Families are a central point of reference for all people as they grow up and live (together). The Master's degree programme in Social Work with a Focus on the Family responds to the growing demands on the family as an institution and qualifies you for various activities with families, in families and in their social environment. This opens up a wide range of career prospects for our graduates.
MA Social Work with a Focus on the Family
©
AdobeStock/Rawpixel.com
Abschluss:
Master of Arts
Type:
Part time
Distance learning program (part-time)
Course language:
German
Standard study period:
6 semesters
Start of study:
Winter semester
Application deadline:
15.05. – 22.06. (NC degree program)
Admission requirements:
First professional university degree and professional activity of at least 15 h/week
Credits:
Module Manuals & Regulations
120 ECTS credits
The Study
Social Work – Focus on family!
Regardless of their specific historical forms, families fulfil essential social functions. They are resources for coping with problems and crises, are a place of protection and retreat and offer economic stability. However, families can also be places where violence and oppression prevail.
Families are becoming the focus of political attention in the context of demographic developments, such as declining birth rates and longer life expectancy, but also as a starting point for dealing with, if not solving, social conflict situations.
The extra-occupational degree programme Social Work with a Focus on the Family is primarily research-oriented and interdisciplinary. Right from the start, reference is made to your current professional practice. The central topics of the Social Work Master's programme range from the transfer of academic knowledge to the acquisition of leadership and counselling skills. The Master's programme consists of attendance and self-study phases, and you will also be in regular contact with your supervising lecturers and receive additional support from mentors.
The Master's programme has been accredited since 2007 and gives you access to the higher civil service.
Is this degree programme right for me?
The part-time degree programme is the ideal supplement if you want to take on a management role in the field of family work, work in an advisory capacity or go into training and research.
You have the following qualities
- a keen interest in researching knowledge and developing your own questions
- a high degree of empathy and communication skills
- interest in co-operative and collaborative work
- willingness to engage in online-based learning during the self-study phases
- willingness to engage in creative thought processes and activities
Information events for prospective students
Would you like to find out more about the course content and get to know the professors and students? Visit our hybrid information round and our open day at the FH Potsdam.
Information day 2025: We are opening our doors
Open Day at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam: On the 24th of May 2025, you will get to know the diverse study programmes at our university, explore the campus and gain exclusive insights into our modern laboratories and workshops.
Take the opportunity to talk to students and lecturers in person and look forward to a varied programme.
Contact
The colleagues of the Student Counselling Service provide information to prospective students, first-year students, parents, teachers and students on all general questions concerning the study program. If you have specific questions or concerns about the degree program, please contact the Student Counselling Service for the MA Social Work with a Focus on the Family or the Program Coordination.
Program Management
Professor for Pedagogy of the Ages
Program Coordination
Coordination M. A. Social Work, specialising in family
Coordination B. A. Education and Childhood Education
These degree programs might also interest you
More courses| Department | Degree programme | Teaching language | Start of study | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
Childhood Studies and Children's Rights (MA) | English | Winter semester | Note: This degree programme will no longer be offered from winter semester 2024/25 |
| |
Early Childhood Studies (MA) | German | Winter semester | 15/06 – 15/10 (free of admission) |
| |
MA Social Work with a Focus on the Family | German | Winter semester | 15.05. – 22.06. (NC degree program) |
| |
Social Management (MA) | German | Summer semester | Note: This course of study will no longer be offered from winter semester 2024/25. |
Career Prospects
Career Prospects
Due to the complexity of the family as an institution and the social work associated with it, a variety of professional positions open up for our graduates. In addition to the actual counseling work, graduates of the Master of Social Work can also take on management and leadership functions in institutions or focus on the area of educational work. Whether in practice, administration or education – the fields of work in social work are varied and the demand for specialists in public child/youth/family welfare and in related official areas as well as with independent institutions is constantly high.
Prospects in the area of supply and consulting
The degree program Social Work with a Focus on the Family will provide you with the specialized expertise necessary to become a counselor:
- Casework
- Group work
- Organizational consulting
- Policy consulting
Prospects in the area of management and control
The combination of practical experience as well as scientific expertise offers you, as graduates of the Master's Program in Social Work with a Focus on the Family the ideal prerequisites for:
- the development and management of projects
- the coordination of supporting organizations and professional associations
- administrative and managerial positions in the educational and social sectors, especially in state or non-state child/youth/family welfare institutions
- national, regional and municipal planning functions
- quality management and evaluation
Prospects in the field of education and research
As a graduate of the master's program in Social Work with a Focus on the Family, you can also find exciting career prospects outside of social institutions, for example in
- Continuing education and training
- Practice research
- Evaluation research
- Teaching
- Doctorate
These degree programs might also interest you
More courses| Department | Degree programme | Teaching language | Start of study | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
Childhood Studies and Children's Rights (MA) | English | Winter semester | Note: This degree programme will no longer be offered from winter semester 2024/25 |
| |
Early Childhood Studies (MA) | German | Winter semester | 15/06 – 15/10 (free of admission) |
| |
MA Social Work with a Focus on the Family | German | Winter semester | 15.05. – 22.06. (NC degree program) |
| |
Social Management (MA) | German | Summer semester | Note: This course of study will no longer be offered from winter semester 2024/25. |
Study Contents
Course of studies
The knowledge and competence transfer in the MA Social Work with a Focus on the Family takes place in a blended learning format. The daily study routine includes phases of self-study as well as attendance phases at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam. With its focus on independent and self-determined learning via the online portal, the program can also be completed as a distance learning program.
| 1. – 3rd semester | Social work science, practice research and reference sciences, family support services, social profession and quality development, self-reflection, leading & guiding |
| 4th – 5th semester | Family support services, action strategies and forms of work in the field of families, action research project |
| 6th semester | Master thesis, master colloquium |
Study contents
In the currently valid module handbooks, study and examination regulations and statutes of the social and educational sciences department, you will find the module overview, a detailed description of the modules and study contents, the study plan as well as the statutes for conducting the selection procedure for the social work with a focus on the family degree programme.
Teaching formats
The attendance events primarily serve as an introduction to the topics, reflection, exercises and exchange with each other. As a rule, eleven attendance events take place per semester. Between the classroom sessions, you will work independently and will be supported by a learning platform as well as accompanied by instructors through online coaching:
- seminars on campus
- colloquia on campus
- online-based self-study
- mentoring/presence and online coaching
- research workshops
Subject modules
- social work science
- practice Research
- reference sciences
- social profession and quality development
- help for upbringing: family-supporting/supplementary offers
- strategies of action and forms of work in the field of family
- action research project: Implementation of a self-selected project, which links the theoretical contents of the study with questions from practice.
Projects from the department
More projects
Certificate Programme "Fan- und Zuschauermanagement" (FZM)
The aim of the certificate programme is to provide scientific, conceptual, strategic and action-oriented skills for managerial, planning, coordinating and evaluating activities in the field of fan and spectator management.
Participatory Interactions in Care and Sleep Situations in Daycare Centres (PIPS)
The aim of the "PIPS" project is to strengthen the participation of infants and toddlers in childcare centres. To this end, interactions in care and sleep situations are being analysed throughout Germany in order to gain a comprehensive picture of current practice. Based on the data obtained, concepts are being developed to support educational professionals in promoting children's rights and…
Early Help in a Clinical Setting for (Expectant) Parents with Mental Illness and at Risk of Addiction
The measure "Early help in a clinical setting for (expectant) parents with mental illness and at risk of addiction " is being developed in order to transfer parents under stress from inpatient to outpatient structures, to strengthen cooperation within early help and to ensure support during pregnancy and parenthood.
ÜberAl – Transitions of Deaf and Hard of Hearing People in Working Life
The research project funded by the Hans Böckler Foundation is investigating the challenges and needs of employees who sign during career transitions.
Attendance Dates
Attendance dates MA Social Work with a Focus on the Family
The attendance times, which are of particular importance in the interlocking of the blended learning concept, all take place on site at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam. Exams and presentations are part of the attendance days, so that no special exam days have to be taken outside of these times. For most federal states, there is the possibility of educational leave. Please contact the program coordinator for this upon enrollment, as the forms must be applied for in some cases.
The Master's degree programme in Social Work with a Focus on the Family is recognised in most countries with educational leave legislation.
Please find the current attendance times on the German pages.
Wintersemester 2026/2027
- 21. – 25.09.2026
- 26. – 28.11.2026
- 21. – 23.01.2027
Application & Contact
At a glance
The most important deadlines, dates and admission requirements for the Master's degree programme in Social Work with a Focus on Family are summarised here. You can find out which steps you need to follow for a successful application in the next section.
Deadlines & Dates
- 30th of April: Hybrid information session for prospective students
- 24th of May 2025: Open Day at the FH Potsdam
- until 22nd of June: Submit online application
Admission requirements
- first professionally qualifying university degree (180 ECTS credit points): in the Social Work, Education and Childhood Education degree programme or in a similar social science degree programme
- professional activity: at least 15 hours/week in the relevant area of the Master's degree programme
- obligation to participate in externally offered supervision: at least 20 hours with recognised professionals during the entire course of study
How to apply!
In the following, we explain which aspects you should consider from the online application to enrolment.
Further information
Under the following links you, and especially international applicants, will find further information on the topics of application and enrolment at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.
International applicants
You would like to apply for a degree programme from the first or a higher semester and have obtained your school-leaving certificate and/or university degree abroad? Then you can have your qualifications and achievements from abroad recognised and study with us.
Application & enrolment procedure
The Application and Study Service provides information and advice on general questions about the application process, admission and enrolment at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, as well as on topics such as compensation for disadvantages, part-time study, waiting semesters and hardship applications.
Contact & Services
The Student Counseling Service provides information and advice on general questions about studying and on topics such as choosing a degree programme, application, enrolment and study organisation.
The Academic Student Adivce is the right place to go for subject-specific questions about module content, credit transfer, examinations or study specialisations in the Social Work, Family specialisation degree programme.
Academic student advice & head of the degree programme
Professor for Pedagogy of the Ages
Study programme coordinator
Coordination M. A. Social Work, specialising in family
Coordination B. A. Education and Childhood Education
Study and Examination Service
Room
014
Study Info Service
studien-info-service@fh-potsdam.de
bewerbungs-service@fh-potsdam.de
campuskarte@fh-potsdam.de
Study Service
studien-service@fh-potsdam.de
Exam Service
pruefungs-service@fh-potsdam.de
Family Affairs Commissioner
Room
026
Office hours
Tue and Thu 9.30 am – 1.30 pm
Commissioner for University Employees with Impairment
Room
017
Office hours
Monday and by appointment
Contact persons Study and Assessment Administration Service
Hauptsachbearbeiterin Bewerbungs- und Studien-Service
Sachbearbeiterin Bewerbungs- und Studien-Service
Staff member for Student Info Service