The discipline of Child Development began to develop globally in the early 20th century; in Turkey, it first began undergraduate education at Hacettepe University in 1968 under the name "Child Development and Education." Today, our department, which adopts a multifaceted approach to training specialists in health, education, and social services, stands out with its academic and practical content.
Childhood is the most critical and important period of human development. A child represents the future of a society. Therefore, investing in a child is an investment in the future. For these reasons, Child Development is one of the most thought-about, researched, and intriguing branches of science in this century. A child's healthy development and happiness require responsibility not only for the family in which they are born and raised, but also for society. The primary goal of the Child Development Department is to train professionals who will provide guidance and counseling to families and society in this field.
The aim of the Istanbul Gelişim University Child Development Program is to train Child Development Specialists who assess the mental, motor, self-care, social, and emotional development of typically developing children, children with special needs, working children, immigrants, those with criminal backgrounds, and hospitalized children, in accordance with their age levels. They also develop and implement personalized education and support programs tailored to each child's individual characteristics. In this role, they develop projects related to children, families, educators, and society using contemporary and scientific approaches, implementing and disseminating these projects for the best benefit of children and families in all segments of society. Child development specialists who graduate from the Child Development Program can work in education, healthcare, social services, and other sectors. We hope to raise and develop qualified generations by supporting children's health and development, with a focus on the best interests of the child and children's rights.
I wish success to all our prospective students.
Prof. Dr. Makbule Meziyet ARI
Child Development Department
