Study Guide

Descriptions

CURRICULUM
Bachelor of Social and Health Care, Applied Gerontology, multimodal education

The programme in Applied Gerontology at Karelia University of Applied Sciences focuses on the competence in active and healthy ageing, age-friendly society and sociocultural care for older people. Competence in active ageing has been one of the focal points of Karelia University of Applied Sciences since the beginning of the millennium. The studies in applied gerontology are in line with the strategic objectives of Karelia and they strengthen our competence profile in active ageing. At graduation, you will have a wide range of skills and extensive knowledge enabling you to work in applied gerontology in public, private and third-sector jobs or to start your own business. In your studies, you use variable learning methods and have a possibility to accomplish part of your studies abroad. The values guiding our programme stem from ethics, accessibility and aesthetics.

Degree

Degree title Bachelor of Social and Health Care
Extend 210 cr./ 3.5 y.

Description of Competences

The degree in applied gerontology is based on the national competence requirements for professionals in applied gerontology and the generic competence requirements for the degrees granted by universities of applied sciences. Bachelors of Social and Health Care are competent in holistic welfare of older people. In their professional practice, they support and strengthen the meaningful life, inclusion and agency of older persons and consider the principles of sustainable development (social, economic and ecological sustainability). Bachelors of Social and Health Care specialising in applied gerontology also develop their professional practice and the promotion of welfare of older people. The core contents and competences at the national level include:

- Gerontological competence and ethical principles
- Resource-oriented and rehabilitative approach at work
- Multidisciplinary competence and work in various service environments for older people
- Needs assessment and evaluation of services, coordination and guidance in multi-professional care, nursing and rehabilitation environments
- Provision, management and development of services in applied gerontology

In the studies in applied gerontology, you will deepen your evidence-based, multi-professional, nature-based, and memory-friendly welfare competence.

Competence Development and the Content of Studies

In your first-year studies, you enhance your understanding of the knowledge base in applied gerontology. The second-year studies develop you as a professional in the welfare guidance of older people. During the third and fourth year of studies, you deepen your competence in care and services for older people, and their management and development. The studies in applied gerontology are based on generic competence requirements in social services and health care and the specific professional requirements in applied gerontology. All professionals in social services and health care need competences, such as the competence in client work, service and work development, as well as in changing employee roles and cooperation. These competence areas are developed in multidisciplinary studies in social services and health care when you study together with nursing, public health nursing, physiotherapy and bachelor of social services students. The joint, multi-professional studies help you to develop skills for multi-professional work and cooperation to benefit older persons as clients.

The degree contains
• common core studies (180 cr) and
• complementary studies (30 cr).

Common core studies are compulsory to all students and they concentrate on gerontological competence, multidisciplinary assessment and evaluation competence, counselling competence, competence in supporting agency, competence in service systems and competence in leadership, management, development and quality management. The common core studies include 53 credits of practical training integrated with five credits of studies in professional growth. Moreover, the common core studies contain a thesis of 15 credits.

The complementary studies can help you expand or deepen your knowledge and skills. You can utilise the course supply of Karelia UAS or that of other universities. Your professional core competences can be further developed in the following topics: Green Care, memory, entrepreneurship, leadership and management, development, languages and communication, or technology.

Work-related Learning

Studies in applied gerontology are developed and implemented in close connection with the professionals in the field. Work-related learning starts from the first semester and continues throughout the studies in forms of networking, learning assignments, projects and practical training. At the final stage of your studies, you deepen your professional competence by completing a thesis in a close connection to the field of work.

Pedagogical Choices

Studies in applied gerontology are based on collaborative learning which uses up-to-date research knowledge, various sources of information and technology that supports learning. The focus of collaborative learning is on goal-oriented teamwork based on dialogical interaction. During your studies, you learn to search, assess and apply information critically and in variable ways. You acquire capabilities necessary for continuous learning and for the development of your knowledge and skills. You further and deepen your reflection skills and reflective practice.

Studies are conducted both in teams and individually in forms of contact teaching and distance learning. During your studies you work in Tarmo and Simula multidisciplinary simulation environments at Karelia, as well as in workplace training and work placement environments. You can also apply for Karelia Business Academy (Y-akatemia) to study entrepreneurship in multidisciplinary teams. The Business Academy has its own curriculum, which, based on a separate agreement, replaces parts of the curriculum in applied gerontology. Studies in applied gerontology are multimodal. Each year you gain experience in working in various care and service environments through projects, practical training and theoretical studies.

Flexible Course Implementations

Multimodal course offering enables studying that is partly independent of time and place. You have also a possibility to apply for the recognition of prior studies or for the validation of the competence acquired elsewhere as part of your degree in applied gerontology. Accreditation is based on the separate RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) procedures. You can choose study units from the course supply for summer semesters. Moreover, it is possible to choose complementary studies at any stage of your studies according to your own interests.

Internationalisation

You have a possibility to increase your international competence through international course supply, project work, and through exchange studies and practical training abroad. Furthermore, Karelia coordinates the international Emma (European Master for Active Ageing and Age Friendly Society) network of five European universities, which can also help you to strengthen your competence in active ageing.

Assessment

Competences and their development are assessed in various ways during your studies. Assessment can be done, for example, during course implementations, in counselling sessions, during client encounters, in exams and competence-based tests, and on the basis of reports and learning assignments. Students’ self-assessment and peer feedback and evaluation are also utilised. Assessment can also include work-based feedback. Studying is supported by reflection sessions where you analyse and evaluate your learning against the learning objectives. Assessment and feedback help you to follow your development and to set new objectives for your learning. Karelia has defined general assessment principles, yet, the specific assessment criteria are explicated in course descriptions.

Career Opportunities

After graduation you have the qualification and the right to practice social welfare profession as a licensed social welfare professional in applied gerontology (The Act on Social Welfare Professionals, 817/2015; Valvira 2021). The degree equips you for expert positions requiring competence in applied gerontology. You can work in the public sector as a person responsible for analysing the service needs of older persons (Act on Supporting the Functional Capacity of the Older Population and on Social and Health Care Services for Older Persons 980/2012). You can work as a service counsellor, counsellor, social counsellor, project employee, coordinator of services for older people, supervisor, planner, development specialist or as a service provider. Your future workplace can be within social services, rehabilitation, nursing and care in the public, private or third sectors. You can work with individual clients or with client groups, as well as in multi-professional teams that are specialised in the care and welfare of older people. Competence in applied gerontology may give you new career opportunities as an entrepreneur or a developer of services for older people in multi-professional environments.

Transformation of work and personal career progress require continuous learning after the degree is completed. A major part of learning takes place at work, yet it can be enhanced through education. You can complement your competence through studies in an open university of applied sciences or through master-level studies. Completing a master’s degree can open new recruitment opportunities for supervisory or demanding expert and development tasks, or to teaching jobs. Teacher-tutors and study counsellors support your career planning throughout your studies.