Social Education
Qualification awarded (in original language)
"Licenciatura em Educação Social". Title of "Licenciado".Level of qualification
1st Cycle of Studies. EQF level 6. ISCED 2011 level 6.Admission requirements
Students may apply to this 1st cycle programme, through the general regime, if they obtain a minimum classification of 95 points (on a scale of 0 to 200) in one of the following national entrance examinations: Geography (09), or History (11), or Portuguese (18).Application may also be possible, through special regimes, for:
. students inside the Portuguese educational system who want to re-enroll, change course of studies, or transfer education institution;
. holders of technological specialization courses;
. olders than 23 who have succeeded a special exam of assessment of capabilities to access the Higher Education System;
. holders of middle or high level courses;
. students coming from foreign higher education systems.
The access requirements for the 1st cycle of studies of Higher Education appear in the description of the Portuguese Higher Education System, provided by NARIC (http://www.dges.mctes.pt/DGES/pt/Reconhecimento/NARICENIC/) and presented in section 8 of the Diploma Supplement.
Recognition of prior learning
Following the implementation of the Bologna Process and the consequent legislation regarding the mobility of students among degrees and higher education institutions, prior learning must be recognized and credited. The prior learning concept comprises all the previous learning/training undertaken in other higher education study cycles in national or international institutions (crediting of certified training), as well as previous professional experience and any post-secondary school training or education. As such, the IPB promotes the crediting of the student’s prior learning when arriving at the institution.Aiming at a quick and full integration of the student in his/her new education programme, the recognition procedures must be submitted when enrolling at the IPB.
For further enquiries on crediting and recognizing prior learning and training at the IPB (calendars, procedures and assessment criteria), please go to the Applicant Portal at www.ipb.pt/portaldocandidato.
Qualification requirements and regulations
6 Semesters (3 years). 20 Weeks of study, per semester, full-time (40 per year). 40 total Hours per week. 810 total Hours per semester (1620 per year). 180 ECTS Credits (30 per semester); 1 credit corresponds to 27 hours. Variable number of Contact (teaching) Hours, depending on the established Schedule for each Course Unit). A period of on-the-job training with 21 ECTS Credits, is included; this training is to be accomplished in a public or private institution with which ESE has signed a cooperation agreement.Holders of this diploma are entitled to apply to the career of high staff in central and local public administration, as well as in private enterprises and institutions or to undertake their own independent qualified activity.
Profile of the programme
The profile of the programme comprises the development of the technical-scientific knowledge and professional skills in the study areas of social education. Educational Sciences, Social Sciences and Psychology.Key learning outcomes
The bachelor’s degree in Social Education is awarded to those students that demonstrate, in this field, the ability to:a) develop and enhance the acquired knowledge;
b) apply acquired knowledge and understanding capacity in order to clearly demonstrate a professional approach to the work carried out;
c) solve problems based upon their own arguments;
d) collate, select, and interpret relevant information which will enable them to consolidate the solutions they present and the opinions they put forward, including the analysis of relevant social, scientific and ethical aspects;
e) communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions, both to experts and non-experts;
f) develop competences that will enable them to benefit from lifelong learning with a high degree of autonomy.
To complete the qualification, the student is required to pass all compulsory course units of the study plan.
Occupational profiles of graduates
The degree of "licenciado" (bachelor) in Social Education belongs to the education and training area of Health Sciences and Social Protection. Graduates are qualified to develop a professional activity within the profile of the programme.Access to further studies
The bachelor’s degree in Social Education allows to proceed to post-graduate studies, according to the diagram of the Portuguese Higher Education System, provided by NARIC (http://www.dges.mctes.pt/DGES/pt/Reconhecimento/NARICENIC/) and presented in section 8 of the Diploma Supplement.In the School of Education, this degree gives access to the master’s programme in Educação Social.
Graduation requirements
Graduation is obtained after completion of the total ECTS credits foreseen in the study plan.Examination regulations, assessment and grading
Examination and assessment are regulated by the IPB general regulation, available in www.ipb.pt/sa, and by the Attendance and Assessment Regulations of the School, available in www.ese.ipb.pt.Consult this Guide under the option “The ECTS at the IPB” for information on the grading and qualification system.
Mode of study
Full-time.Programme director
| Maria do Ceu Ribeiro ( | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) |
Scientific areas of the study plan
| Scientific Area | Acronym | ECTS Credits | |
| Compulsory | Optional | ||
| Educational Sciences | ES | 102.0 | 4.0 |
| Foreign Languages | FL | 0.0 | 4.0 |
| Psychology | Psy | 33.0 | 0.0 |
| Social Sciences | SS | 33.0 | 0.0 |
| Visual Arts/Sport Sciences/Music | VA/SC/Mus | 0.0 | 4.0 |
| Total | 168.0 | 12.0 | |
Course structure
| Year | Sem | Type | Code | Course Unit | Scientific Area | ECTS Credits |
| 1 | - | Annual | 9084-628-1001-00-23 | Social Pedagogy Fundamentals | ES | 7.0 |
| 1 | - | Annual | 9084-628-1002-00-23 | Research Methodology in Social Education | ES | 7.0 |
| 1 | - | Annual | 9084-628-1003-00-23 | Child and Adolescent Psychology | Psy | 7.0 |
| 1 | - | Annual | 9084-628-1004-00-23 | Adult Psychology | Psy | 7.0 |
| 1 | 1 | Semestral | 9084-628-1101-00-22 | Social Anthropology | SS | 6.0 |
| 1 | 1 | Semestral | Option 1 ↓ | 4.0 | ||
| 1 | 1 | Semestral | 9084-628-1103-00-23 | Sociology of Education | ES | 6.0 |
| 1 | 2 | Semestral | 9084-628-1201-00-23 | Economic and Social Development | SS | 6.0 |
| 1 | 2 | Semestral | 9084-628-1202-00-23 | Ethics and Professional Deontology | ES | 6.0 |
| 1 | 2 | Semestral | 9084-628-1203-00-23 | Information and Communication Technologies | ES | 4.0 |
| 2 | - | Annual | 9084-628-2001-00-23 | Population Dynamics | SS | 7.0 |
| 2 | - | Annual | 9084-628-2002-00-23 | Adult Education | ES | 7.0 |
| 2 | - | Annual | 9084-628-2003-00-23 | Pedagogies for Social Re-Integration | ES | 7.0 |
| 2 | - | Annual | 9084-628-2004-00-23 | Socio Educational Projects | ES | 7.0 |
| 2 | 1 | Semestral | 9084-628-2101-00-23 | Law and Social Legislation | SS | 4.0 |
| 2 | 1 | Semestral | 9084-628-2102-00-23 | Environmental Education | ES | 4.0 |
| 2 | 1 | Semestral | Option 2 ↓ | 4.0 | ||
| 2 | 1 | Semestral | 9084-628-2104-00-23 | Organization and Management of Social Institutions | SS | 4.0 |
| 2 | 2 | Semestral | 9084-628-2201-00-23 | Health Education | ES | 4.0 |
| 2 | 2 | Semestral | 9084-628-2202-00-23 | Family and Community Intervention | ES | 6.0 |
| 2 | 2 | Semestral | 9084-628-2203-00-23 | Social Psychology and Group Dynamics | Psy | 6.0 |
| 3 | - | Annual | 9084-628-3001-00-23 | Deviant Behaviours | Psy | 7.0 |
| 3 | - | Annual | 9084-628-3002-00-23 | Internship | ES | 21.0 |
| 3 | 1 | Semestral | 9084-628-3101-00-23 | Sociocultural Animation | ES | 4.0 |
| 3 | 1 | Semestral | 9084-628-3102-00-23 | Dynamics of Social Organizations | SS | 6.0 |
| 3 | 1 | Semestral | 9084-628-3103-00-23 | Intervention in Senior Population | ES | 6.0 |
| 3 | 2 | Semestral | 9084-628-3201-00-23 | Intervention in Intercultural Education | ES | 6.0 |
| 3 | 2 | Semestral | 9084-628-3202-00-23 | Special Educational Needs | Psy | 6.0 |
| 3 | 2 | Semestral | Option 3 ↓ | 4.0 |