The program in Early Childhood Studies develops professional leadership in all aspects of early childhood—counseling, guidance, therapy, management and development of programs and research. The Schwartz Program is unique in its multidisciplinarity. Its faculty derive knowledge and tools from the disciplines of psychology, social work and education, aiming to supply the unique needs of children from birth to age six.
The program is based on a systemic outlook and ecological developmental approach to early childhood. This outlook considers the many and varied environments that influence children’s development: family, educational frameworks, peer groups, community and culture.
The program’s aims
- To create a joint knowledge base, a common language and professional communication among the students, thus to advance educational and social goals for young children;
- To impart knowledge and tools for systematic and analytical thought in the field of early childhood;
- To impart knowledge and tools for planning and evaluating educational frameworks and social services for young children and their families;
- To impart knowledge and skills in locating, evaluating and strengthening young children’s factors of resilience, as well as evaluating risk factors at this age in the familial context and in educational frameworks;
- To advance and improve the skills in guidance, counseling, intervention and management of professionals working with and within educational frameworks and social services, and with parents of young children;
- To develop an infrastructure of academic research that will advance knowledge in the field of early childhood and that will nourish and enrich study programs and professional interventions with the parents, educational frameworks and social services of young children;
- To develop a professional community that will provide its members with support and development, to continue research and development of knowledge amongst the families, early childhood frameworks, social services, and policymakers.
In order to achieve these aims, the program combines academic studies with fieldwork (practicums) in the fields of child development, mental health, educational programs, counseling, guidance and therapy. The program emphasizes a systemic approach and understanding the mutual relations between the various systems affecting children, in the family, the community and the society.
The program offers three tracks: guidance and counseling; mental health; policy and management. The core knowledge is common to all students.
The program is active under the auspices of the School of Social Work and Social Welfare and the School of Education.
Explanation on the program's courses (2021-2022)
Explanation on the program's courses (2020-2021)
General information
Head of the program in Early Childhood Studies: Prof. Idit Balit-Cohen
Coordinator of MA studies: Ms. Rama Botbinik
Advisor for prectical studies: Dr. Iris Zadok, e-mail: iris.zadok@mail.huji.ac.il
Program secretariat: room 310, tel: 02-5880452 extension 2, 02-5881845/8, e-mail: swm@savion.huji.ac.il
Office hours at the secretariat: Sunday-Thursday, 10:00-15:00.
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