Shaping Social and Health Change

Content and Objectives of the Doctoral Program

The doctoral program ‘Shaping Social and Health Chang’e of the Department of Social and Health Affairs focuses on the study and analysis of services and opportunities for participation within health and welfare systems, in social work, and in social security structures — examined from the perspectives of various members of society.

At the center of attention are formal and informal care and support systems, analyses of social inequality, needs and impact assessments of service and organizational structures, the effects of professionalization in health and social professions, and questions of professional ethics.

Aligned with these areas of research, the Department of Social and Health Affairs is structured around four main research foci:

• Social and Health Policy Research
• Health and Social Care Research
• Professionalism and Professionalisation Research
• Inequality, Participation, and Inclusion Research

The program provides structured support for doctoral candidates and their supervisors, accompanying the candidates in their development into independent researchers. It also contributes to quality assurance within the doctoral process, fostering both subject-specific and interdisciplinary competencies.

Target Groups and Admission Requirements

The doctoral program is primarily aimed at graduates with a degree in a social or health science discipline who, in their doctoral projects, engage with the topics and research questions addressed in the program.

To be admitted as a doctoral candidate in the department and to be able to pursue a doctorate within the program, the following requirements must be fulfilled:

• a degree that entitles to pursue a doctorate according to § 67 (4) of the Higher Education Act, with a focus on social or health science subjects, completed with a grade of at least “good”
• a convincing doctoral project that fits the program, including a written proposal. Either a short or a full proposal may be submitted (see also the Guidelines for Writing a Doctoral Proposal)
• supervision by a professorial member of the department and proposals for a complete supervision team (see also Confirmation of Supervision),

Admission as a doctoral candidate is decided by the doctoral examining committee.

Structure of the Program

The three-year doctoral program is divided into a mandatory component and an elective component. While all requirements in the mandatory component must be completed, candidates are required to complete activities in at least three of the six listed areas within the elective component.

The indication of the year for the mandatory component serves as a recommendation; courses and activities may also be completed at different times. Participation in additional courses is possible. Some of the program’s courses are also offered as online formats.

Events Offered within the Doctoral Program

Lecture Series – Summer Semester 2025

6 June 2025
Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) Methodology: A Critical Appraisal of Outcome Measurement in Research and Practice
(Prof. Katja Ehrenbrusthoff, Bochum University of Applied Sciences)

4 July 2025
Photovoice
(Prof. Heike Köckler, Bochum University of Applied Sciences)

Mandatory Component

11 / 13 September 2025
DGSA Methods Workshop on Reconstructive Social Research, TH Köln

26 September 2025
Doctoral Colloquium Social and Health Affairs (in person), Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences

28 November 2025
Doing a Review – an Interactive Methods Workshop at Bochum University of Applied Sciences

Elective Component

11 / 13 December 2025
DGSA Conference on “Effects without Subjects? Who Benefits from Research on the Impact and Outcomes of Social Work?”, Münster

Other Events

SuG Brown Bag Lunch – every Monday from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. via Zoom

13 / 14 June 2025
DGSA Doctoral Colloquium, Protestant University of Applied Sciences Bochum

16 / 17 July 2025
TiFo Summer School “Doing a Doctorate in Balance”, Protestant University of Applied Sciences Bochum

27 June 2025
Department Assembly and Afternoon of Research, Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences

Documents for Enrollment and Admission