Best Online Doctorate in Early Childhood Education
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Ph.D. in Child Development
A doctorate in child development online opens doorways for many careers that encourage childhood and community development.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job markets for social workers, preschool directors, and school counselors are growing faster than the national average. With a doctoral degree, you have the theoretical foundation and necessary leadership skills to help children work toward positive emotional growth. You also delve into the biological and psychosocial stressors of childhood and young adulthood.
Featured Online Child Development Doctorate
The Best Online Child Development Doctorate
Fielding Graduate University
Santa Barbara, CA- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$0
- Out-of-state$0
- Retention Rate0%
- Acceptance Rate0%
- Students Enrolled981
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment96%
- AccreditationYes
Best Online Doctorate
Child Development
2024
Online Child Development Doctorate Ranking Guidelines
We ranked these degree programs based on quality, curricula, school awards, rankings, and reputation.
Rankings MethodologyChoosing a Program
The key to choosing the right program is understanding your own career goals. With so many possible applications for a Ph.D. in child development — such as counseling, education and government advocacy — you need to identify which programs offer courses oriented to your professional objectives. For example, if you want to work one-on-one with students as a school guidance counselor, you should study emotional development through infancy and early childhood. If you want to work as an information analyst that contributes to future government and community initiatives as an education analyst, you should develop your research skills.
Popular concentrations in child development include cognition and emotional evolution, which is particularly relevant to social workers and educators. The infancy and early childhood specialization, which covers birth through age eight, is valuable for preschool and elementary school educators, administrators and counselors. Likewise, the young adult development specialization covers junior high through high school, and it addresses issues related to puberty, mental health and substance abuse.
What Else Can I Expect from an Online Doctorate in Child Development Program?
Child development doctoral programs online offer many courses to tailor your degree to your career objectives. Courses will vary between schools, so evaluate the curriculum for each school to ensure that it develops the skills you need for your future career.
Curriculum for an Online Doctoral Degree in Child Development
- Fundamentals of Social and Emotional Development: In this course, you track emotional development from birth through early education and the complex relationships forged through early education. Lectures discuss the psychological, social and biological influences that shape young minds and define early experiences.
- Risk in Early Childhood Development: Students in this course tackle the challenging issue of risk management and stressors faced by young minds in early phases of childhood development. Students study the mental health of children and primary caregivers, economic issues like poverty and chronic stress, and positive and negative coping mechanisms.
- Pedagogical Theory: This course examines the history and evolution of effective teaching. Students learn to address the psychosocial effects that teaching and educational structures have on young minds; this helps students comprehend how children and young adults learn.
- Educational Communication: In this class, students discuss and define the tenets of communication in educational contexts. They learn how to both communicate and give constructive critical feedback.
- Education Finance and Budgeting: Every future administrator or community leader must be understand the financial and budgeting restrictions that underpin modern education. Through case studies and hypothetical educational frameworks, this course teaches students how to evaluate policy priorities, conduct cost-benefit analysis and manage performance.
Careers with a Doctorate in Child Development
A doctorate in child development online leads to a range of career paths, such as a community as a social worker, an educator or a school administrator.
As a social worker, you are a liaison between families, therapists, foster care, schools and government agencies. You advocate for school and community resources and track individual children’s recovery processes.
With a Ph.D., you can work as a professor who teaches future students about the diversity of social and cultural contexts that impact education and early childhood development. Professors create and deliver course materials while conducting their own research.
As a principal, you manage elementary, junior high or high schools. Duties in this position include discipline administration, instructional management and budget maintenance.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Header Image Credit: SDI Productions | Getty Images
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