Overview
A master’s degree in child development will prepare students for many different roles in the field of education. Graduates with their master’s often make a career of teaching, but they are also well-positioned to become counselors and administrators. This degree focuses on learning about how children function mentally and physically, and it allows graduate students to gain a deeper understanding of how to best create nurturing environments for the children in their care.
Students can expect courses that teach them to better understand both how children grow and how they learn. Courses will cover material such as social perspectives of early childhood, cognition, language, and play, and physical growth and development. While many teachers focus on their specific subject, educators with a master’s in child development will have an additional understanding of aspects of childhood such as how the brain works and how health can impact development in and out of the classroom. Because of this training, degree holders gain an important perspective on childhood. This gives child development professionals the tools to better facilitate learning.
Degree holders can work in many different fields. They often become teachers or educators, but can also become program coordinators, social workers, and child specialists.
Most schools will accept online degrees. Many highly respected programs now offer their degrees online.
Yes. The key is to find an accredited program that suits your specific scheduling needs.
Most students will graduate with their master’s in child development in 2 or 3 years. The timeline is most affected by whether a student is full or part-time.
A master’s degree in child development trains teachers to better understand the children they teach. This allows professionals to create a more understanding teaching environment, which can be immensely rewarding for both teachers and students.
While careers in education don’t often have high starting salaries, most will agree that the field is essential. Teachers with an advanced understand of how children develop are in a greater position to impact these children in positive, life-changing ways. In addition to being rewarding work, achieving a master’s degree in child development will make graduates more competitive for jobs with higher salaries and greater growth potential.
For more more resources and career information related to this degree, please read our career guide here.
