The Department of Early Childhood Education was established in 1980 with the aim of producing excellent, creative teachers and educational experts who can undertake theoretical and practical research on early childhood education, based on the government’s comprehensive plan for the promotion of early childhood education, and contribute to the development of the nation and the world.

The department offers Bachelor’s, Master's, and Doctorate programs, and operates a research-focused program at graduate schools and research and re-education program at the Graduate School of Education that is aimed at teachers.

The graduate school has operated the Master’s program since 1994, and the Doctorate program since 1999. The Graduate School of Education has operated the Early Childhood Education Major since 1984.
Since the Comprehensive Child Educare Center was established in 1995, diverse sub-organizations such as the Children’s Home, the Child Educare Research Institute, the Childcare Information Center, and the Child Educare Teacher Training Center have been operated in cooperation with the department. A large number of graduates have served at the above institutions.

Graduates of the department are teaching children as professional teachers in public and private kindergartens or welfare centers. Some have continued to graduate school, and served as professors or researchers at research institutions in early childhood education after completing their Master’s or Doctorate degrees.
Some graduates have joined institutions specialized in child welfare operated by the government, foundations, or private associations, where they have displayed their professional capabilities. Some have joined private enterprises in early childhood education, and contributed to education of their local communities as education experts.