Advanced Studies in Comparative Social Policy and Welfare, 120 cr

The COSOPO programme provides an interdisciplinary approach to contemporary societies in Europe. It is based on the strong research tradition on social policy and welfare in social sciences at Tampere University and Johannes Kepler University Linz. The aim of the programme is to facilitate the understanding of social policy and welfare in Europe. The programme focuses, for example, on the dynamics of social policy in the countries representing different welfare models and on analysing different fields of social policies from various perspectives. During the programme, students will learn about comparative designs, and about methodology on qualitative and quantitative policy studies.

During the studies in the COSOPO programme, students will get experience from two European universities as the programme is jointly organized by Tampere University (Finland) and Johannes Kepler University Linz (Austria). The programme combines contact teaching with online learning which means that students will be able to work together with the students and teachers of both universities during intensive 1-2 week periods of teaching each semester and during the rest of the academic year the studies will continue on-line which allows students to flexibly plan their schedule.

The graduate student of COSOPO has a broad and profound understanding of social policy as a science and practice. S/he is able to interpret and use international material on social policy phenomena. S/he has the skills to research, evaluate and develop social policy and to propose alternative solutions to prevailing practices and thinking. S/he has excellent skills in acquiring and applying research knowledge in professional and other societal practices and is able to conduct research and report results in a scientifically and ethically acceptable manner. The graduate student in social policy is an expert who identifies, analyzes and solves problems related to wellbeing, social policy systems and civil society. S/he has a wide range of capabilities to serve as experts in public administration, corporate and non-governmental settings in local, national and international settings.