Social Education and Counselling

The aim of the Social Education and Counselling Bachelor’s study programme is to prepare graduates for direct pedagogical, counseling and social work with clients. The graduate can use pedagogical and counseling procedures when working with children, teenagers, adults, and seniors with various socio-pedagogical needs (e.g., clients with disabilities, socially disadvantaged, socially excluded, addicted, neglected by their family, unable to care for their family member, etc.).

Attainment of this goal is facilitated by the structure of the study plan. In the course of the study, students gain a broad theoretical background, i.e. knowledge of pedagogy, psychology, sociology, social work and social policy. An integral part of the programme is methodological preparation, which aims to cultivate analytical and critical thinking and to teach students to orient themselves in the findings of various types of research studies in the humanities. Students acquire this set of knowledge and skills through compulsory courses, which can be deepened or expanded by enrolling in selective courses. The composition of selective courses guarantees that each student gains a specific range of professional skills or competencies according to their preferences. A wide range of selective courses together with other mechanisms (e.g., creating an individual plan of practice, choosing the topic of the minor paper and then of the Bachelor’s thesis according to the student’s preferences, the possibility of partial participation in the projects of the Department of Educational Sciences) create the conditions for gradual building of a professional profile of each student. The effort is a connection of experience - theory - research.

Practical training

As part of the bachelor's degree program in Social Pedagogy and Counseling, students are required to complete two mandatory professional internships: Professional Internship and Supervision for Bachelor's Studies I and Professional Internship and Supervision for Bachelor's Studies II. The aim is to provide students with the opportunity to apply the methods and approaches learned in their academic studies in real work environments; to support the further development of their professional competencies and skills for work in various types of institutions and organizations; to offer students direct experience with professional practice; to encourage reflection on this experience through supervision; and to foster their professional identity.

Students must complete a total of 2 x 125 hours of mandatory internship, including 80 hours of internship at an institution, 25 hours dedicated to identifying institutions and negotiating internship conditions, 15 hours of independent task completion, and 5 hours of participation in a reflective group session led by a qualified supervisor. The internship at the selected institution is conducted continuously over a period of two to three weeks, and students are responsible for selecting the institution where they will complete their internship. It is recommended that students enroll in Professional Internship and Supervision for Bachelor's Studies I in the fourth semester and Professional Internship and Supervision for Bachelor's Studies II in the fifth semester. Each internship must be completed in a different institution or organization.

The Department of Educational Sciences at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, maintains long-term collaborations with numerous professional institutions and organizations where students can complete their internships. The internships are supported by study materials available in the electronic learning system (ELF) and are conducted under the guidance of experienced professionals.

Further information

Study information is published on the website of the Department of Educational Sciences of the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University http://pedagogika.phil.muni.cz/

Up-to-date and more detailed information on each course is published in https://elf.phil.muni.cz

The study programme will allow graduates to find jobs in the state administration and self-government, in the offices and organizations falling under the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Interior or the Ministry of Justice. Graduates have excellent chances to find employment in the non-profit sector, specifically in organizations that integrate pedagogical, social and counselling work within the range of social services they provide according to the needs of client target groups.

This programme is taught in Czech.

The criteria for admission for studies are the results of the Learning Potential Test (TSP). Applicants may also be admitted based on other criteria, see Admission without the Entrance Examination. The Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University disregards the results of SCIO National Comparative Examinations.

You can file your e-applications for studies from 1 November to 28 February.
The date and time of the examination will be stated in the electronic invitation for the examination, which will be uploaded to your e-application. The faculty will not be sending paper invitations. Applicants applying for the major study plan and minor study plan in a combined study must comply with the conditions for admission into both plans.

Learning Potential Test (TSP)

This test is only in Czech. For up-to-date information, click here

Field of Study Examination

For admission for studies of this degree programme, you do not need to take the Field of Study Examination.

Admission without the entrance examination

You may be exempt from the entrance examination based on participation in a national round of Students’ Professional Activities (SOČ) in the fields of Pedagogy, Psychology and Leisure Time Issues and Philosophy, Political studies, and other humanities. You cannot be exempted from taking the entrance examination based on secondary school results.
Please upload the officially certified documents directly to your e-application in the section Application for the Exemption from the Entrance Examination no later than 28 February.

Criteria for evaluation

Limit for TSP percentile for successfully passing the entrance examination: 50

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Minimum score and numbers of accepted applicants in past years

Graduates of the Bachelor’s study programme Social Education and Counselling may continue in Master’s studies in the same programme, or Andragogy study programme, or the Education study programme directly at the Department of Educational Sciences of the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University.

When the admission conditions have been met, graduates may continue to pursue a Master’s degree study in the same or related fields not only at MU but also at other universities.