The Department of Child Development is the only one of its kind in Hokkaido. It offers students an opportunity to learn about the psychological development and education of children. Students extensively study the development processes of human beings from childhood, and acquire specialized knowledge on the development and education of children through cooperation with the Department of Clinical Psychology. In the curriculum, students take specialized subjects in the following categories: Psychology and Development, Society, Welfare and Education. This is aimed at establishing a new approach to child development study by considering the lifetime development of humans from childhood through to adolescence, middle age and old age.

The department offers students practical curricula in which they can learn about the development of children through direct interaction with them. Students can then use the knowledge acquired in the field to make teaching plans. A number of teaching-related subjects essential for those aspiring to teach at elementary schools in the future are offered. Leading figures in the practice and research of each subject also give lectures on Teaching Methods. It is possible for students to manage their schedule to take enough credits to acquire a first-category teaching license for elementary schools on graduation, and we also offer a system that enables students to earn the credits required for graduation by taking courses offered in other faculties and departments.

Computers and the internet have been installed for use in elementary schools nationwide. This course provides a better understanding of the risks and morality issues of the Internet, and students consider how children can utilize it as a tool for learning, as well as how computers can be utilized with children as the main focus.

The purpose of this course is to introduce and study examples of what children experience and learn through playing with clay and building blocks. It also has students consider what they are doing from the children's point of view by actually creating things with them.

What is the Convention on the Rights of the Child? What is the situation with the rights of children around the world? This course interprets the content of the Convention and the structure of the rights of the child by investigating the real situation of children in northern and southern parts of the world and the catalysts behind the creation of the Convention. Students experimentally understand from examples what is needed in terms of the rights of Japanese children, and learn about the implementation of education on rights around the world based on the spirit of the Convention to gain an idea of future development.

The department focuses on fundamental and modern issues regarding the development and education of children and looks at the lifetime development of humans through childhood, adolescence, middle age and old age. This is a new academic field. Based on this academic philosophy, we foster students with a high level of expertise and rich character which will help them to contribute to education and a wide range of development support for children.

1. To address issues regarding children's development and education by focusing on their future from the broad viewpoint of human development, and conduct teaching and research through association with families, schools and cultures.
2. To develop students who can contribute to school education, child-raising support in the community and special-needs education by cultivating educational theories and practical skills through cooperation with schools and the community.