Online Master’s Programs In Child Development And Family Studies

Students who pursue a master’s in child development and family studies online prepare for exciting and lucrative careers as therapists, counselors, social workers, researchers, and educators. In these specialized programs, students develop the necessary skills to provide diverse, valuable services to strengthen families and support children during important years of their development.

Affordable Colleges Online provides easy access to a plethora of useful resources that benefit individuals who currently work in child development and family studies, as well as prospective students. In the guide below, we offer insight into the steps you must take to complete a master’s in child development and family studies degree online. Furthermore, we consider potential ways for students to pay for their degree, common career paths for master’s degree-holders, and how much students can expect to earn upon graduation.

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By earning a master’s in child development and family studies online, students develop the interpersonal, organizational, problem-solving, emotional, and communication skills necessary to work with children, parents, and families. Pupils in these graduate programs can move on to careers as parent educators, child development specialists, behavior specialists, and a variety of specialized positions as educators.

Graduate programs allow degree-seekers to focus on a specialized area in their field. Upon program completion, master’s degree-holders can obtain research-focused and hands-on careers, many of which center on specialized training. Alternatively, some master’s learners in these programs develop advanced advising and counseling skills to work with parents and students in school settings.

Online child development and family studies students receive the same type of training and complete similar coursework as on-campus students. Whether online or in-person, master’s students in this field typically complete an internship, practicum, or other hands-on experience to meet graduation requirements.

Required and available elective courses vary between child development and family studies master’s programs. All curricula, however, cover similar foundational classes for master’s students in this field. In the section below, we offer five course titles and descriptions to give prospective master’s students a general idea of the coursework they may encounter when pursuing this degree.

Learners in master’s in child development and family studies online programs typically complete a traditional thesis or capstone project for graduation. Depending on the program, some schools require graduate pupils to complete a practicum or intensive internship. Alternatively, some schools require graduate learners to pass a comprehensive exam to graduate.

Child development and family studies master’s programs can also prepare students to sit for the Child Life Professional Certification Examination after graduation. This is not a required exam, nor is there one particular exam that professionals must pass to work in the field.

Master’s of child development and family studies programs prepare students for a variety of careers in education, counseling, and social services. The below table provides job descriptions and median annual salaries for popular careers for degree-holders. A master’s degree does not necessarily guarantee a particular salary, as compensation varies between positions.

Median Salary: $77,030
Projected Job Growth (2023-2033): 8%

These professionals develop, coordinate, and supervise social service programs in their communities. They often work for nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, and government agencies. These managers must possess strong interpersonal and organizational skills to work with community members and oversee the administrative duties of various community projects. These professionals may also need to apply for grants and other sources of funding for social and community projects.

Median Salary: $54,290
Projected Job Growth (2023-2033): -2%

Directors in these roles typically supervise staff members, design student curricula and program plans, oversee daily school activities, and manage school or childcare center budgets. These professionals may also create school or center policies and serve as liaisons between parents and staff members. Directors need excellent communication and organizational skills.

Median Salary: $37,130
Projected Job Growth (2023-2033): 4%

Teachers in these roles educate and care for young students in preschool or kindergarten. They work in a variety of educational settings, including public and private schools and childcare facilities. Depending on a teacher’s graduate training and desired employment location, master’s degree-holders may need to obtain a state-certified teaching credential.

Students interested in a master’s in child development and family studies should seek out schools with regional accreditation. Many state licensing boards, including for counseling and education, require candidates to have a degree from a regionally accredited school.

Programmatic accreditation applies to particular departments or degrees in a given school. Not all programs have programmatic accreditation, and it may not be mandatory for state licensing (depending on desired career and state of residence). Programmatic accreditation in this field may come from associations such as the American Psychological Association, American Association of Family and Consumer Services, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the National Council on Family Relations.

Students in child development and family studies master’s programs can seek funding for their education both inside and outside their department. Some colleges and universities offer internal funding opportunities or stipends. Alternatively, graduate students can secure funding for their degree from outside sources in the form of grants, loans, and scholarships.

Students and professionals benefit from membership in academic and professional organizations. In many cases, these associations provide their members access to exclusive online resources, networking opportunities, and occasions to share research and publications. Members can take advantage of features such as online chat boards, mentorship programs, continuing education opportunities, and annual conferences.