An incredibly diverse and dynamic discipline, the field of child development allows students to get an in-depth look into the developmental stages of children and how they can be impacted by the diverse society around them, including their family, peers, society, and culture.
Educators and other working professionals who seek to expand their child development knowledge in this field or transition to a different career path may want to consider an online Master’s in Child Development degree.
In this child development online master’s degree, they will explore the physical, gender, cognitive, and socioemotional development of children by utilizing critical analysis of research and the theories of development.
While most master’s in child development programs may culminate in the completion of a thesis, capstone project, or comprehensive exam, some provide students the option to complete internships that will equip them with practical, hands-on experience.
Overview
An online program in child development can open a wealth of professional development opportunities to prospective students with a child development background. These career opportunities often include leadership roles for those who work as:
- preschool and elementary school teachers,
- youth advocates,
- parent educators,
- child care center directors,
- and many other jobs in educational and child welfare agencies.
If your passion lies in child development, then earning this master’s in child development online program will enhance your professional portfolio and boost your earning potential.
Methodology
Careers that involve working with children and adolescents are especially crucial since these are at the formative stages of a person’s life and have impacts that resonate throughout the rest of that person’s life.
Students are thus well-served to choose the best degree programs that provide the best and most advanced education & preparation that ensure their success as effective, ethical, and impactful professionals.
We’ve got you covered! We’ve put together ten graduate schools that offer the best online Master’s in Child Development programs, with each selected according to the following characteristics:
- Delivered online or as a hybrid program, affording a high degree of flexibility to students seeking the essential career and coursework balance,
- Features comprehensive curricula covering the various theoretical aspects of Child Development, as well as various practical skills in terms of research methods, critical thinking, analysis, and intervention,
- Prepares graduate students for higher-level research-intensive, teaching, or executive positions in the field,
- Offers student readiness for a doctorate in Child Development program,
- Developed and taught by expert faculty who have extensive experience as scholar-practitioners,
- Features competitive tuition rates as well as various options that help students manage educational costs like financial aid,
- Hold the relevant regional and institutional accreditation credentials.
Read our Methodology section for details.
Best Online Master’s in Child Development Programs
National University
San Diego, California
Master of Science – Child & Adolescent Developmental Psychology
National University has campuses throughout California, and a satellite campus is located in Nevada. It was established in 1971 and specializes in providing education for adult learners, offering a large number of fully online and blended on-campus degree programs. At present, the National University is composed of two colleges and four professional schools, which together host a population of almost 24,000 students.
- National University offers a Master of Science in Child & Adolescent Developmental Psychology. This program prepares students for a wide range of careers related to working with and advocating for children, adolescents, and their families, whether in public or private spheres, with government agencies, or non-profits.
- The program contains a total of 30 credit hours with 10 courses. The program can typically be completed in around 16 months.
- The program’s curriculum covers major areas related to physical, cognitive, socioemotional, and gender development and makes use of critical analysis of research in the field and their related development theories.
- The total estimated cost of the program is $28,370.
Students have the option of completing a 100-hour field internship (non-clinical) at the tail end of the program.
Standout Features:
National University’s programs are designed to be highly flexible and truly self-paced for online students: they use a one-to-one learning model that gives students personal support and guidance, and there are no residency requirements or group projects.
Did You Know?
National University offers a wide range of Master’s programs in Social Sciences and Psychology, aside from the MS in Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology. These programs include the MS in Educational Psychology (MSEP) and the MS in School Psychology with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential.
Walden University
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Master of Science in Developmental Psychology Child and Adolescent Development
Walden University is one of the best schools for working adults. Today, Walden offers a range of programs in business, health, psychology, and social work. Known for its focus on social change and practical knowledge, Walden aims to help its students make a real impact in their communities.
- Walden’s MS in Developmental Psychology, with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development, uses current theories and research on child development, behavior analysis, abnormal psychology, and health.
- Students learn practical strategies to address real-world issues like bullying and obesity, equipping them to make a positive difference in schools, communities, and families.
- Students must complete 48 quarter credits to earn the degree.
- This degree can be finished in 15 months.
Standout Features:
This is one of the most affordable online master’s programs in child development. Students can benefit from the Believe & Achieve Scholarship, which reduces the tuition fee from $28,235 to $22,535. This scholarship helps make the program more accessible and affordable, allowing students to save money while pursuing their degrees.
Did You Know?
Students who want to teach, research, or consult can speed up their path to a PhD by applying their credits to Walden’s PhD in Developmental Psychology program.
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Master of Arts in Applied Child & Adolescent Development
The University of Minnesota has been committed to providing high-quality education for more than 150 years. It currently serves over 50,000 students across a wide range of academic programs. The University of Minnesota is home to the Institute of Child Development (ICD), which was established in 1925.
- The online MA in Applied Child & Adolescent Development degree offered at the University of Minnesota equips students with field experience to help them develop strategies and put theory into practice in a way that benefits children and adolescents.
- Students can expect to find core courses that tackle advanced development psychology, educational research methods, cognitive and biological development, social and emotional development, and ethics.
- The university offers online students the Minnesota resident tuition rate, along with opportunities for financial aid ranging from fellowships, scholarships, and grants.
- Students taking 13 credits per semester will pay $7,574 if they are residents and $18,148 if they are nonresidents.
- Residents of Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Manitoba may qualify for lower reciprocity tuition rates, which are often close to resident rates.
Standout Features:
To help students build a more solid foundation in the field of child and adolescent development, the program offers three specialization options. This includes Child Life, Individualized Studies, and Infant and Early Childhood. Having a specialization will help them hone their skills and take on courses that can better align with their professional needs and goals.
Did You Know?
Considered one of the prestigious public research universities in the country, the University of Minnesota houses a medical school, engineering school, veterinary medicine school, and agricultural school in the Twin Cities campus alone.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Durant, Oklahoma
Master of Early Intervention and Child Development
Established in 1909, Southeastern Oklahoma State University started out as a higher learning institution that provides quality education for teachers in Oklahoma. It eventually grew into a four-year college and later on as a state university. It is home to four academic schools, including Education and Behavioral Sciences, Arts and Sciences, John Massey School of Business, and Graduate and University Studies.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University offers the online Master of Early Intervention and Child Development to help interested students develop essential tools that can better serve children from birth onward.
- The program curriculum is designed to help students learn the best ways to advocate for children in healthcare, social work, child welfare, and school counseling.
- Students will also learn to identify and provide guidance for assistance across multiple child development areas, allowing them to work with an advisor to tailor the specialized program based on their personal and professional goals.
- The courses cover atypical development and behaviors integral to the proper intervention for problems affecting infants, toddlers, and young children across various backgrounds.
- Students typically complete the degree in 12 months.
- The program costs $11,640 in total tuition and fees.
Standout Features:
Students who want to specialize and acquire knowledge and skills essential to their professional goals will be able to do so by choosing two emphasis courses among three options. This includes Teaching Students with Autism, Counseling Children and Adolescents, and Crisis and Disaster Counseling.
Did You Know?
While Southeastern Oklahoma State University is primarily catering to undergraduate students, there are selected graduate-level programs provided to serve the needs of students in the region. The university has a Higher Learning Commission accreditation.
Missouri State University
Springfield, Missouri
Master of Science in Early Childhood & Family Development
Missouri State University is a public university in the city of Springfield, Missouri. It was originally the Fourth District Normal School, a teacher-training institution, and was established in 1905. Because of opposition from the University of Missouri, the name change to Missouri State University only came about in 2005 despite being originally proposed in 1985. At present, Missouri State University is composed of 10 colleges and schools and has a population of almost 25,000 students.
- Missouri State University’s MS in Early Childhood and Family Development provides a solid preparation for those wanting to enter careers dedicated to educating children and families across a variety of settings.
- The program is offered fully online or in-person and contains a total of around 32 credit hours.
- The program’s curriculum is centered on a core composed of early childhood education, child development, and family development.
- The program also offers a wide range of electives, covering topics from literacy, to forensic child psychology, to psychological tests and measurements, and more.
- Per credit hour costs $379 for residents and $756 for non residents
Standout Features:
The program features a high degree of flexibility, letting students choose around a third of the courses they take to fit their career goals. The program also features a range of degree plans, letting students finish in 3 to 4 semesters or take an accelerated path that lets students take master’s level courses while they finish their bachelor’s degree.
Did You Know?
Missouri State University also offers a number of related graduate degree programs, including the MSEd in Early Childhood Special Education and the Master’s Degree in Child Life, a unique online program designed for working with hospitalized kids.
Capella University
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Master of Science (MS) in Psychology, Child & Adolescent Development
Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is owned by publicly traded Strategic Education, Inc. (along with Strayer University). It specializes in offering online degree programs. It was established in 1993 as The Graduate School of America, eventually receiving regional accreditation in 1997, and offered its first bachelor’s degree programs in 2000.
Capella University currently has a population of over 38,300 students, with a majority of these being enrolled in master’s programs (around 47%).
- Capella University offers an MS in Psychology-Child and Adolescent Development that prepares students to facilitate positive outcomes in children, adolescents, and families.
- The program has four core courses, six Specialization courses, and the completion of one final integrative project.
- The program is designed to provide students with a broad psychological skillset that lets them address social, mental health, and educational issues in a wide range of professional settings.
Standout Features:
Capella University is known for FlexPath, its own model of self-paced online learning that affords students a high degree of flexibility to complete their coursework and finish sooner. FlexPath also features a more cost-effective billing cycle, as well as transfer credits that help students further reduce their costs. The MS in Psychology is offered with the FlexPath option.
Did You Know?
Aside from the Child & Adolescent Development concentration, Capella University’s MS in Psychology is also offered with concentration areas in Educational Psychology, Sport Psychology, and Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
University of West Alabama
Livingston, Alabama
Master of Education in Early Childhood Development
Located in the heart of Livingston, the University of West Alabama has grown from a church-related female academy into an accredited regional university, offering more than 50 online programs and serving over 2,000 online students. Students can earn competitive degree programs in various relevant fields, including accounting, management, marketing, psychology, education, and so much more.
- Students interested in leaving an impact on young children in a variety of environments may want to consider earning the University of West Alabama’s Master of Education in Early Childhood Development degree program.
- To earn the program, students must complete a total of 34 credit hours, covering courses such as Foundations of Education, Technology and Education, Introduction to Special Education, Advanced Educational Psychology, Early Childhood, and Planning Programs for Early Education, among others.
- The program is designed for those seeking a master’s education and educators who seek to enhance their careers in early childhood roles.
- Students pay $429 per credit hour.
Standout Features:
In the online Master of Education in Early Childhood Development, students can acquire a unique online experience because they will be linked one-on-one with a mentor. On top of learning from a comprehensive curriculum, they can also depend on their mentors to help them build their network and develop their skills to become better professionals and leaders in their chosen fields.
Did You Know?
At the University of West Alabama, approximately 80% of students receive financial aid such as loans, grants, scholarships, and more. Students are often encouraged to apply for Federal Financial Student Aid to help them determine the kind of financial aid option they are eligible for.
Texas Woman’s University
Denton, Texas
Master of Science in Child Development
Texas Woman’s University is a public university in the city of Denton, Texas. It was established in 1901 as an industrial, arts & sciences institute for girls, becoming a university in 1957. Despite the name, however (which was changed in 1956), it has been coeducational since 1994. At present, Texas Woman’s University is composed of 6 colleges and schools and has a population of over 15,000 students.
- Texas Woman’s University offers a web-based MS in Child Development. This program is an exploration of major theories as well as empirical research on child development as it applies to working with children and families.
- The program contains around 31 credit hours and is offered 100% online. With 7-week courses, it can be completed in as little as 12-18 months.
- The program’s curriculum covers the full span of child growth & development from infancy through adolescence and includes physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development.
- Students have a choice of concluding the program by completing a thesis or a professional project.
- The program is among the most affordable, costing less than $15,000.
Standout Features:
This program emphasizes developing practical skills that relate to critically consuming research and applying these to professional practice. The program also develops students’ skills in developmental assessment, written communication, and critical thinking.
Did You Know?
Prospective students who are interested in pursuing further education in the field once they earn their Master’s degree may be interested in Texas Woman’s University’s Ph.D. in Child Development and Early Education program.
University of La Verne
La Verne, California
Master of Science in Child and Adolescent Development
A private, non-profit university, the University of La Verne was founded in 1891. It is home to numerous colleges, including the College of Business, the College of Arts and Sciences, the LaFetra College of Education, and the College of Law and Public Service, among others.
The university system is spread out throughout Southern California across seven regional campuses. It offers more than 50 undergraduate programs, over 20 master’s degrees, and five doctorates.
- The University of La Verne offers the MS in Child and Development program to prepare teachers, both in elementary school and secondary education, to gain a better understanding of the development of young children or adolescents.
- The program requires students to complete a total of 33 units, including courses under the early childhood concentration, such as Infant and Toddler Development, Studies in Attachment, Teaching Adults, Cognition and Brain Development, and Language, Reading, and Concept Development, among others.
- Child Development graduates may qualify to teach child or adolescent development courses in community colleges.
- The program costs $820 per unit.
Standout Features:
The courses in this master’s program are offered both on-campus and online. There is no distinction between the two delivery methods. Students enrolled in the program may take the courses on campus, online, or combine the two.
Did You Know?
The University of La Verne consists of 200 full-time professors. It has always kept its class sizes to a minimum, with an average class size of 16 students. The low student-to-faculty ratio provides students with more opportunities for guidance and mentorship from the professors, largely contributing to academic success.
Southern New Hampshire University
Hooksett, New Hampshire
Master of Science (MS) in Psychology – Concentration in Child & Adolescent Psychology
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private university that straddles the city of Manchester and the town of Hooksett, New Hampshire. It was established in 1932 as a business-focused school known as the New Hampshire School of Accounting and Secretarial Science, eventually becoming a university in 2001.
At present, SNHU is composed of 7 colleges and schools and has one of the country’s largest populations: of its over 138,000 students, around 135,000 are enrolled in online programs.
- SNHU offers the MS in Psychology with a Child and Adolescent Psychology concentration. This program takes a comprehensive view of the developmental needs of children and families and prepares students to facilitate them to reach their full potential.
- The program has a total of 36 credit hours. The program curriculum covers cognitive neuropsychology, social psychology, learning theory, personality, ethical practice, research methods, and more.
- The program isn’t designed to lead to state licensure (e.g., as a child psychologist), however, it develops students’ knowledge in developmental psychology, as well as skills in research and intervention strategies, which prepares students for a wide range of career paths or pursuit of doctoral studies.
- The program culminates with a capstone course, which integrates & synthesizes the entirety of the student’s learnings throughout the program.
- Students pay $637 per credit hour.
Standout Features:
SNHU is lauded for its innovative curriculum, and New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)-accredited. SNHU is also known for continuously offering one of the lowest tuition rates in the country, on top of a 12-credit hour transfer policy and the possibility to earn credit for applicable previous work experience.
Did You Know?
Aside from Child and Adolescent Psychology, Southern New Hampshire University’s Master of Science in Psychology is also offered with concentrations in Forensic Psychology and Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the admission requirements to the online Master’s in Child Development programs?
Usually, the admission requirements vary from university to university. Some schools require students to have at least a bachelor’s degree in education, child development, or other related disciplines. There are universities that set a minimum GPA for completed undergraduate coursework, often at 2.0.
Other admission requirements for an online education in child development include an updated resume, personal statement, recommendation letters, standardized test scores, and official transcript.
If an online Master’s in Child Development program doesn’t seem to be the best fit, what other related options can students possibly explore?
Master’s in Child Development programs are typically anchored on the field of Psychology and may be offered as concentration areas of Master’s Degrees in Psychology. It can also be in the form of related online programs such as Early Childhood Mental Health, Child and Family Studies, and Birth-Kindergarten interdisciplinary studies.
Other closely related degrees are Master’s in Educational Psychology/School Psychology or Master’s degrees that lean more towards Counseling. Some Master’s in Child Development degrees are also offered as certificate programs for those who may not need to go for the full master’s degree and seek reduced child development degree cost.
Master’s in Child Development degree programs are often offered along with other related programs birth kindergarten interdisciplinary studies that have the same starting point in Psychology, so it is best to directly consult with a particular university you have in mind to see the full range of academic offerings they have.
What can I do with a Master’s in Child Development?
You can do a lot with a master’s in child development degree. You can step into advanced roles in psychology, education, administration, and social services. The career outlook for these sectors is expected to stay stable from 2023 to 2033.
Some of the most popular career paths for graduates include:
| Path | Average Annual Salary |
| Occupational Therapist | $96,790 |
| Speech Pathologist | $89,290 |
| Behavioral Specialist | $65,904 |
| Preschool or Daycare Administrator | $61,320 |
| Social Worker | $58,380 |
Summary Points
- Master’s in Child Development programs take a look at the mental, social, cognitive, and physical development needs unique to the formative stages of children (and adolescents), including human behavior aspects related to child psychology, brain development, adolescent behavioral health, social and emotional development, learning, and more.
- Most programs typically cover the various theoretical underpinnings of practice in the field, as well as a range of practical skills that prepare students to conduct research, assess children, and develop strategies related to child education and other measures that bring about positive outcomes in the development of children and adolescents.
- Master’s in Child Development Programs are offered either as their own specially-designed master’s programs or as concentration areas in Master of Science in Psychology degree programs.
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