Overview of the Department
Early childhood is a crucial stage in a child’s life; during which the foundations of their personality are built and various aspects of their development, including psychological, physical, emotional, and cognitive, are formed. During this phase, orientations, habits, behaviors, and values are shaped. Children are the men of tomorrow and the youth of the future, therefore, the future of any society largely depends on its attention to and care for children, as well as providing them with the capabilities that enable their comprehensive and integrated development. Consequently, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has focused on the holistic development of all aspects of child upbringing through preparing and qualifying teachers specialized in early childhood. In this regard, the Kindergarten Department at Najran University College was inaugurated during the 1431-1432 academic year. The Kindergarten program grants a Bachelor’s degree in Education with a specialization in Kindergarten, where students are required to complete 133 credit hours to obtain the degree. The program seeks to develop distinguished competencies in the field of kindergartens and provide scientific and professional services to meet the changing needs of motherhood and childhood. In the 1440-1441 academic year, the name of the program was changed to: "Early Childhood Education" according to the instructions of the Ministry of Education in the Kingdom, as stipulated in Resolution No. 84155 dated 12/9/1438H. Additionally, a new curriculum was introduced to meet societal and labor market needs. In the 1434 academic year, the Master’s Academic Program in Kindergartens was inaugurated, and the Professional Master's Program in Early Childhood was inaugurated in 1442 to grant the female students a Master’s degree.