University Program: Kindergarten Education, BA

Overview

The Kindergarten Education, BA program is designed to provide students with a range of practical skills and theoretical tools in the area of Early Childhood Education and Care. The program aims to equip graduates with the ability to plan and manage process-related pedagogical activities that support child-centred development and care of children from 3 years of age to 6.

Program Details

• Faculty: Faculty of Education for Children and Special Educational Needs
• Campus location: Hajd·b÷sz÷rmķny
• Academic discipline: Pedagogy/Education
• Qualification: Kindergarten Educator
• Starting date: September 2026
• Language requirements: English language proficiency (TOEFL 513 / IELTS 5.5 / oral examination)

Academic Requirements

• High school certificate
• Entrance examination in English (Aptitude exam: written (Letter of motivation), oral: a conversation via electronic communication)
• Aptitude test in physical fitness

Program Structure

• Duration: 6 semesters
• ECTS credits: 180
• Tuition fee: $6,000 USD/year
• Other fees: Application fee $150 USD, entrance procedure fee $350 USD

Curriculum

The program includes a mix of theoretical and practical courses, with a focus on:

• Basics of Education, Research Methods, Early Childhood Education
• Psychology, Pedagogy of Play, Work Activities by Children
• The Cultivation of Speech and Mother Tongue, The Activities of Rhymes and Telling Fairy Tales
• Theory and Practice of Bilingual Education, Early English in Childhood Education
• Individual and Group Practice in Kindergarten

Main Subjects

1. Basics of Education, Research Methods, Early Childhood Education I.
2. Early childhood and History of Kindergarten Education, Early Childhood Education III.
3. Development of Critical and Reflective Thinking, International Trends in Early Childhood Education

Internship and Practice

• Individual Practice in Training Kindergarten takes two weeks per semester
• Complex Practice in Kindergarten in the last semester takes 8 weeks (230 hours)

Career Prospects

After graduation, students can find jobs in private, public, or church-funded kindergartens, infant nurseries, family nurseries, or family care services. The graduates are suitable for jobs in nursing, caring, educating, mediating, and counselling in the scope of childcare work.

Degree Overview:

The Kindergarten Education program at the University of Debrecen aims to equip students with a comprehensive range of practical skills and theoretical knowledge in the field of Early Childhood Education and Care. Upon graduation, students will be capable of planning and executing process-related pedagogical activities that effectively support child-centered development and care for children between the ages of 3 and 6. They will acquire a solid theoretical foundation and develop the ability to organize engaging and enriching activity programs in kindergarten settings using contemporary methods. The program emphasizes the transmission of universal and national values to children, fostering differentiated child development in collaboration with families and in harmony with the social environment.

Outline:

The Kindergarten Education program is structured over six semesters, comprising a blend of lectures, seminars, and practical experiences. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the field, encompassing the following key areas:

Year 1:

• Basics of Education
• Research Methods
• Early Childhood Education I (Approaches, Frameworks, Hungarian Specializations)
• Early Childhood Education II (Activities, Project-based Pedagogy in Kindergarten, Planning)
• Development of Personality and Professional Competencies
• Psychology I (Basics of Psychology)
• Psychology II (Early Childhood Psychology and Child Observation)
• Communication, Language, and Speech
• Pedagogy of Play I (Applied games in kindergarten education)
• Pedagogy of Play II (Needs and forms of play)
• Work Activities by Children I-II (Role of work activities in children's development and self-reliance)
• Cultivation of Speech and Mother Tongue
• Activities of Rhymes and Telling Fairy Tales and its Methodology
• Theory and Practice of Bilingual Education
• Early English in Childhood Education 1
• English Language Development 1-2
• Individual Practice in Kindergarten I-II

Year 2:

• Early Childhood and History of Kindergarten Education
• Early Childhood Education III (Assessment, Documents, Profession, Professional Ethics)
• Psychology III (Practice of Personal and Social Skills and Community Cognition)
• Value and Ethics in Education
• Anthropological Perspective of Early Childhood
• Pedagogy of Play III (Method of pedagogues' play encouragement)
• Education of Puppetry and its Methodology
• Active Exploration of the Outside Environment I and its Methodology
• Cultivation of Music, Singing, Music, Singing Games, and Dances and its Methodology
• Activities of Drawing, Painting, Moulding, and Handicrafts I (Methodology, techniques)
• Activities of Drawing, Painting, Moulding, and Handicrafts II (Creating activities, making puppets)
• Physical Activity by Children I (Cultivation of children's activity and its physiological basis)
• Physical Activity by Children II (Free and organized activity and its methodology)
• Pedagogy of Health and First Aid Training in Kindergarten
• Early English in Childhood Education 2.
• Classroom Language
• Developing Intercultural Competence 1
• Civilization and Culture
• Individual Practice in Kindergarten III-IV
• Group Practice in Kindergarten I

Year 3:

• Development of Critical and Reflective Thinking
• International Trends in Early Childhood Education
• Society, Culture, and Minorities in Hungary
• ICT (Information and Communications Technology)
• Active Exploration of the Outside Environment II (New issues of Sustainable Development in Kindergarten and Mathematical Experiences)
• International Music Trends in Early Childhood Education
• Building Partnerships with Families
• The Relations of Kindergarten
• Inclusive Education
• The Basics of Special Educational Needs
• Issues of Compensation for Disadvantaged Education
• Child Protection in Early Childhood
• Problem and Conflict Resolution
• English Children's Literature
• Inquiry-based Education
• Group Practice in Kindergarten II
• Individual Practice in Kindergarten V and Complex Practice in Kindergarten

Internship and Practice:

• Individual Practice in Training Kindergarten (two weeks per semester)

Careers:

Graduates of the Kindergarten Education program are well-prepared for a variety of rewarding careers in the field of early childhood education and care. They are eligible for positions in private, public, or church-funded kindergartens, infant nurseries, family nurseries, or family care services. The program's emphasis on practical skills and theoretical knowledge equips graduates with the competencies necessary for roles in nursing, caring, educating, mediating, and counseling within the scope of childcare work.

Tuition fee: 6,000 USD/year Other fees: application fee 150 USD, entrance procedure fee 350 USD

University of Debrecen