Using reflexive research to improve quality of helping interventions

Degree programme objectives

The mission of the doctoral study in Social Policy and Social Work (henceforth DS SPSW) is educating experts focused on researching and designing measures which help people who experience troubles in mutual relations with society or are exposed to difficult social condition. Social policy programmes or case social work interventions; social problems or living situations; processes of designing, implementing, and evaluating particular measures are matters of concern in the context of the programme. These matters are related to international, national, regional, local, organizational, or social network contexts. The aim is to prepare excellent experts able to promote the above mentioned mission by autonomous researching or analysing; by evaluating existing or designing new measures; by managing implementation of such measures; or by everyday coordinating of mutually interrelated services and measures. The DS SPSW includes, among others, the Social Work Branch Exam.

NEW:

The aim of the programme is to prepare professionals focused on the exploration of social and public policy issues, social work and human resources development programmes.

The subject of the research are social and public policy, social problems, difficult life situations, interventions social work and the implementation of specific interventions and the evaluation of their effectiveness.

Programme graduates are able to achieve this goal through their research activities, evaluation of existing or development of new measures and their implementation in practice. They can do this at international, national, regional and local levels.

Programme graduates are prepared for further research careers in national and international academic institutions, as well as for employment in public administration, social policy, social work and social service organisations.

Study plans

Admission Procedures
Admission Doctoral programmes Fall 2024 (beginning September 2024)
Submission deadline until midnight 30/4/2024

  • Acceptance round information

    This application is only for the semester Fall 2024 (beginning September 2024).

  • Information on entrance examinations designed for this degree programme
    Dates for submitting an e-application: 1 January 2024 – 30 April 2024
    Dates for inserting supporting documents to the e-application: 1 January 2024 – 31 May 2024
    Date of Entrance examination: 17 June 2024 - 21 June 2024
    Minimum score for being accepted: 60 points (out of 100)
    Supporting documents:

    • Outline of the proposed dissertation project
    • Curriculum Vitae / Resume
    • Consent of the future supervisor
    • Copy of master's degree certificate or proof of current studies
    • List of publications and papers (if available)
    • Proof of English - minimum B2 level (optional; compulsory only for those who cannot participate personally in the entrance exam)

    Those who cannot participate in the entrance exam in person have to provide additionally 2 Letters of Recommendation. They must be sent by the referees themselves to our e-mail or mail contacts.

    For being accepted, it is necessary to obtain the formal recognition of prior education in the Czech Republic. See the PhD admission website for further information.
    Important information: https://1url.cz/@doctoral
  • Evaluation criteria valid for the applicants applying for a place on this degree programme

    The maximum possible score for the entrance examination is 100 points. A minimum of 60 points is required to pass the entrance examination.

    Criteria for assessing applicants:

    • Research project as a basis for the preparation of the dissertation - max. 60 points
    • Professional knowledge in the given research area - max. 20 points
    • Language skills (English in both written and verbal form) - max. 10 points
    • Previous research experience - max. 10 points

Studies

  • Objectives

    The mission of the doctoral study in Social Policy and Social Work (henceforth DS SPSW) is educating experts focused on researching and designing measures which help people who experience troubles in mutual relations with society or are exposed to difficult social condition. Social policy programmes or case social work interventions; social problems or living situations; processes of designing, implementing, and evaluating particular measures are matters of concern in the context of the programme. These matters are related to international, national, regional, local, organizational, or social network contexts. The aim is to prepare excellent experts able to promote the above mentioned mission by autonomous researching or analysing; by evaluating existing or designing new measures; by managing implementation of such measures; or by everyday coordinating of mutually interrelated services and measures. The DS SPSW includes, among others, the Social Work Branch Exam.

    NEW:

    The aim of the programme is to prepare professionals focused on the exploration of social and public policy issues, social work and human resources development programmes.

    The subject of the research are social and public policy, social problems, difficult life situations, interventions social work and the implementation of specific interventions and the evaluation of their effectiveness.

    Programme graduates are able to achieve this goal through their research activities, evaluation of existing or development of new measures and their implementation in practice. They can do this at international, national, regional and local levels.

    Programme graduates are prepared for further research careers in national and international academic institutions, as well as for employment in public administration, social policy, social work and social service organisations.

  • Learning Outcomes

    After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

    • deepened social science theory and knowledge relevant to social policy and social work
    • reflecting autonomously complex processes of solving social problems or living situations
    • self-reflecting ethical and methodological adequacy and effectiveness of one’s own expert activities
    • using research methods of complex scientific reflection of social problems or client living situations as well as helping interventions
    • designing and implementing proposals, programmes and analyses of helping interventions as well as complex contexts of their execution
    • publishing one’s own research outputs in relevant manner
    • NEW: 1. to design (independently and in a team) and execute research in a national and international environment
    • NEW: 2. to design and implement a strategy/measure/programme to address social problems and support coping with difficult life situations
    • NEW: 3. to write and publish original research papers in good quality journals
    • NEW: 4. to comprehensibly communicate professional topics and research results to the professional and general public in a world language
    • NEW: 5. independently teach courses at bachelor's and master's level in social policy and social work or related fields in a world language
  • Occupational Profiles of Graduates

    Graduates of the DS SPSW are well prepared for research and academic institutions, public administration, and social policy, social work, and social services organizations. They often become researchers, project and program designers, or teachers in such organizations. As designers of solutions to social problems and as developers of ways to help people grapple with difficult living situations, they work at various levels (national, regional, local). Moreover, they also may become consultants or experts in political, administrative, or non-governmental organizations, in their home country or abroad.

    NEW:

    The primary areas of employment for graduates are international and national research and academia, public administration, social policy, social work and social services organisations.

    In these organizations, they become researchers, creators of policies, programmes, and educators. They become authors of strategies for solving social problems or supporting the coping with difficult life situations at all levels of functioning (national, regional and local), as advisors and experts of political actors, state administration or non-governmental (even transnational) organizations.

  • Regulated Professions
    • Social worker
  • Practical Training

    Participation of students in executing applied research projects is perceived as relevant form of practice in DS SPSW. This form of practical trainign includes devoting dissertation projects to answering research questions which brings knowledge valid in terms of both theory of and applicability in solving problems or responding to risks of processing social policy programmes or case social work interventions. Students are involved in applied research projects via CEPRES (Centre for practice and evaluation studies) which is sub-unit of Department of Social Policy and Social Work (see http://www.cepres-muni.cz).

    NEW:

    Research and pedagogical knowledge and skills are developed through hands-on activities.

    Research competences: the students carry out their own research projects. They search for research questions and hypotheses, design research studies, collect and analyse data, write publications, gain experience in the publication process and make their expertise available to the general public.

    Pedagogical competences: the students are involved in all types of pedagogical activities. They communicate with students, are administratively involved in the running of courses, assess students' course assignments, teach seminars and lectures, supervise and review bachelor theses.

    The development of research and pedagogical competences takes place under the supervision of a supervisor, more experienced researchers/pedagogues and through cooperation with foreign experts.

  • Goals of Theses

    Dissertations are devoted to researching on helping interventions, i.e. social policy programmes or case social work interventions in DS SPSW. Namely, bringing knowledge on actors (designers, executors, target entities etc.) of helping interventions and on complex contexts and processes of their designing, executing or evaluating is matter of concern. Thinking over interrelations between research aims and applied goals is stressed in conceiving research aims of dissertation projects.

    After passing final exam the DS SPSW is completed by defending dissertation which length is expected between 150 and 200 standard pages. In terms of quality, emphasis is placed on insight into and application of theoretical framework relevant to a topic under investigation, methodological validity, and eligibility for publication. Dissertation has to contain original and already published author's arguments presented in reviewed journals or (edited) monographs. It is expected the text of good quality in terms of grammar and style. Dissertation may be presented in the Czech or English language. The submitted work has to be formally modified in a way that is usual at the MU Faculty of Social Studies and in accordance with the ISO 690 citation standard.

    NEW:

    A dissertation is a work in which the student demonstrates the ability to carry out independent research. The dissertation consists of original results published or accepted for publication. It includes a comprehensive solution to a professional problem. It may take the form of an empirical or theoretical study.

    The typical length of a dissertation is 150,000 to 216,000 characters including spaces (including a list of sources, footnotes and all other formal requirements of the dissertation). The dissertation must adhere unreservedly to the ethical rules of research.

    The dissertation takes the following format: a) a collection of research studies, b) a monograph. In the case of a collection of research studies, the dissertation consists of at least three studies, which are linked by a theoretical introduction and a general discussion. In the case of a monograph, the dissertation consists of a comprehensive research project with original results (empirical or theoretical). The publication standard of the dissertation follows the standards of the APA Publication Manual. In the case of published research studies, the publication standard of the journals in which the studies have been published.

Basic information

Abbreviation
D-SPSW_
Type
doctoral degree programme
Degree
Ph.D.
Length of studies
4 years
Language of instruction
English English
Annual tuition fee
1500 €

4
number of active students
1
number of theses/dissertations

Faculty of Social Studies
Programme guaranteed by
Programme guarantor