Most Affordable Online Master's In Child Development Degrees

Overview

Eastern Kentucky University is a regional, comprehensive university located in Richmond, KY. Around 16,000 students attend EKU annually, and there are around 700 academic faculty members employed there. The school was originally founded as a teacher training school called the Eastern Kentucky State Normal School No. 1. The university has an endowment of a little over $60 million.

Program Features

Eastern Kentucky University offers a Bachelors in Child Family Studies, with a focus in Child Development. This is a fully online degree program and requires completion of 120-125 credit-hours of coursework. Coursework in the program includes: Interaction and Guidance; Family Involvement with Young Children; Introduction to the Family; and Family Stress and Resilience

Graduates from the program go on to careers as victim advocates, court designated specialists, and after school teachers.

Notables

Students may transfer up to 90 credit-hours towards this degree. At least 30 credit-hours must be earned at EKU. The program also offers a certificate in Early Childhood Director. There is also a certificate program available in Infant-Toddler Care Education. Both of these certificate programs are offered online.

Overview

Eastern Washington University is a public university located in Cheney, WA. The school also has a number of other locations throughout the state of Washington. EWU was originally the State Normal School at Cheney, before being graduated to full university status in 1977. They now have over 12,000 students and 800 academic staff members.

Program Features

Eastern Washington has a major in Childrens Studies, which includes options for focus in Child Life and Health, Child Services, and Child and Family Support. There is also an option for a certificate in Child and Family support. Each of these programs are available online. Courses in the major programs include: Geography of Childhood; Children's Rights, Laws, and Ethics; Foundations of Children's Studies – Parts I & II ; and Children's Studies Senior Capstone

Concentrations are intended to help support students eventual career goals. Students will generally complete an option-specific internship towards the end of their course of study.

Notables

Child Life and Health is intended for students who intend to pursue graduate work in medical fields relating to children. The Child Services option is intended for students planning on pursuing a career that involves children at the agency level. And finally the Child and Family Support option is for those who wish to help children and families access learning opportunities and case management services.

Overview

Arizona State University is a public research university located in Tempe, AZ. ASU is one of the largest universities in the United States, with a total enrolled population of around 72,000 students, including almost 60,000 undergraduates. In the past decade, ASU has cultivated a reputation as one of the top research universities in the world.

Program Features

Arizona State offers an online Bachelor of Science degree in Family Human Development. This is a 120 credit-hour degree that requires completion of 40 total classes, with each class lasting approximately 7.5 weeks. Courses within the major include: Literacy and Critical Inquiry; Family Ethnic and Cultural Diversity; Marriage and Family Relationships; and Research Methods

Students are required to complete 45 hours of upper division courses and maintain a major and cumulative GPA of no less than 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Notables

Students who have graduated from the ASU program have gone on to pursue jobs as an Advocate, Compliance Manager, High School Teacher, or Logistics Manager. Admissions standard specifics vary between freshman, transfer, and international students. Some programs may also have additional requirements or prerequisites for admission.

Overview

Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, UT. The school recently reported a student population of more than 27,000, including almost 25,000 undergraduate students. Utah State, also known as UTU, was originally known as the Agricultural College of Utah. The school was granted university status in 1957, after granting its first doctoral degrees in 1950.

Program Features

Utah State University offers an online bachelors degree in Family Life Studies. The program is intended to help students prepare for careers serving children and families. It is a particularly good fit for students who are returning to school to complete their bachelors courses in the program include: Family Crises and Intervention; Youth and Adolescence; Infancy and Childhood; Addictions in the Family; and Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy

The course is administered by the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education Human Services. Students complete a capstone courses at the end of the program, which may be specialized to fit an area of interest related to family life.

Notables

The school may charge differential tuition for certain courses, meaning students would pay an added cost per credit for courses in the program. Students have pursued careers in some of the following areas: Head Start programs, Parent education programs, and long-term care facilities.

Overview

University of North Florida is a public university located in Jacksonville, FL. UNF was originally founded as the Florida Community College at Jacksonville, and enrolled mostly upperclassmen and graduate students. North Florida now has students at all levels of undergraduate and graduate study, with around 16,000 total students.

Program Features

North Florida offers a bachelors degree in Early Childhood Development. It is a non-teacher certification program and can be completed online. Students must complete introductory teaching course prerequisites, before moving to major courses such as: Teaching Beginning Reading & Writing; Foundations of Literacy; Program Planning for Toddlers and Infants; and Leadership Service in Early Childhood Settings

Students complete the program with an Early Childhood Practicum. Students may also take specialty classes such as Teaching Movement Skills to Children.

Notables

To be admitted students must have completed 60 hours or their associates degree, and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Graduates from the program have gone on to work for Head Start programs or as childcare directors. Students have also found opportunities as early learning coaches and at child safety non-profits and agencies.

Overview

The University of West Alabama is a public university located in Livingston, AL. The school began in 1835 as the Livingston Female Academy, which was a church-supported school for young women. Originally the schools main goal was to educate new teachers, but they have since diversified their offerings to include a host of academic majors and degree programs. There are around 5,000 students, 63 percent of whom are female.

Program Features

West Alabama offers an online Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Development. It is a non-certification program. The degree requires completion of 123 total hours, of which 65-67 hours are taken within major. Sample classes include: The Importance of Play; Early Childhood Games; Technology and Education; Marriage and Family; and Behavior Management in the Classroom

The program is intended for students who plan on pursuing careers as child care center directors, child care providers, or preschool teachers.

Notables

Students applying to the program must either submit high school transcripts or GED scores. Undergraduates transferring from a two-year college may transfer up to 60 credits towards their degree. Students coming from a separate, four-year school may transfer up to 90 credits towards degree completion.

Overview

University of Wisconsin-Stout, also known as UW-Stout or Stout, is a public university located in Menomonie, WI. It was founded in 1891 as a manual training school. They currently have just under 10,000 students and 480 academic staff members. In 2007, the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents declared them Wisconsins Polytechnic University.

Program Features

UW-Stout offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies. This is a 112 credit-hour degree. The program is available both online and on-campus. Students may pursue the degree along a 3-year or 4-year sequence, with courses including: Lifespan Sexuality; Healthy Couple Relationships; Family Resource Management; Family Policy; and Abuse and the Family

Fifty-six credits of the program come from core classes within the major. Students are also allowed to take six elective credits from outside the major.

Notables

Stout offers consistent program courses through the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters. There are Adult Student Service Coordinators and Distance Librarians available to offer support for online students. And students who bring transfer credit to the program find the process generous and efficient.

Overview

Central Michigan University is a public university located in Mount Pleasant, MI. CMU has over 1,000 academic staff members and is one of the largest universities in the state of Michigan. The school is home to almost 22,000 undergraduates and 7,000 graduate students. They have an endowment of more than $130 million and were founded in 1892.

Program Features

Central Michigan offers an online Bachelors program in Early Childhood Development and Learning. Students will pursue a diverse string of courses designed to train professionals working with kids aged infants to second grade. Some of the course available to students in the program are: International Reggio-Inspired Early Childhood Learning; Maternal and Infant Nutrition; Constructivism as a Tool for Learning; Infant Toddler Practicum Experience; and Developmental Psychology

Students take 43 credit-hours within the major, while also completing general education requirements in subjects such as introductory composition.

Notables

Students have the option of observing and participating in CMUs Child Development and Learning Laboratory. The lab is an on-campus preschool program for three- and four-years-olds, which give students first hand experience working with young children.

Overview

North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences is a public university located in Fargo, ND. The school is often referred to as NDSU or as North Dakota State University. They were originally founded in 1890 as the North Dakota Agricultural College. They have almost 15,000 students pursuing 170 undergraduate degree programs, 81 masters degree programs, and 47 doctoral degree programs.

Program Features

North Dakota State offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Science, with a focus in Child Adolescent Development. This is a fully online degree available through the schools distance and continuing education service. Some of the courses students might take in the program: Lifespan Development; Adolescent Development; Family Science; and Children, Families, and Public Policy

The program takes four years with a full-time course load, but some students prefer part-time if they are concurrently employed. Fulfilling this degree completes one of the steps for becoming a certified life care specialist.

Notables

The school prepares students to enter one of two job fields from within the Child Development sphere. Direct Service to Children and Families leads into professions such as community service worker or parent educator. Support Service to Children and Families leads to jobs such as child care center director or hospital-related services.

Overview

Texas Tech University is a public research university located in Lubbock, TX. Originally known as Texas Technological College, is it considered the flagship of the four universities in the Texas public university system. The school has more than 37,000 students, and is the only campus in Texas that is home to an undergraduate university, law school, and medical school.

Program Features

Texas Tech has a Bachelor of Science program in Early Childhood. This program offers a pre-kindergarten through sixth grade teaching certification. Some of the courses from the degree program include: Language & Literacy Acquisition; Exceptional Children and Youth; Diverse Students; and Introduction to Teaching

The program focuses on the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development patterns that affect childhood learning. It also includes targeted preparation for the Early Childhood teacher certification exam.

Notables

The program is available online, but maybe also be pursued on campus. Students studying on campus can work at the Christine DeVitt and Helen DeVitt Jones Child Development Research Center on campus. There is also a Head Start program centered at Texas Tech, which provides a unique chance for working with a diverse group of toddlers and infants.

Overview

Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, MI. WMU was established in 1903 as the Western State Normal School, and eventually earned full university status in 1957. They have an annual enrollment of around 23,00 students and an endowment of over $380 million.

Program Features

Western Michigan University offers a major in Early Childhood Education. The coursework and experience in the program leads to both a Michigan K-8 certification and an Early Childhood General and Special Endorsement for teaching in the state of Michigan. Some of the courses available to students are: Literacy Across Disciplines; Teaching Elementary Science; Creativity; and Young Child/Family/Society

Students who have graduated from the program have found jobs as curriculum specialists, athletic coaches, day care administrators, and day care administrators.

Notables

Students in the program create a portfolio of evidence of increasing skill. This helps students to showcase the skills that theyve learned throughout the program, and is highly useful when trying to secure employment after graduation. Networking opportunities through the program include the Student Education Association, Bigs on Campus, and Kappa Delta Pi.

Overview

Colorado State University-Fort Collins is a public research university located in Fort Collins, CO. This school is considered to be the flagship university in the state school system of Colorado. There are currently around 33,000 enrolled at Colorado State, including around 8,000 postgraduate students.

Program Features

Colorado State offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies. CSU has made the degree program highly customizable for students pursuing unique educational and career goals. The degree includes five possible concentrations: Early Childhood Professions; Leadership and Entrepreneurial Professions; Pre-health Professions; Prevention and Intervention Sciences; and Human Development and Family Studies

Students interested in the other end of the aging process sometimes choose to add a minor in gerontology. Gerontology is the study of the biological, social, and psychology processes and effects of aging, especially in older persons.

Notables

Colorado State offers the choice of pursuing Director Qualifications for early childhood centers as part of the program. Students work with their advisor to plan for electives that will help students meet state requirements for qualification. Graduates are also in a good position to become Certified Family Life Educators.

Overview

Washington State University is a public university located in Pullman, WA. WSU is sometimes referred to as Wazzu by students and alumni. The school opened in 1982 as the Washington Agricultural College and School of Science. The university has other campuses across the state in areas such as Spokane and Vancouver, as well as an online campus, through all of which they enroll almost 30,000 students.

Program Features

Washington State offers an online Masters program in Human Development, which looks at how individuals and families are linked through communities and other social settings. Students in the major must complete 24 credits and earn at least a 2.35 GPA.

Courses offered in the major include: Work and Family; Child Assessment & Evaluation; Professional Preparation; Families in Poverty; and Family Stress and Coping

Graduates from the program have pursued careers at employers such as child-care centers, preschools, YMCAs, and senior centers.

Notables

Students in this program are also eligible to earn a certification in gerontology or early childhood education. These certifications are only available for students who are in-state Washington residents. Washington State University is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Overview

University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) is an online, nonprofit university with its headquarters located in San Diego, CA. UAGC offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in business, education, health, and other disciplines.

Program Features

UAGC offers an online Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development. Students take one course at a time, with each course lasting five weeks. Students are required to complete 39 credits worth of courses from within the major, including: Curriculum Planning and Design for Early Learners; Play Learning for the Young Child; Issues in Education; and Understanding Behavior Family Dynamics

To complete this course of study, students will register for a College of Education capstone course.

Notables

Students may transfer in with up to 90 credits towards the degree. UAGC also offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in similar subjects, such as Education Studies and Early Childhood Education. Students may be required to complete introductory courses to become familiar with the online classroom setting.

Overview

Fresno Pacific University is a Christian university located in Fresno, CA. The school was originally founded in 1944 as the Pacific Bible Institute. They have an affiliation with the Mennonite Brethren Church, and have the motto, Founded on Christ. They have around 2,700 undergraduate students and exactly 200 academic staff members.

Program Features

Fresno Pacific offers a fully online Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Development. The degree is intended for those currently working or planning to work with children in a variety of settings. Sample courses are as follows: Jesus and the Christian Community; Child, Family, and Community; Children's Play and Learning; Community Biblical Perspectives for Educators; and Math and Science for Young Children

Students also learn how to work with students who have exceptionalities, and how to lesson plan for and best support the growth of these students.

Notables

This degree will help prepare graduates to take the Multiple Subjects Teaching credential exam. Those looking to teach below the second grade level will need to take at least 24 units of early childhood classes, as well as six units of special education courses. Tuition includes an iPad used to enhance students learning and communication.