The Faculty of Educational Sciences at the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) offers an academic program in Social Pedagogy designed to train professionals capable of tackling the educational and social challenges of our time with competence and passion. Specifically aimed at young individuals motivated to work in education, social intervention, and integral human development, the program is structured across multiple training levels and grants access to two distinct professional profiles, both recognized under Law 55/2024 and registered in the relevant professional directories.
Socio-pedagogical educator: at the heart of the educational relationship
The first level of the program, the Baccalaureate (Bachelor’s degree), qualifies professionals to practice as socio-pedagogical educators, key figures in educational, social, and socio-health services. This professional works daily in service to individuals, families, and communities, promoting educational pathways focused on inclusion, autonomy and active citizenship.
Thanks to a solid theoretical-practical training, the socio-pedagogical educator is able to design, implement and evaluate educational interventions in different life contexts and throughout all phases of the life cycle. Their contribution is essential in situations of vulnerability, marginalization, disability, or deviance, as well as in promoting well-being and social development.
Professional fields include:
- Public and private social services, cooperatives, and Third Sector organizations
- Educational communities, family homes, centers for minors, migrants, and elderly
- Home-based, rehabilitative, and socio-health services
- Community centers for education, inclusion, and intercultural dialogue
- Street education projects, outreach programs, and harm reduction initiatives
- Social and work reintegration programs for detainees or individuals with substance dependencies
- Social housing and community development initiatives
- Social agriculture experiences and educational network facilitation
Obtaining the Baccalaureate allows access to the Licentiate (Master’s degree) in Educational Sciences with a specialization in Social Pedagogy and, subsequently, the PhD in Social Pedagogy for those wishing to deepen the theoretical-scientific and research dimension of their educational commitment.
Social pedagogist: innovation, research and educational responsibility
The second professional profile is that of the Social Pedagogist, a highly qualified expert in educational and social project development, applied research in territorial contexts and the creation of educational policies for adults in both public and private sectors.
The social pedagogist analyzes emerging needs, designs and coordinates complex projects, conducts impact evaluations, and supports team-based work in educational and social services. Their expertise spans from educational project management to lifelong learning, with special attention to issues such as marginalization, youth distress, intercultural coexistence, and sustainable development.
A comprehensive, integrated and personalized training
The training program at UPS balances theoretical foundations, laboratory experiences, mandatory internships and field projects, ensuring an education that integrates reflection with action, theory with practice. A distinctive feature is the educational attention given to students, accompanying them not only in their professional growth but also in their personal and vocational journey. Every phase of academic life is designed to help future educators and pedagogists develop competencies, critical thinking, and ethical responsibility.
According to the MUR decree of March 13, 2025 (Official Gazette No. 79 of April 4, 2025), academic degrees in pedagogy issued by the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome are recognized as equivalent to Italian degrees for professional practice and registration in the relevant professional directories, as provided by Articles 2 and 4 of Law No. 55 of April 15, 2024.