Child development refers to the specialization in nurturing and educating children from an early age through adolescence and youth, guiding them into a new phase of life, shaping their behavior and personality, and preparing them to integrate into and interact with society effectively. This specialization aims to equip parents, teachers, and all those involved in child rearing and education to perform this task to the best of their ability. The mission of a graduate in child development is to prepare, develop, and enhance a child’s skills from birth to age 18. By studying this specialization, tools for assessing a child’s behavior and growth can be developed, along with providing consultancy services to institutions and individuals and assisting children with special needs in adapting to society and keeping pace with development.
This specialization, taught in either English or Turkish, is offered in most Turkish universities as part of the Faculty of Health Sciences. The duration of the study is four years.
Curriculum for the child development program
The academic program content for the child development specialization varies among universities. Below is an example of the academic program content for child development in a Turkish university:
First Academic Year
- Information Technology
- Introduction to Child Development and Education
- Basic Information about the Human Body and Organ Functions
- Psychology
- Social Responsibility and Ethics
Second Academic Year
- Introduction to Special Education
- Developing the Concept of Play for Children
- Development in the Pre-school Period
- Children’s Literature
- Cognitive Development and Language Development
- Physical Growth and Motor Development
- Maternal and Child Nutrition
- First Aid
- Art and Creativity in Children
- Social Development
- Natural Development of the Nervous System
- Development During Adolescence
Third Academic Year
- Early Childhood Education
- Developmental Psychology
- Teaching Mathematics in Childhood
- Vital Statistics
- Health Sociology
- Early Intervention
- Neurological Disorders and Sensory Integration
- Physical Activity and Sports
- Epidemiology
Fourth Academic Year
- Curricula and Comparative Studies in Early Childhood Education
- Family Counseling
- Monitoring and Evaluation of Development
- Body Language
- Values in Early Childhood Education
- Communication with Children
- Professional Ethics
- Learning Disabilities
- Nutritional Support
Example: Click here to learn about the study subjects in the Child Development Program at Uskudar University
Career Opportunities for Child Development Graduates
- Family Research Institutions
- Disability Management
- State Planning Authority
- Daycare Centers
- Orphanages under the Ministry of Family and Social Policies
- Ministry of Health
- Family Health Centers and Hospitals
- Ministry of Justice in Courts
- Ministry of National Education
- General Directorate of Primary Education
- Guidance and Counseling Centers in Special Education
- Counseling and Research Centers
- Special Education, Care, and Rehabilitation Centers
- Radio and Television Programs in Developing and Implementing Children and Youth Programs
- Developing Children’s Books, Magazines, and Newspapers
- Developing and Producing Educational Games
- UNICEF
- Academic Work
