Do you want to see more humanity in society, are you interested in the life stories of others, and would you like to play an active part in making the world a fairer place? Would you like to help shape social processes and structures to enable people in all walks of life to participate actively? Then study Social Work at HSD Hochschule Döpfer to provide individualised and professional advisory and support to children, young people and adults in a wide variety of life situations. Whether you choose a traditional degree programme or a part-time course, on-campus or live online – at HSD Hochschule Döpfer, we offer you the flexibility you’re looking for!
A diverse field of work with excellent career prospects
Social work is a broad field of practice in which a wide variety of tasks and challenges may arise. The contexts in which work is carried out range from education and care, through support with everyday life, to advisory services in situations of escalating stress. As a social worker or social education worker, you will often be part of a multi-professional team, working alongside, for example, childcare workers, early years practitioners, special needs teachers, psychologists, educational scientists and teachers.
The Social Work degree programme at HSD Hochschule Döpfer is therefore designed to provide a generalist approach and offers you a comprehensive introduction to the diverse fields of social work. In addition to practical specialist knowledge in the fields of clinical social work, sociology, social law, social economics, pedagogy and psychology, you will also acquire extensive skills in communication, advisory, leadership and management. This will equip you to interact professionally with clients in a wide variety of social work contexts and will also prepare you for leadership roles in social care organisations.
You have the option to choose one of four specialisations and tailor your studies and training precisely to the area in which you wish to develop.
By studying Social Work at HSD Hochschule Döpfer, you will open up new prospects. For yourself – and for others. And a degree in Social Work opens up excellent prospects on the job market, including employment with employers in the public sector that are completely crisis-proof, such as youth, social services and health authorities.
- Live online, Potsdam
- 6-semester standard duration of study
- Traditional or dual
- Bachelor of Arts
- 180 ECTS
- 440 per month
- German
As part of the health and social care sector, there has been a shortage of well-trained skilled professionals in the fields of social work and social pedagogy for years now. On top of that, many experts are set to retire in the coming years. Demand is therefore higher than ever – and so is the range of career opportunities!
Upon completion of the degree programme, you will be qualified for a wide range of roles and responsibilities – regardless of your chosen specialisation:
- Outreach work with children and young people (e.g. youth centres, youth organisations, cultural activities for children)
- Mobile youth work (street work, outreach work)
- Work with specific target groups (e.g. those experiencing social exclusion, addiction, homelessness, migration)
- After-school care/day care
- Social work at the interface between schools, nurseries and the local community
- Institutional child and youth protection
- Parenting and family counselling
- Media education
- Media projects in youth work
- Gaming, making, AI/VR in social work
- and much more
State recognition as a social worker or social education worker opens up a wide range of career opportunities in the fields of social work and early years education, regardless of whether you have chosen a specialisation or not.
Some possible areas of work include:
- Staff member at a youth centre or youth club
- Street worker / outreach youth work
- Staff member in sports clubs’ fan projects
- Manager or skilled professional at a nursery
- School social worker
- Community work (e.g. family centre, neighbourhood management, local youth welfare services)
- Social-educational family support (SPFH)
- Skilled professionals in child and youth protection
- Parental counselling / teacher training
- Media officer in youth organisations
- and much more
Specialise and become an expert in ‘your’ area of social work! On the Bachelor's degree programme in Social Work at HSD Hochschule Döpfer, you can either gain an insight into all areas as a ‘generalist’ – or, as an option, choose one of the specialisations listed below by the end of the second academic semester, which you will then focus on from the fourth and focus your studies and training precisely on the area in which you wish to develop.
In the specialisation in Open Child and Youth Work (OKJA), you will develop your practical skills for fields of work such as youth centres, youth organisations, youth networks and municipal youth welfare services. Mobile youth work – such as street work and outreach work with specific target groups – is also addressed in a practical manner. You will explore professional relationship-building in open settings, appropriate methods and programme formats, as well as how to assess effectiveness. A further focus is on protection strategies and professional reflection. A key aspect of this specialisation is the close integration of theory and practice, through which we incorporate international perspectives and offer you opportunities for excursions and work placements abroad.
This specialisation prepares you for roles in educational settings – ranging from school social work and nursery social work, through all-day care and after-school clubs, to management roles in nurseries. You will clarify job descriptions and the distinctions between your role and other professions, and develop the skills needed to build sustainable partnerships in education and childcare. Key topics include child protection, protection policies and the examination of power dynamics in educational contexts. Furthermore, you will explore how social work and early years education can help reduce social inequality and promote educational equity. Through work shadowing placements at partner organisations, you will become familiar with different practical approaches – and benefit from a field of work that is undergoing dynamic development as a result of the statutory right to all-day childcare, which comes into force in 2026.
In the specialisation in local youth welfare, you will gain a thorough insight into the structures, responsibilities and operational principles of local government and youth welfare services – for example, within the Youth Welfare Office, General Social Services (ASD), Specialised Family and Child Welfare (SPFH), parenting and family counselling, and child and youth protection. You will learn how local authority support planning works, how support plan meetings are prepared and conducted, and what role case work and case management play in practice. Particular emphasis is placed on how youth welfare services support families in difficult situations and how successful collaboration between local authority departments and independent organisations is achieved. The course is strongly practice-oriented: lecturers with experience in General Social Services (ASD) draw on case studies from their day-to-day work, enabling you to practise professional approaches in a realistic setting.
This specialisation is aimed at anyone who wishes to shape media education and digital environments professionally within the field of social work – for example, in media projects, youth organisations, open youth work with a focus on gaming or digital technology, youth media protection, or in providing advisory services to parents and teachers. You will explore the evolution of media education from analogue to digital formats and learn to contextualise current trends and challenges in dealing with digital media. This also covers the meaningful use of gaming and making, the potential of AI and virtual reality, and issues of digital ethics. In addition, you will gain in-depth knowledge of (digital and analogue) play-based learning as a practice-oriented field of activity. Through partnerships – for example, with the Brandenburg State Association for Media Education (LMB) – you will benefit from up-to-date expertise, tools and equipment, as well as from funded dual training placements.
Combine learning the latest knowledge at the University of Applied Sciences with putting it into practice. On our dual study programme, you will gain practical experience and carry out practical projects under supervision during university seminars.Throughout your studies, you will be employed in a work placement and will receive remuneration for this, which must be at least equal to the amount of your tuition fees. This also covers your social security contributions and tuition fees. In addition, you can apply for BAföG. We are happy to assist you in choosing a suitable work placement.
Please note: None of our degree programmes are subject to an admission quota. Full details of the specific requirements for university entrance qualifications can be found in Section 10(2) of the Brandenburg Higher Education Act (BbgHG); HSD Hochschule Döpfer, together with all its campuses, is governed by the Brandenburg Higher Education Act.
Admission with a (specialised) Abitur:
- General university entrance qualification
- Subject-specific university entrance qualification
- University of Applied Sciences entrance qualification
- Subject-specific University of Applied Sciences Qualification
Admission without a (specialised) Abitur:
- Passed master craftsman’s examination or an equivalent qualification
- Completion of lower secondary education or an equivalent qualification, plus completed vocational training relevant to the degree programme, and at least two years’ professional experience
Are you unsure whether you meet the Entry requirements, or do you have general questions about them? You are welcome to contact our Study Advisory Serviceat any time.
Language of instruction: German
Type of programme: Traditional or dual
Location: Live online, Potsdam
Start of programme: at the start of the spring semester (1 March) and the winter semester (1 September)
Standard duration of study: 6 semesters (it is possible to complete the programme in a shorter time – please get in touch with us!)
Lecture days:
- Traditional or dual in Potsdam: Mondays to Wednesdays
- Traditional or dual online live: Tuesday and Thursday evenings + once a month on Fridays and Saturdays (full day)
Degree awarded: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Credits: 180 ECTS credits
Fees: On-campus or dual: €440.00 per month
If you have any questions about fees, discounts, grants or funding, please feel free to contact our Financial advisory serviceat any time.
Transfer your credits: At HSD Hochschule Döpfer, you have the option to have examination results you have already achieved at other universities recognised. You can submit your application here.
Partnership: Through a partnership between HSD Hochschule Döpfer and your employer, both you as a student and your employer as our partner can benefit from a range of advantages. Find out more here.
