Curriculum

Curriculum (OPS)

Your degree’s curriculum describes the structure of your degree and the competence produced by it, as well as a timing plan for completing the core competence studies within the target time. It helps to form a controlled and coherent whole for your education. The curriculum is, in a way, a common guide for you and the teachers on how teaching, learning and the development of your competence towards professional expertise are planned to progress.

Degree structure

The degree structure described in the curriculum consists of core competence and complementary competence modules. The extents of core competence and complementary competence vary depending on the degree.

Core competence studies

Core competence studies (mandatory studies) are competence entities that form the core of your degree. They ensure you obtain the strong professional skills needed in working life.

• In Bachelor´s degree programmes the core competence modules include basic studies, professional studies, practical training and the thesis.
• In master´s degree programmes the core competence modules include advanced professional studies and the thesis.

Complementary competence studies

With complementary competence studies (optional and elective studies) you can broaden and/or deepen your competence. These studies allow you to build an individual and career-competitive degree. The importance of complementary competence in degrees is growing as the skills required in working life change increasingly rapidly.

• If you are studying for a Bachelor´s degree in social services, information technology or security, please note that these fields have specific requirements for how much field-specific content must be included in the complementary competence studies to meet the degree requirements.
• As a Bachelor of Social Services student you have the opportunity to qualify as an early childhood education social services professional for early childhood education social services (requires logging into the student intranet).

In English-language programmes, the core competence studies and the thesis are done in English. Complementary competence studies may also include Finnish-language courses.

Complementary competence studies are always published for each academic year. Note that studies added to your PSP at the start of studies may change. Check your PSP selections against the valid curriculum.

The core competence and complementary competence modules, in turn, consist of study modules and projects. The curricula are competence-based, and therefore the learning outcomes of modules, study modules and projects are described as competence objectives, and assessment is also based on evaluation of competence.

During your studies, efforts are also made to develop general working-life skills. The general working-life skills developed in Bachelor´s degree programmes are described in an appendix to the curriculum.

What is meant by an implementation plan?

Teachers prepare implementation plans for the study modules and projects listed in the curriculum, from which you can obtain the necessary information for completing the study module or project.

Implementation plans can be found on Pakki, the study guide and the study search.

• There may be several implementations of the same study module, carried out at different times and intended for different groups. The same study can be implemented in different ways.
• From each course’s implementation plan you will find information, for example, about the enrolment period, course schedule, language of instruction, study modes and methods, learning environments, literature and assessment practices at least 1–2 weeks before enrolment begins.
• If mandatory attendance is required for a study module or project, it is recorded in the implementation plan.
• Some study modules may require prior knowledge.
• Information in the implementation plan may be supplemented and changed after enrolment, so please check the information again before the start of the course.

Field-specific pages to support planning of Bachelor´s degree studies

Consult the field-specific information on the student intranet to support planning your Bachelor´s degree studies: field-specific pages to support planning Bachelor´s degree studies.