PhD Course Contents

Objectives: No English description is available in the Information Package.

Objectives: The general aim of this subject is to enable prospective teachers to expand their knowledge of nature in the context of early childhood education and to foster their commitment to the development of such education. It seeks to equip them to use educational activities as effective teaching methods for supporting and assessing child development; to help them internalize concepts, methods, and techniques related to nature; and to enable them to understand the characteristics of a nature-based educational approach and gain both national and global perspectives on the importance and necessity of such education. Furthermore, the course covers concepts related to ecology, environmental issues, and environmental ethics; the contributions of environmental education; practical applications in the field; and the role of the individual within environmental education.

Content: This course covers the interaction between children and nature during early childhood, nature-based educational approaches, the theoretical foundations of nature education, and its developmental significance in the preschool period. The course content addresses nature awareness, ecological literacy, sustainability, environmental ethics, and environmental issues. Additionally, it examines various educational approaches, such as nature education practices in formal education, scientific process skills in nature education, Forest Pedagogy, and outdoor learning models. Key components of the course include the concepts of biophilia, biophobia, and biomimicry; the relationship between nature, children, and philosophy (P4C); creativity in nature; the use of school gardens as learning environments; and environmental awareness and disaster education. The process also incorporates the roles of adults, families, and teachers in fostering nature and environmental sensitivity, as well as holistic assessment and assignment presentations.

Objectives: No English description is available in the Information Package.

Objectives: This course aims to develop academic writing skills. Accordingly, it focuses on the points to consider when writing the topic title, problem statement, significance of the study, research method and findings, as well as the discussion, conclusion and recommendations of an academic study. The process of finding a journal for an academic article will also be explained.

Objectives: By the end of this course, the aim is for students to be able to: • Explain the theoretical and philosophical foundations of the ecopedagogical approach, • Evaluate the relationship between environmental education and sustainability in early childhood, • Analyze nature-based learning approaches, • Interpret the concepts of ecological citizenship and environmental ethics within the context of early childhood, • Examine early childhood education curricula from an ecopedagogical perspective, • Develop ecopedagogical teaching activities and programs, • Integrate out-of-school learning environments into the educational process, • Critically examine the relevant literature, • Acquire skills in ecopedagogical research and project development.

Content: In the 21st century, issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, consumer culture, environmental inequalities, and sustainability challenges necessitate the restructuring of education systems. Early childhood, in particular, is a critical developmental period during which children form emotional bonds with nature, shape their environmental attitudes, and lay the foundations for lifelong sustainable behaviors. Therefore, preschool teachers need to master pedagogical approaches that go beyond merely imparting environmental knowledge; they must support skills such as establishing an ethical relationship with nature, fostering critical thinking and ecological awareness, and cultivating a culture of sustainable living. The ecopedagogical approach is a transformative educational philosophy that integrates concepts such as environmental education, critical pedagogy, education for sustainable development, nature-based learning, and ecological citizenship. This approach aims to encourage children to view nature not merely as a subject of study, but as a shared living space. It also fosters the development of children into environmentally sensitive, responsible, and active individuals. Although environmental education initiatives for early childhood are increasing in Turkey, there is a noticeable scarcity of doctoral-level courses that comprehensively address the theoretical foundations, implementation models, curriculum development processes, and research dimensions of the ecopedagogical approach. This course aims to equip doctoral students in preschool education with an academic understanding of the ecopedagogical approach’s theoretical framework, its implications for early childhood education, nature-based learning environments, sustainability-focused curricula, and relevant research methods. Within the scope of the course, students will: The aim is for them to critically analyze the ecopedagogical approach, evaluate early childhood education programs from an ecopedagogical perspective, develop nature-based practices, design original research and projects focused on sustainability, and develop academic competence in the areas of ecological citizenship and environmental ethics in early childhood.