2023 Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees in Child Development

Missouri State University is a public institution offering an online Master of Science in Child Life Studies through Missouri State Online. Totaling 35 or 44 credit hours, this online program offers three tracks: (1) Standard, (2) Advanced, and (3) Accelerated. Full-time students typically spend at least two years completing this program.

At Missouri State Online, students take courses on the Blackboard learning management system, which are delivered asynchronously and synchronously. This child life studies program can help students earn a Child Life Specialist certification. Sample courses include Trends and Issues in Child Life, Physiologic Pathology, and Parent and Child Relations. Depending on the track, students must complete a comprehensive exam, practicum, and internship. Potential career paths include parent educators, librarians, and youth ministry leaders.

American Public University System (APUS) is a private, for-profit institution that offers an online Master of Arts in Psychology - Child Life requiring 39 credit hours. The program’s courses can last 8-16 weeks. Students can expect to spend two years completing this program.

APUS facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning via the learning management system Brightspace by D2L. The program delivers coursework on the theory, practice, and application of child life, such as Therapeutic Play, Family Systems, and Professional Ethics and Standards. Students may be required to complete a practicum and a capstone course in addition to coursework. Graduates may pursue careers like child psychologists, early childhood education consultants, and child birthing educators.

At Texas Tech University (TTU), a public institution, prospective students can pursue an online Master of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences - Youth Development requiring 28 credit hours. The program’s core curriculum covers topics like theories of human development, family theories, and statistics. Full-time students can spend two years completing this program.

TTU’s online students complete coursework asynchronously and synchronously on the platform Blackboard. A master’s in child development prepares students for leadership roles in social services, family counseling, and other fields. Sample courses are Sex-Gender Development, Relationship Development, and Family Problems. An eight-hour practicum, research project, or thesis is required for graduation. Prospective careers for graduates are child life specialists, after-school program directors, and certified family life educators.

The University of Arkansas (UARK) is a public institution offering an online Master of Science in Human Environmental Sciences - Human Development and Family Sciences requiring 30-33 credit hours. The program offers a non-thesis option to future students. Prospective students can expect to spend two years completing the program.

At UARK, online students complete coursework, which is delivered in asynchronous and synchronous formats, through the learning management system Blackboard. A master’s in child development focuses on child development's mental, physical, emotional, and social aspects. The program’s courses are Family Theories and Methods, Advanced Studies in Family Sciences, and Theories in Human Development. A comprehensive exam or a thesis may be required for graduation. Potential career paths for graduates include parent educators, speech pathologists, and child literacy specialists.

The University of La Verne is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Master of Science in Child Development, which totals 33 credit hours. This online program offers two potential concentrations: (1) Early Childhood and (2) Adolescence. Additionally, it has two options for research tracks: (1) Practitioner and (2) Research. It can take 30-42 months for students to complete this program, depending on if they pursue part-time or full-time schedules.

La Verne’s online students complete coursework asynchronously and synchronously through Blackboard. This program helps students advance their skills in child development. Sample courses include Educational Psychology, Studies in Attachment, and Adolescent Development. A graduate seminar or a thesis may be required for graduation. Prospective careers include youth advocates, child care center directors, and preschool teachers.