Pedagogische wetenschappen Pedagogical Sciences is all about aspects and processes in the upbringing and development of children and youngsters. The programme incorporates knowledge on the normal situation our society’s children are brought up in, how it can be optimised and what relation it bears to how children were brought up in the past or in other societies. The emphasis can also be on problems that can occur when children are being brought up. Some of them lead to front page news almost every day: rising juvenile delinquency, soccer hooliganism and youngsters who can’t keep pace with their peers. Other difficulties manifest themselves at a more individual level, such as learning or social / emotional problems. If you are interested in how children can change and develop, how society is changing and what the relation is between the two, then a Bachelor’s programme in Pedagogical Sciences is a good choice. Pedagogical Sciences has a long tradition at the UvA with an emphasis on theory and research and on the political, social and historical dimensions. Attention is devoted to theories on guiding and supporting children’s upbringing in normal situations as well as on remedial education, i.e. supporting, guiding and treating children with developmental problems. In the first year, you take courses with students in Education Studies. Students take the basic courses in both the Bachelor’s programmes, and also in psychology, philosophy, methodology and statistics. They do labs in academic skills and at the end of the first year, decide which of the two Bachelor’s programmes they want to take. In the second and third year, students expand their skills in supporting and guiding children and in social care and intervention, diagnostics and teaching skills. They can also do part of the programme abroad. The Bachelor’s programme is completed with a research project and a Bachelor’s thesis. After the Bachelor’s programme in Pedagogical Sciences, graduates get a Bachelor’s degree.

Master's graduates find work in social services, occupying themselves with special education and working with for instance disabled children. Pedagogical scientists also work at local or national prevention projects to protect children from drugs, abuse or crime. Pedagogical scientists also conduct research on the best methods for child rearing. They try to reproduce reality and translate data to policy and decisions.