The Bachelor’s degree in Social Services (210 credits) is divided into basic studies in social services (40 cr), professional studies in social services (145 cr), the thesis (15 cr) and free-choice studies (10 cr). All the students in this degree complete basic studies, professional studies, and a thesis. The degree usually takes 3.5 years to complete. Previous studies, work experience in the field and otherwise acquired competence in accordance with the curriculum are taken into account in the personal study plan and in such cases, it may take less than the stated time to complete the studies.

The Bachelor’s degree in Social Services (AMK) leads to a university of applied sciences (AMK) Bachelor’s degree qualification in Social Services (Section 6 of the Act on the Qualification Requirements for Social Welfare Professionals). The required qualification providing eligibility to work as a social advisor or supervisor is a university of applied sciences degree in social and health care suitable for the field of social welfare. Social services graduates must apply to Valvira (National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health) for the degree to be legalized, and after Valvira's decision, they will be entitled to work as social services professionals. In addition, the degree program provides students with the opportunity to complete studies leading to a qualification in early childhood education (Section 27 of the Early Childhood Education Act). It is also possible for the students to advance their professional development according to interest by completing the appropriate internships and choosing a relevant topic for the thesis.

Graduates of the bachelor’s degree in social services not only find employment in the public or private sector, but also in the third sector. Social services jobs are often found in early childhood education, child, youth, and family services, in services for the disabled or the elderly, substance abuse or mental health work, or multicultural services. Many social services graduates become self-employed or set up their own businesses. They can also work in social services management positions. The professional job titles used by social services graduates are for example, service supervisor, social welfare advisor, outreach youth worker, early childhood educator, social service advisor, youth leader, school social worker, project planner, project manager, careers advisor.

Teaching includes on-site contact teaching in Kajaani, real-time teaching online, on-the-job learning (projects, work monitoring, interviews), independent learning online, group work and collaborative learning. The lectures are delivered online, either as real-time lectures or as recordings. The degree includes about two (2) days per month of on-site contact teaching in Kajaani apart from the beginning of the studies in the first year, when there is an intensive four-day period of contact teaching that continues with two days of contact teaching per week throughout September. After this, from October onwards, there will be on-site contact teaching in Kajaani two days per month. The contact teaching is activity-based. Minor changes in the amount of contact teaching may occur but students will be informed of such changes well in advance.

The degree includes extensive opportunities to learn in real work environments and in the students’ home region(s). During the studies, co-operation is also carried out within the University of Applied Sciences, and in this case the students will have the opportunity to practice working life skills such as multi-professional cooperation with nursing and public health nursing students through simulations. Studies in the field of sports are part of the social services degree. Research and development activities involve co-operation with social welfare and services employers from the public, private and third sectors in the regions of Kainuu, Kuusamo and Raahe. Thus, the students will be carrying out regional pioneering work with KAMK's RDI staff.

During the studies, three internships accruing a total of 45 credits are completed. In the internships, co-operation is established with social welfare and service providers in KAMK's area of operation, and the students receive assistance in finding internships. Students can complete an internship in their hometown or region. The Jobiili system is used to acquire internships. Professional studies include 20 credits in early childhood education and social pedagogy. If, in addition to the degree in social services, students wish to gain a qualification in early childhood education in accordance with the Early Childhood Education Act (Section 27), they must complete the professional internship (15 cr) and the second part of their advanced internship (10 cr) within early childhood education. In addition, they are expected to compile a thesis concerning early childhood education.

The structure of Kajaani University of Applied Sciences' Bachelor’s degree in Social Services is as follows: