In this minor, students will study in a multidisciplinary environment in which they will learn to approach violence within the family system within the latest insights.
Domestic violence has existed since the dawn of humanity. For a long time this theme was not talked about, it was and is a well-kept secret, a taboo and rarely did anyone find practical ways to deal effectively with it.
Domestic violence is the violence that is submitted by someone from the family system or roommates. Examples are violence within the relationship, child abuse and/or neglect, parental abuse or neglect of the elderly. Victims of domestic violence are in most cases women and children, but also men, parents and the elderly.
The environment surrounding these families sometimes have suspicions, but in many situations there are too little facts to act properly. Among other things, shame often plays a major role with victims and abusers, which in effect leads to keeping hidden what is going on. Based on various International and Dutch studies, it can be concluded that domestic violence occurs very regularly.
Studie-eigenschappen
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Properties
Language: English
Level: hbo-minor
European Credits: 15 EC -
Textbooks
- Handbook on Domestic Violence
- Articles on Domestic Violence, Intrafamilial Child Abuse, Abuse in different settings
- Articles related to weekly topics
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Admission requirements
2 years of Higher Education
Themes
Students are taken on a learning journey in which they discover for themselves that environmental, urban and health challenges are interrelated, that an integrated approach is required that undertakes action at various levels simultaneously.
Subjects are:
- Orientation on Domestic Violence and Vulnerable Groups
- Child Abuse
- Non-violent communication
- Partner-violence
- Sexual abuse
- Religion and violence, intercultural issues
Each accounts for circa 1 EC which is included on the two assignments mentioned before.
Competences on which the students will be working during this course are:
- Methods of prevention of abuse and domestic violence
- Methods of investigating the issues professionally leading to professional (and interdisciplinary) Plan of Action
- Think critically on ways each profession (or discipline) contributes to adequate care and on a religious (Christian) approach to care
- Think critically on sharing information within European laws and guidelines with regard to co-operating in this sensitive area
- Skills training with regard to co-operating in this sensitive area (different communication skills are actively trained)
- Personal reflection on motives, dilemmas, hesitancies, choices in dealing with cases
- Dealing with a real-live research question full of real-live complexity.
This course will provide students with a unique learning experience in which they will both become aware of the complexity of partnering with other professionals to work toward a more safe, peaceful and wholesome families while at the same time providing them with knowledge regarding this very important challenge for professionals of the 21st century.
Classes and assignments
The individual assignment consists of a portfolio (collection) of a journal and personal reflection, weekly assignments on case work, reflection on skills lab, reports of field research, reflection on several theme related documentaries and finally a personal reflection on working in the project group. This assignment will provide 7,5 European Credits (EC).
Students work together in small project groups and do research outside the classroom in the field (if possible; we prefer the organization you work for!). In close cooperation with requirements from the field a manual is designed that can (and will) actually be used by practitioners either in the field of education, social work, religious institutions, psychologists or other professionals. Preparation is done by meeting law officials, field trips to organizations, interviewing professionals, and reviewing literature. The manual will be tested in practice and reviewed for improvement. This project will provide 7,5 European Credits (EC).
