Objectives: This course will introduce the students to the concept of childhood from the perspective of psychology, theology, and international law, stressing the importance of an interdisciplinary approach and culturally-sensitive reflection.

Learning Outcomes: At the end of the course, students will be able to interpret childhood in their own cultures, recognize the cultural elements that lead people to define childhood from different perspectives.

Content : Main elements of childhood within the students’ cultures; comparison with peers’ experiences and the way children in their cultures grow up today; elements of their own upbringing with regard to language, customs and traditions, values, norms, religion, gender, community, and recent changes; evaluation of the various cultural concepts of childhood with regard to the universal rights of children and human dignity; theology of childhood; developmental psychology; vulnerability of children.

Methodology: The course will combine lectures, readings and seminar discussion.

Means of evaluation : Evaluation will be based on class participation and a written paper.