Department of Child Studies

Department characteristics

In the Department of Child Studies, students can acquire a type 1 elementary school teaching license. Students can effectively learn practical teaching skills through specialized courses such as introductory teaching seminars, teaching internships, and education field learning; mock lessons; and “Play School at Okinawa-University-affiliated Elementary/Junior High School.” Additionally, preparatory lessons and study groups are held in preparation for the teacher employment exam, and every year many current students pass the exam for Okinawa Prefecture to become teachers.

Degree policy

In the Department of Child Studies, a degree is awarded to students who complete 124 credits and take the required courses and fulfill other requirements, and who are able to develop and comprehensively use the following abilities and qualities.
1. Well-educated, with the ability to think comprehensively and from multiple perspectives
Students become well-rounded in knowledge, and based on multi-perspective/comprehensive ideas, they can pass on culture and foster creative children.
2. The ability to learn independently and cooperate with others
As an elementary school teacher, after-school childcare worker, etc., students will be able to continue to independently acquire advanced specialized knowledge throughout their lives and contribute to society.
By developing the required communication abilities as a specialist involved with children, students will be able to form relationships with various kinds of people.
3. Regional co-creation
In the community or in nature, students can develop the ability to consider issues related to education and children.
By considering from a community perspective the state of society or nature necessary for children to live, students can participate in creating a peaceful society.
4. The ability to use specialized knowledge and skills
Students are able to acquire and apply the specialized knowledge and skills related to children’s education and development so that they can practically solve societal issues.

Curriculum policy (Content and method of education)

(1) Well-educated, with the ability to think comprehensively and from multiple perspectives
Through general education, which comprises the foundation of the four years of study, students take courses in a wide range of fields, including language, information processing, health, humanities/society, nature/environment, Okinawa, general studies, and career building. In doing so, students consider the values, systems, practices, education, etc., related to the broad problems faced by modern society from multiple perspectives, and they learn the basic perspectives and way of thinking for co-creation.
(2) The ability to learn independently and cooperate with others
In order to achieve in-depth learning that is independent and interactive, our education method incorporates active learning with a focus on Major Specialization Courses.
For year-one education, students learn the core, fundamental study skills for university learning through problem-finding seminars with the aim of acquiring communication skills so that they can cooperate with various kinds of people. We also provide career guidance with a focus on the teaching profession for students to consider their own career.
(3) Regional co-creation
With the goal of students taking responsibility for regional education in the future, we provide education that allows them to practice and reflect on the things they learn in regard to educational and children’s issues.
(4) The ability to use specialized knowledge and skills
We teach students to think of children as the successors of culture and as creators. The education we provide develops the skills necessary to foster such children.
The specialized courses are divided into: (1) Children’s Education, (2) Children and Culture, and (3) Method and Practice of Children’s Research. Each course is arranged into yearly stages that include lectures, seminar courses, and field learning courses. The curriculum achieves a balance of theory and practice. Mock lessons are incorporated in stages to foster practical skills for the educational environment.
(1) Children’s Education has a curriculum where students can fulfill the credit requirements for acquiring an elementary school teaching license while developing their basic comprehension skills and practical instructional skills for teaching and curricula.
(2) Children and Culture has a curriculum where students can study aspects of culture as they pertain to children and things related to Okinawan culture in a fulfilling and practical way.
(3) Method and Practice of Children’s Research has a curriculum for practical and in-depth learning primarily through seminars on specialist fields related to children’s research where students can summarize their achievements in a senior thesis.