Course objective and expected outcomes:
This course aims to cover specific topics related to the process of growing up in the Arab world.

The objectives are to:
1. Define Childhood and its reality in the Arab world.
2. Map socialization actors, approaches and tools in the Arab world.
3. Cover children’s needs and problems in the Arab world.
4. Address and analyze children’s situations and problems in the Arab world.
5. Study organizations working with children and their assessment, and the role of civil society in the field.
6. Study the impact of changing culture on children.
7. Improve the understanding and enhancing children’s innovation and creativity
8. Introduce approaches to social problem solving.
9. Address different dimensions of political culture, socialization and child participation.

The expected outcomes are to:
-Introduce main theories and concepts in the field.
-Develop the skill of research and comparing data and drawing conclusions about children’s situations from data.
-Develop analytical capacities of students by comparing ideas and laws to facts found in international organization reports.
-Analyze the impact of socio-cultural and urban factors on child socialization and education.
-Understand the role of family, school, mosques and churches on child values, self understanding and socialization.
-Explore the impact of new media on researching and approaching children’s situations.
-Explore youth participation in changing political and social conditions.
- Understand the complexity of factors affecting children’s socialization in the modern world.
-Understand the rising agency of children at younger age through media and communication technology.
-Reflect on the impact of technology on social bonds and culture.
-Develop an argumentative skill to weigh the pros and cons of social change on the life of children.
-Understand the non-material needs of children and their importance in policy making.
-Develop the ability to compare and integrate theories of children’s needs.
-Develop the ability to notice behavior indicating unfulfilled needs.
-Build knowledge about cultural rights of children in unprivileged communities.
-Realize the special needs of children, including children with disability and gifted children.
-Relate different variables and factors to the role of civil society agencies in serving children as well as framing public policy for children based on experience.

Subject content:
The course maps the reality of the Arab world and the socio-economic as well as political context, and introduces the concepts of different disciplines in their relation to child rights and welfare. It addresses the diverse problems and challenges children face in the Arab society and the role of national and international institutions, as well as NGOs and social workers in protecting the child and responding to its needs. It also gives attention to the cultural dimensions usually often neglected and strategies of building children's capacity. It also sketches the political context of children’s socialization and participation, and how it can become a route for building identity, preparing for civic engagement and social inclusion.