Text

Course syllabus - Financial Counselling in Social Work from a European Perspective

Scope

5.0 credits

Course code

SAA101

Valid from

Spring semester 2026

Education level

First cycle

Progressive Specialisation

G1F (First cycle, has less than 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements)

Main area(s)

Social Work

Organisation

School of Health, Care and Social Welfare

Ratified

2024-11-26

Literature lists

Course literature is preliminary up to 8 weeks before course start. Course literature can be valid over several semesters.

    • Ratified date: 2026-03-12
    • Latest update: 2026-03-12

    Books

    Hall, Christopher

    Analysing social work communication: discourse in practice

     (p. 98-116) (Available on course platform Canvas)

    ISBN: 9781299854604

    LIBRIS-ID: 16308770

    URL: Link

    URL: Link

    1. Edition., London, Routledge, 1 online resource (x, 207 p.)

    Hiilamo, Heikki

    Household debt and economic crises: causes, consequences and remedies

    (p. 8-13, 39-41, 48-57) (Available on course platform Canvas).

    ISBN: 9781785369865

    LIBRIS-ID: nxw5x42blqgvm8vg

    Cheltenham, Glos, UK, Edward Elgar Publishing, viii, 176 pages

    Miller, Lisa

    Counselling skills for social work / by Lisa Miller

    (E-book available through MDU library)

    ISBN: 9781446253984

    LIBRIS-ID: 1kvj66d1zfw1768l

    URL: Link

    URL: Link

    URL: Link

    URL: Link

    Silverman, David

    Discourses of counselling: HIV counselling as social interaction

    (p. 3-14, 109-133, 185-225)

    ISBN: 9780803976627

    LIBRIS-ID: 5692023

    London, Sage, 244 s.

    Xiao, Jing Jian.

    Handbook of Consumer Finance Research

    (p. 115-127) (Available on course platform Canvas)

    ISBN: 9783319288871

    LIBRIS-ID: 19577627

    URL: Link

    URL: Link

    URL: Link

    URL: Link

    URL: Link

    URL: Link

    URL: Link

    2nd ed. 2016., Cham, Springer International Publishing, XXI, 376 p. 4 illus., 1 illus. in color.

    Articles

    Callegari, J., Liedgren, P., & Kullberg, C,

    Between self-determination and advice: Sense-making and justifications in Swedish budget and debt counselling

    URL: Link

    British Journal of Social Work, 53, 882–899,

    Trygged, S,

    Embedded counselling in advisory work with clients in debt

    URL: Link

    Journal of Social Work Practice, 26:2, 245-258,

    Addressing household over-indebtedness

    (Available on course platform Canvas).

    Publications office of the European Union,

    Web Addresses

    Feinberg, C,

    The science of scarcity

    URL: Available at

    Harvard Magazine (May-June),

    Other Materials

    Optional literature, including literature in Swedish, Finnish, German and Dutch, is listed in the study guide.

Objectives

The aim of this course is for the student to develop knowledge about social work and financial counselling from an international perspective.

Learning outcomes

After finished the course, the student shall be able to:


Knowledge and Understanding
  1. explain social policy and social work concerning financial counselling in different European contexts

    Skills and Abilities
  2. apply counselling in practical exercises

    Value and Approach
  3. contrast how counselling is defined and practiced in financial social work in different European contexts
  4. demonstrate awareness of the organization of financial social work and the professional role of the social worker in an European comparative context

Course content

Social Policy - welfare state models, the overarching organisation of financial Social Work in different European contexts
Counselling-the background, definition and theoretical understanding and, and counselling as a tool in financial social work in different European contexts
Counselling in Practice - study visits, examples, and conversation exercises

Specific requirements

At least 30 ESCT in Social Work.English B/English 6 or equivalent

Examination

SEM1, Seminar, 1 credits , regarding learning outcome 1 and 3, grades Fail (U) or Pass (G).
SEM2, Seminar, 1,5 credits, regarding learning outcome 2, grades Fail (U) or Pass (G).
PRO1, Project report, 2,5 credits, regarding learning outcome 1, 3 and 4, grades Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

For a Pass with Distinction (VG) on the whole course a VG on PRO1 is required and a G on SEM1 and SEM2.

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding disability study support, can request adaptions for the examination. It is the examiner who takes decisions on any adaptions, based on the certificate and other conditions.

Grade

Pass with distinction (VG), Pass (G), Fail (U)