Social Work and Social Pedagogy
The professional fields of social work and social pedagogy include everyday social support and interventions for people in stressful, disadvantaged and crisis situations. Social pedagogy work areas can be found for example in youth work, child and youth welfare, or community work. Social pedagogical approaches are used in adult counselling as well as in the field of early childhood education and care. The aim of social pedagogy is to provide support in transitions in the life course, such as during periods of unemployment, parenting or migration, or during the ageing process and in emergency situations (e.g. safe houses for women and children, homeless shelters).
Orientation
Social Pedagogy at the University of Salzburg provides a research and theory based course for employment in social support situations. With its roots in educational science, social pedagogy is concerned with social education and support, social justice and societal change. Important concepts are life-world orientation (German: Lebensweltorientierung), participation, gender and diversity, as well as social inequality. Social education aims to understand social problems in the context of organisations, societal dynamics and social policy.
Researching Social Processes
Social work and social pedagogy examine backgrounds, effects, challenges and changes in the field of social support and in social services. We analyse biographical aspects of subjectivity, personal development and coping skills, as well as processes within and between organisations. We take a critical look at how social pedagogical actions contribute to an increase in social differences and inequalities, and consider possible strategies to avoid these problems.
Studying Social Pedagogy
To find out where you can study social education courses in our degree program click here.
