academics, guided by the principles of mutual respect, understanding and understanding, and ethical standards.
4.2. Expresses himself/herself fluently and persuasively, both orally and in writing, and communicates effectively in the professional environment and in the community in both Lithuanian and foreign languages.
4.3. Discuss relevant professional issues in order to develop and strengthen the social work profession.
Personal abilities. A graduate:
5.1 Reflect, analyse and critically evaluate their own professional activities and understand the importance of lifelong learning.
5.2 Make decisions independently in a given situation and draw on professional knowledge.
5.3 Gathers and organises information from national and international information sources, uses information, communication and assistive technologies, responsibly handles confidential information in a responsible manner.
5.4.Take care of his/her own personal knowledge and development, improve his/her professional qualifications, disseminate good practice and develop the image of the social work profession.
For students admitted from 2021
The aim of the study programme is to prepare high qualified social workers who can initiate social change in society, enable people to improve their own social responsibility and public institutions social responsibility, while helping for society to achieve goals, such as civic participation, welfare development and assuring the human rights.
Study achievements of the student:
Knowledge - knows and apply the practical professional knowledge based on most recent discoveries, while identifying and solving the complex concrete or abstract operational problems.
Researching abilities - is able to collect and analyze the data needed for the specific work and innovation issues.
Special abilities - is able to plan, organize, implement and evaluate practical work in a particular sphere, while individually choosing technological, organizational and methodological tools.
Social abilities - is able to communicate with professionals and other persons while dealing with professional tasks. Takes responsibility for own and their workers quality of performance in accordance with professional ethics and public spirit. Is able to convey the knowledge of its field and understanding to the learners.
Personal abilities - is able to learn individually in their professional field. Understands the moral responsibility for their activities and their impact on the society, on economic and cultural development, welfare and the environment.
The students study these subjects:
Full-time studies:
| 1st year |
1st semester | 2nd semester | ||
| Module | Credits | Module | Credits | |
| Ist MODULE. PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT | 17 | IIIrd MODULE. INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK |
15 | |
| Information technology and data processing in social work | 6 | Introduction to social work and professional ethics | 6 | |
| Moral philosophy in social work | 3 | Social politics and economy | 3 | |
| Sociology and social ecology | 5 | Fundamentals of law in social work | 6 | |
| Human safety and first aid | 3 | IVth MODULE. FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIAL WORK | 15 | |
| IInd MODULE. PROFESSIONAL LANGUAGE |
10 | Psychology in social work and communication practice | 6 | |
| Professional foreign language | 6 | Self-development for social workers | 3 | |
| Language Culture and Professional Language | 4 | Social work theories and practice models | 6 | |
| Introductory practice | 3 | |||
| 2nd year |
3rd semester | 4th semester | ||
| Module | Credits | Module | Credits | |
| Vth MODULE. SOCIAL WORK WITH CLIENTS |
15 | VIIth MODULE. SOCIAL EDUCATION AND SERVICES |
15 | |
| Individual social work | 5 | Andragogy | 3 | |
| Counseling in social work | 5 | Social education | 3 | |
| Social work with family | 5 | Social services and documentation | 6 | |
| VIth MODULE. METHODS OF SOCIAL WORK |
15 | Social research | 3 | |
| Crisis intervention in social work | 5 | Practice of social work in non-stationary social service institutions | 9 | |
| Social work in the community and volunteering | 5 | Optional subjects | 3 | |
| Social work with a group | 5 | Optional subjects | 3 | |
| 3rd year | 5th semester | 6th semester | ||
| Module | Credits | Module | Credits | |
|
VIIIth MODULE. SOCIAL WELFARE AND HEALTH |
18 |
IXth MODULE. SOCIO-CULTURAL WORK |
12 | |
|
Social work case management |
3 | Cultural diversity and communication | 4 | |
| Social work in gerontology | 3 | Social projects and programs | 4 | |
| Social work in the health care system | 6 | Basics of social entrepreneurship | 4 | |
| Social rehabilitation and integration | 6 | Social work practice with cases (with supervision) | 9 | |
| Basics of graduate thesis preparation | 3 | Graduate thesis preparation and evaluation | 9 | |
| Inpatient institutional social work practice with supervision | 9 | |||
Part-time studies:
| 1st year (admitted since 2022) |
1st semester | 2nd semester | ||
| Module | Credits | Module | Credits | |
| Ist MODULE. PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT | 17 | IInd MODULE. PROFESSIONAL LANGUAGE | 10 | |
| Information technology and data processing in social work | 6 | Professional foreign language | 6 | |
| Moral philosophy in social work | 3 | Language culture and professional language | 4 | |
| Sociology and social ecology | 5 | IIIrd MODULE. INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK | 15 | |
| Human safety and first aid | 3 | Introduction to social work and professional ethics | 6 | |
| Introductory practice | 3 | Social politics and economy | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of law in social work | 6 | |||
| 2nd year (admitted since 2022) |
3rd semester | 4th semester | ||
| Module | Credits | Module | Credits | |
| IVth MODULE. FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIAL WORK | 15 | Vth MODULE. SOCIAL WORK WITH CLIENTS | 15 | |
| Psychology in social work and communication practice | 6 | Social work with family | 5 | |
| Self-development for social workers | 3 | VIth MODULE. METHODS OF SOCIAL WORK | 15 | |
| Social work theories and practice models | 6 | Crisis intervention in social work | 5 | |
| Vth MODULE. SOCIAL WORK WITH CLIENTS | 15 | Social work in the community and volunteering | 5 | |
| Individual social work | 5 | Social work with a group | 5 | |
| Counseling in social work | 5 | |||
| 3rd year (admitted since 2022) |
5th semester | 6th semester | ||
| Module | Credits | Module | Credits | |
| VIIth MODULE. SOCIAL EDUCATION AND SERVICES |
15 | VIIIth MODULE. SOCIAL WELFARE AND HEALTH | 18 | |
| Andragogy | 3 | Social work case management | 3 | |
| Social education | 3 | Social work in gerontology | 3 | |
| Social services and documentation | 6 | Social work in the health care system | 6 | |
| Social research | 3 | Social rehabilitation and integration | 6 | |
| Practice of social work in non-stationary social service institutions | 9 | Optional subjects | 3 | |
| 4th year (admitted 2021) |
7th semester | 8th semester | ||
| Module | Credits | Module | Credits | |
| XI MODULE. SOCIAL WORK WITH ELDERLY PEOPLE | 10 | XIII MODULE. THE FINAL MODULE |
30 | |
| Social Services in Gerontology | 6 | Final Professional Activity Practice | 21 | |
| Human Rights | 2 | Supervision | ||
| Social Rehabilitation and Integration of Elderly People | 2 | The Graduate Thesis | 9 | |
| XII MODULE. OPTIONAL SUBJECTS |
5 | |||
Other subject descriptions:
- Crisis intervention in Social Work (module: Methods of Social Work)
Freely Chosen subjects are selected from the List of Freely Chosen Subjects and Their Descriptions.