25 Best Master’s Degree in Child Development

The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities offers an excellent M.Ed. in early childhood education. Among other things, the school boasts that 100% of its graduates find a job within one year. With the degree and appropriate licensure, graduates can teach all classes up until third grade in Minnesota. There aren’t any prerequisite courses prior to admission, but prospective students should have the motivation, desire, and patience to teach children.

Courses include Reading Instruction in the Elementary Grades, Social Studies Instruction in the Elementary Grades, and Methods for Teaching English Learners. Students earn most credits in class, but they earn some credits by practicing in the field. Of note, students teach at the Shirley G. Moore Laboratory School, which is a preschool and child development research center.

This program is between 32 and 40 credits, and most students graduate within two or three semesters. Note that over $600,000 in scholarships are available to master’s students of this program. 

The University of South Florida-Main Campus hosts the second-best Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Early Childhood Education degree in the nation. Aspiring students should have an undergraduate degree in early childhood education or a related field with a 3.0 or higher GPA. Additionally, applying students must provide official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, an updated resume, and a statement of purpose.

Students can choose a reading, teacher leadership, or positive behavior support focus within their master’s degree. Reading focus classes include Vocabulary and Word Study and Practicum in Reading, teacher leadership courses include Coaching For Student Learning, positive behavior support focus includes School-Wide Positive Behavior Support and more. Students can also choose an interdisciplinary focus, with the ability to take classes in two or more focuses. 

USF offers flexible learning options. Students can opt for on-campus, online, or hybrid learning. They can also choose between a part-time and full-time course load.

The University of Toledo’s Master of Education in early childhood education program offers flexible start dates and rolling admissions to its applicants. To apply for the program, students must have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, a 2.7 or higher undergraduate GPA, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose.

Each student’s coursework consists of a 12-credit college core, a 15-credit specialization, and three hours in a culminating activity. Prospective students should note that this program is for people who already hold a teacher’s license. If you don’t fit into that category, apply for the childhood education licensure and masters program.

In this program, students learn about emerging and foundational theories in child development. Additionally, they learn how to put these theories to work. The University of Toledo’s program is designed to make great thinkers out of teachers and to teach educators how to make great thinkers out of their students.

Students applying to Northern Arizona University’s Master of Education in early childhood education program may gain admittance with a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. Applying students should note that they can take this program at NAU’s Flagstaff campus, Yuma campus, or online.

Students in this program choose between four emphasis areas: early childhood teacher, early childhood leadership, early childhood multiage, and early childhood national board preparation. Unlike many programs, all students at NAU must complete a thesis to meet graduation requirements. They must also finish all required courses within six years to graduate.

Depending on your emphasis, some classes you make take are Parental Involvement In Education, Foundations of Reading Instruction, Leadership Skills, and Philosophy of Education. Students must complete 50% of their credits in upper-level courses. These classes will help you build a foundation as a teacher, and help you accommodate students of all abilities.

Some teachers treat their job as a chore; others treat their job as a passion and a gift. If you want to be in the latter category, consider Kennesaw State University’s M.Ed. in elementary education with endorsements & certifications. This program caters to teachers who already hold licenses. Thus, the program structure works around a teacher’s workday. Impressively, teachers can still finish the program in 13 months.

Some classes you may take as a student are Curriculum and Pedagogy for Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms; Teaching Number, Operations & Algebraic Thinking; and Trends and Issues in Social Studies for Elementary Education. These classes will build onto your foundational knowledge and introduce you to current trends in child development.

Applying students must submit their undergraduate transcripts, have a minimum GPA of 2.75, submit a copy of their Teaching Certificate P-5 or Birth-Kindergarten, and obtain two letters of recommendation. The application is pretty long, but it’s worth it for such a high-quality program.

The University at Albany offers an excellent Master of Science in early childhood education program. Students must submit three letters of recommendation upon applying, with one of those letters from a professor. Students must also submit their GRE scores and proof of teaching licensure to gain admittance. Students can choose between certification options for New York residents or a non-certification degree for out-of-state residents.

Students at this program will take classes like Early Literacy Education, Science for Children, Strategic Intervention to Prevent Literacy Difficulties, and Media Literacy. Some of these classes are built upon the foundations of the field; others are more recent, and they help ease young children into our technological world.

Besides the 30 credits required to graduate, students must complete a final culminating project in Data-Based Decision Making in Literacy Assessment, Policy, and Practice. This project will prove a student’s understanding of the program and their ability to take their knowledge into the field.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers one of the best Master of Arts in Education in early childhood education programs in the south. Applying students should have a bachelor’s in education and a class B certificate in early childhood education. Students also must have a GRE score of 290 or MAT score of 388 to gain admission into the program.

To graduate from the program, students must complete at least 33 credit hours with a 3.25 or higher cumulative GPA. Some of the classes students take are Teaching Reading P-12, Reading in Teaching and Learning, Studying the Child in School, and Curriculum Development in ELEM and ECE. Students can also choose from many electives, including Urban Education and Special Topics in ESL.

Before graduating, students must complete a practicum, showing what they learned in the field. Graduates can then return to their places of employment as more able and confident teachers.

Are you ready to become the best teacher you can be? Missouri State University’s early childhood and family development master’s program is excellent. It’s also flexible. Enrolled students can choose between a three-semester, four-semester, or accelerated degree plan. Applying students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, a bachelor’s degree, two letters of recommendation, and a letter of intent.

To graduate, students must complete 32 credits of core classes, pass a comprehensive exam, and complete a research seminar. Some required courses are Orientation to Early Childhood and Family Development, Advanced Human Development Studies, Educational Research Methodology, and Proposal Development.

Missouri State University awards a number of scholarships to students. The biggest factor to gain a scholarship is grades, but your financial need and off-campus work matters as well. Few of these scholarships will cover your full tuition, but many of them will make a tangible contribution to your graduate tuition. 

The University of Colorado Denver offers a number of options within their Master of Arts in early childhood development program. Aspiring students can choose from an M.A. and license program, M.A. and endorsement program, or solely an M.A. program. Depending on your choice, the program takes between two and four years. No matter your preference, CUD offers excellent classes with highly regarded faculty in one of the best cities in America.

To apply for the program, you must have undergraduate transcripts, three letters of recommendation, proof of your teaching license, an updated resume, and an admissions interview. The admissions interview is critical. There, the school will decide whether you’re an appropriate fit for the program.

This program is offered online, in-person, or in a hybrid format. That way, you can fit your master’s program into your life as you wish. The school also offers a fantastic scholarship known as the TEACH Grant. With the grant, students receive $4,000 in support per year as long as they commit to teaching in high-need areas for a specified length of time.

The University of North Dakota’s Master of Science in early childhood education has a thesis and a non-thesis option. In the thesis option, students take 30 credits and devote the rest of their time to research and thesis writing. In the non-thesis option, students take 32 credits, complete a practicum, and prepare an independent study or scholarly project.

Some classes students must take are Social Emotional Learning & Guidance, Curricular Foundations in Early Childhood Education, and Foundations of Reading Instruction. Students must also take Practicum in Schools, which requires students to teach in an early childhood education setting for 60 hours.

Students can choose to complete their studies in a 24-month part-time program or 18-month full-time program. Students may also choose to take their classes online, in-person, or both. To apply for UND, students should have an undergraduate degree in a relevant topic, a 2.75 or higher GPA, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal essay.

SNHU has an excellent master’s in early childhood and early childhood special education degree that comes with teacher certification. While SNHU has advertised around the country as a leading online learning institution, this program is entirely in person. Unique among the programs on this list, this program focuses on early childhood special education, which is an entirely different field than typical education.

To gain admittance, students must have a 2.75 GPA in a related field from an accredited undergraduate program. This program is a full-time program that lasts 15 months. In these 15 months, students take classes and spend 44 weeks doing clinical experiences. Some classes are Intervention in Literacy, Early Childhood Mathematics, and Theoretical Foundations in ECE.

Upon graduation, graduate teachers will be able to teach in typical and special education contexts. Not only will they be able to teach, but they’ll be able to foster positive relationships among students and between students and teachers.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Master of Education elementary education program requires the following things for admittance: a 2.75 undergraduate GPA, a valid teacher’s certificate, and a complete application. As you can see, the requirements to join SFASU aren’t as stringent as other schools. If you slacked in school or if you don’t want to deal with a long admissions process, this program might be your best option.

Some classes you may take as a student are Early Literature of Young Children, Reading Methods, Math in Elementary School, and Science in Elementary School. The school accepts some transfer credits from previous universities attended. You can also take your time to complete the program, but you must graduate within six years.

SFASU offers grants, scholarships, federal work-study programs, and loans. Unfortunately, there are fewer grants and scholarships because of Covid-19’s effects on the economy. Still, federal work-study is an excellent option, and it’s far better than nothing.

Teacher licensure is particular to a state. You can’t always transfer a license between states. Louisiana residents should note, then, that Northwestern State University offers the only master’s in early childhood education degree in Louisiana. If you want to become an excellent teacher with a focus on child development, this program is for you.

Some classes students take are Curriculum Development for School Improvement; Educational Research and Evaluation; and Positive Relationships with Children, Families, and Communities. As the last course on this list suggests, many aspects of this program look beyond education alone. Without positive relationships inside and outside of the classroom, even an excellent educator is useless.

To gain admission into the M.Ed. program, students must present their teaching license, send official transcripts, and submit two letters of recommendation from colleagues or former professors. If you want to teach in Louisiana, look no further than this fantastic degree.

Some people prefer in-person classes. In a class, it’s easy to meet with your peers, maintain your focus, and ask your professor questions. However, some people get shaky knees in class, while others lead lives that are too busy to conceivably add a university class. If you’re in the second group of people and you can’t attend a school in person, California University of Pennsylvania has one of the best online early childhood education master’s degrees in the nation.

To gain admission, students should have a 2.80 GPA or higher, official transcripts from an undergraduate institution, and a copy of their teaching license. Students can gain admission if they have a GPA lower than 2.80 as long as they have an excellent application or a resume that makes up for underperformance in school.

As a student, you will take classes like Literacy Development, Advanced Psychology of Learning, and Leadership & Management in Early Childhood Settings. While these courses are online, students take each class with a cohort, reviewing each other’s material and studying for exams.

If you’re an early childhood teacher in the state of New York and you seek to advance your education, Albany State University’s Master of Education in Early Childhood Education is one of your best options. Applying students must have three letters of recommendation, a writing sample, proof of a teaching certificate, and a disposition statement. 

Aspiring teachers who lack the formal background can apply for this program, but they’ll have to take quite a few undergraduate courses before admittance. Once admitted, students will take classes like History of Education, Curriculum Principles, and Foundation Principles in Education and Growth Development. Students will also take electives, which can include Early Childhood Development and Educational Statistics.

A high GPA isn’t enough to graduate from this program. Students will also need to take a comprehensive exam, which tests students on the many experiences and classes they took throughout their program. As long as students are engaged and studious, they should pass the program.

Do you want to teach young children somewhere between preschool and third grade in Alabama? If that’s the case, the University of South Alabama’s Master of Education program in early childhood education will get you there. The school has well-known faculty members within the state of Alabama, and their teachers are of the highest quality.

Students take courses like Language Development in Early Childhood Education, Organizational Patterns and Curriculum in Early Childhood Education, and Trends in Parent Education. The last class focuses on how teachers can play a role in encouraging parents to participate as teachers and encourage their children’s learning efforts.

As a master’s student, your experiences are as important as your classes. Besides courses, early childhood education students will hold a couple of internships. In these internships, students will educate their classes as normal, except that they’ll implement newfound learnings and be under the watchful eye of university faculty. 

West Chester University offers two excellent Master of Education in early childhood education options. The first, the accomplished teachers track, caters to educators who work as teachers in school. The second, the program administrators track, caters to principals and other administrative professionals in schools.

For both programs, prospective students should have a 2.80 GPA out of 4.0. In the accomplished teachers track, students should have a teaching certificate in Pennsylvania. In the program administration track, applying professionals should have at least one year of experience teaching in an early childhood education setting.

Classes in the accomplished teacher’s track include Language, Learning, Literacy, Writing Development and Instruction, and Legal Issues in Special Education. Some courses in the program administrators track are Leadership in Early Childhood Education and Small Business Management in Early Childhood Education. Students in both tracks take similar core courses like Play as a Learning Medium and Families, Communities and Education in a Multicultural Society.

While most schools on this list offer a Master of Education, Mercer University offers a  Master of Arts in Teaching in elementary education. Also, while most schools only accept people who are already teachers, this program accommodates career changers, paraprofessionals, and teachers who don’t hold renewable certificates.

The program begins five times a year: August, October, January, March, and May. This program revolves around the average teacher’s busy schedule. Rather than a full-time course load, classes are one evening a week for 16 weeks. That way, you can spend time with your loved ones, work your normal job, and still gain a master’s degree. How nice is that?

Some classes you may take in this program are Teaching Exceptional Learners; Essential Elements of Early Childhood Literacy; and Teaching Mathematics in ECE: Geometry, Measurement, and Data Analysis. Students will supplement their classwork with field experiences that will implement what they learned in class.

Mercy College’s Master of Science in early childhood education stands out for a few reasons. Most notably, while other programs focus on preschool-third grade education, Mercy College’s program focuses on educating children from the time they are born. Does that sound ridiculous? It’s not. Children learn from their first breath, even if they’re not doing so consciously. 

This program prepares teachers to educate and nurture young children of all ages. Students take classes like Introduction to Early Childhood Development, Work with Parents and Family Members, and Teaching English as a Second Language. Mercy College puts a special focus on education in informal settings. I mean, how else can you teach an infant? 

If you’re interested in applying for this program, you should have official transcripts from your past schools, a completed application, a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA, an updated resume, and your GRE scores. Students must have taken several prerequisite classes, which are outlined on the program website.

Brenau University offers one of the few Master of Arts in Teaching in early childhood education on this list. To gain admittance, students should have a 3.0 from an accredited undergraduate university, official transcripts, a resume, and a completed application. The Brenau application isn’t as tedious as others on this list, but you should take it seriously.

Coursework is divided into two categories: professional development and methods and content. Some professional development classes are Computer Literacy in Education, Clinical Practice Seminar, and Introduction to Special Education. Some methods and content courses are Mathematics for Teachers, Literacy Methods and Materials, and Social Studies for Teachers.

Brenau University also requires that students enroll in student teaching, where they must interact with three categories of students: P-K, 1-3, and 4-5. In this teaching experience, students are asked to demonstrate what they learned in front of schools. As long as you pay attention in class and have a passion for teaching, this part will be a breeze.

Are you ready for a career change, and is teaching calling your name? Look: This job won’t make you a millionaire, but it will put a smile on your face every day. If that sounds like heaven to you, consider Grand Canyon University’s Master of Education in early childhood education. This program includes licensure and a master’s degree, suiting people who haven’t taught before.

Students can choose to attend GCU on-campus or online, allowing flexibility for those with busy lives. Impressively, the on-campus classes also suit busy professionals. Instead of giving students a full course load, classes are offered once a week in the evenings. These classes provide the high-quality and interactive nature of in-person classes without taking away your ability to work normal hours.

No matter where you take classes, though, the curriculum stays the same. Some notable classes are Instructional Planning, Assessment, and Reporting in Early Childhood; Creating and Managing the Early Childhood Environment; and Typical and Atypical Behaviors of Young Children.

The first few years of a child’s education are perhaps the most important. During these years, they pick up learning habits, behaviors, and passions that stick with them for the rest of their lives. But learning never loses its importance. University of La Verne’s Master of Science in child and adolescent Development focuses on educating children from preschool to high school.

To gain admission to this program, students must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75, with a 3.0 or higher GPA in early childhood education courses. They must also provide a professional statement that details their intent with this degree and why they chose the University of La Verne. Lastly, applying students must have an interview with the program chair and provide them a writing sample.

Students in this program choose between an early childhood education and adolescence-based curriculum. They also choose between the practitioner and research tracks. Some courses in the program are Studies in Attachment, Cognition and Brain Development, and Developmental Curriculum. 

Are you a California resident who wants to get ahead as a teacher and a learner? If so, Pacific Oaks College’s M.A. in Human Development: Early Childhood Education and Development is the program for you. This program has some of the most flexible offerings on this list. You can choose between a two-year part-time or four-year full-time program and one of four concentrations.

Students can also choose to take the classes in San Jose, Pasadena, or online. Clearly, Pacific Oaks College aims to accomodate students of all types. As a student, you can take classes like Play, Language, and Literacy Development. Yes, play development. Believe it or not, play is an integral part of our upbringing. It’s a large part of what makes us who we are.

Students must also engage in a fieldwork experience. These experiences can be classroom observation near you or your college campus, or you can engage in fieldwork in your place of employment if it is relevant to the degree.

Students at the Erikson Institute also have many options within the Master of Science in child development program. Want to enroll in school full-time? If so, you can choose from a two-year or 28-month offering. Are you too busy to enroll full time? Then you can opt for a three-year part-time program. If you’re a part time student, you can choose whether to begin during the fall or spring terms.

There are eight concentrations within the child development degree: administration, child’s life, children’s law and policy, children with special needs, generalist, infancy, infancy in administration, and infancy and new language learners. As you can see, there’s an option for everybody, no matter whether you’re a teacher.

Students must partake in a two-semester internship. Throughout their internship, students will apply what they learned in class to the real world. Students have interned at some fascinating locations, like the Chicago Zoological Society, DuPage Children’s Museum, and Chicago Children’s Theatre.

The University of Dayton offers an excellent MSE in transdisciplinary early childhood education program. In this school, students learn about special education needs and general student needs. That way, they’ll be prepared to teach in any institution, no matter the context. Applying students should provide official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.

Students take courses like Introduction to Transdisciplinary Early Childhood Education, Developmentally and Individually Appropriate Practice, and Summer Play Institute. These classes will teach you how to teach children, but also how to interact with them and how to help them cope in difficult situations.

Be aware that the University of Dayton has several options to support your tuition. From financial aid, loans, scholarships, and grants, you can subsidize your tuition if you do enough research and apply for enough scholarships. If you’re an Ohio resident, this program may be your best available option.