Best Online Master’s in Child Development
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An online master’s in child development degree gives you the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to play an integral role in organizations committed to meeting children’s needs from infancy through adolescence.
Making a meaningful difference in young people’s lives requires understanding their mental, social, and educational progress in order to help them grow into healthy, productive adults. Pursuing studies in child development enables you to recognize best practices in social services and education to assess effective programming. This degree affords limitless career options, including becoming a special education teacher, a profession the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects will grow 8% by 2026.
The Best Online Master’s in Child Development Programs
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,559
- Out-of-state$15,473
- In-State$8,350
- Out-of-state$19,048
- Retention Rate91%
- Acceptance Rate48%
- Students Enrolled44,246
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationYes
University of Minnesota
- Minneapolis, MN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$13,318
- Out-of-state$31,616
- In-State$17,580
- Out-of-state$27,204
- Retention Rate93%
- Acceptance Rate57%
- Students Enrolled51,327
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment30%
- AccreditationYes
Southern New Hampshire University
- Manchester, NH
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$30,756
- Out-of-state$30,756
- In-State$18,810
- Out-of-state$18,810
- Retention Rate65%
- Acceptance Rate88%
- Students Enrolled113,514
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment94%
- AccreditationYes
Missouri State University
- Springfield, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,540
- Out-of-state$14,850
- In-State$5,202
- Out-of-state$10,476
- Retention Rate78%
- Acceptance Rate88%
- Students Enrolled23,453
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment39%
- AccreditationYes
University of La Verne
- La Verne, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$43,440
- Out-of-state$43,440
- In-State$14,256
- Out-of-state$14,256
- Retention Rate82%
- Acceptance Rate55%
- Students Enrolled7,396
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment24%
- AccreditationYes
Best Online Programs
Masters in Child Development
2022
Online Master’s in Child Development Programs Ranking Guidelines
We ranked these degree programs based on quality, curricula, school awards, rankings, and reputation.
Rankings MethodologyFeatured Online Master’s in Child Development Programs
Choosing a Program
Your master’s degree in child development online coursework allows you to thoroughly examine child development theory, scientific literature, and relevant research. For example, your classes will explore topics like child and adolescent psychology and lifespan development. You should also expect to engage in research design and analysis. This advanced degree demands a firm grasp of subject matter through discussions, projects, and exams. Many programs also offer opportunities to choose a specialization within the degree. Some options for concentrations include family studies, teaching, or a focus on infancy. This enables you to customize your degree to match your academic and career interests.
Degree requirements depend on individual programs. Moreover, course format can be either fully online or a blend of online and on campus instruction. Carefully, review each available program to determine which best suits your interests and scheduling needs.
Online Master’s in Child Development Careers
A master’s degree in child development online is the ideal credential if you wish to enter a profession such as a child development specialist, afterschool program director, or childcare center manager. These careers require an ability to communicate effectively with a range of ages and demand a strong commitment to ethical practices.
This professional develops programming for children, manages staff, and maintains all budgetary aspects of facility operations. In addition, the director works closely with parents to update them on their child’s progress. A master’s in child development can better ensure your business management skills in a director position.
These teachers support the development of young people with emotional, learning, and physical impairments by tailoring instruction to meet their academic needs. They ensure students develop literacy and communication skills, assessing and working with those who have mild disabilities or a more serious condition. Some states require additional teaching certification.
A social worker identifies community needs and assesses intervention options by reviewing clients’ concerns. These clients can include families and children that face challenges like illness, homelessness, and abuse. This expert connects people to resources that can help them improve their circumstances. A master’s degree in child development permits you to strengthen your case management and clinical assessment skills.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
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