Department of Social and Health Affairs

Research

The department organizes the current research activities of its members into four overarching key research areas:

• Social and health policy research
• Health services research
• Research on professions and professionalization
• Research on inequality, participation, and inclusion

These four key research areas are designed to be inter- and transdisciplinary and correspond to the disciplines of the social, human, and health sciences. They address complex empirical and theoretical questions that can be examined from a variety of perspectives.

Within the field of ‘Social Affairs’, the core disciplines are social work, special education, and early childhood education. These are complemented by perspectives from political science, sociology, educational science, (social) medicine, social ethics, social law, social economy, and psychology, as well as newer approaches such as disability studies and postcolonial studies.

The field of ‘Health’ includes the disciplines of health sciences, nursing science, midwifery science, sports science, and therapy sciences (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and movement therapy), as well as rehabilitation science. These disciplines integrate perspectives from medicine, ethics, and engineering sciences.

Getting a Doctorate with the Department

The Department of Social and Health Affairs supports research-oriented graduates on their path to a doctoral degree. It offers a structured doctoral program and promotes cooperative doctoral projects.

Boards and Bodies

The boards and bodies are responsible for the Department's academic self-administration.

Meet our Researchers

Professors and doctoral candidates from universities of applied sciences and universities collaborate in the department. They network at conferences and other events and cooperate with partners from universities, industry, and civil society.