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Child Studies

Researching the Processes and Structures That Generate Humanity, Society and Culture through Theories, Practices and Dialog in the Interdisciplinary Field of Children

The Child Studies program begins with an inquiry about society, culture and human existence in the interdisciplinary field of children, based on a realization of the standards of adults, which are dominated by unspoken assumptions.
 

This program considers a new relationship between adults and children: what and how changes occur by applying the standards of child studies to education, corporations, the civil service, the world of academic research, and local communities. 

Objective: Inquiring about the Processes and Structures of Generating Humanity, Society and Culture from Children

Our world is comprised of a diverse range of people. Children are one element of that diversity. They are born into this world and then grow up while having a variety of experiences. Although the world has constructed systems that raise, support and educate children, we now find ourselves facing one new challenge after another. 

Students in the Child Studies program consider a wide range of problems affecting children. When grappling with such issues, though, are we often swayed by the challenges confronting us? Although it may seem like an indirect path to follow, to take on the problems facing children without being distracted by the problems we ourselves face requires us to acquire a wide range of knowledge and experiences. This program explores what it means to be human based on a consideration of the challenges children face, as well as the social and cultural structures that exist. 

Features: Diverse Learning through Theory, Implementation and Dialog

Students in the Child Studies program learn about the basics of their specialty through theories regarding children, childcare and childhood education viewed from various multifaceted perspectives on a wide range of specialized areas. By relativizing and comprehending childhood—which is a period of life we have all passed through—we can expand our field of view through children to include humanity, society and culture as well. Students also participate in fieldwork and internships in the on-campus facilities (such as Izumi Day Nursery, Ochanomizu University Certified Center for Early Childhood Education and Care, and the Affiliated Kindergarten) and others to gain practical knowledge of children and their environments. 

Dialog is the key aspect of these studies, which can be deepened through repeated discussions between students, teachers, children, childcare practitioners and the student-herself, among others. Starting from seminars in the second half of the second year, students will come to appreciate academic dialog and deepen their concern for their own problems, culminating in the writing of their graduation theses after four years. 

This program also offers training courses for kindergarten teachers.