Child Development Classes. By taking advantage of the different child development classes available online, you can brush up on your knowledge or learn something new. Everyone should read this piece, especially parents who are “flying by the seat of their pants.”
In addition, no matter how much we passively hang on for the ride, we all understand that parenting demands a certain skill set.
You try something, and it works for a while, but then you’re back where you started, and your child outsmarts you once more. (How are they able to achieve it?)
Understanding what is going on in their minds, what developmental phases they are in and how to deal with them, or how to promote healthy development can be helpful.
After all, when your child is involved, it might be difficult to maintain complete objectivity. The secret to putting everything together can lie in knowing about various techniques and reading about various stages of growth online.
A child development course may be appropriate for you if you’re passionate about knowledge dissemination and helping others in addition to learning how to be a good parent.
This article includes a ranking of the top 17 online child development courses you can enroll in if you’re a parent looking to learn more, a parent looking for clarification, or a child care provider looking to brush up on your abilities.
Let’s examine the top online courses in child development we’ve listed to see how they can benefit you.
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Which Child Development Courses Are Available Online?
Choose between a degree in Early Childhood Education or a degree in Child Development if you wish to teach or deal with young children in another capacity.
A variety of online child development courses are available to you, some of which are cost-free.
Some are aimed at parents, while others are aimed at people who want to study child development or work in the field.
You can focus on the parent-focused resources we have here, but we’ll also go through how to start an online child development degree.
Additionally, you can attend parenting workshops. Parenting classes are intended to help parents feel more devoted to, involved in, and connected to their kids.
While parenting programs provide advice, strategies, and tools for raising kids, they also give parents a chance to share their difficulties and ideas with other parents who are facing comparable challenges.
What Qualities Should I Look for in a Quality Child Development Program?
The majority of parents are constantly busy since they have to take care of their children, maintain their homes, and work. Finding the time is difficult enough; throw in a boring lecture or hours of textbook-style reading, and you have a snoozefest.
You are more likely to stay focused and complete the program if the course has a social structure and well-developed, engaging content. Before enrolling in an online child development course, find out if the course is intended for parents or if it is a professional program leading to a certificate or degree.
Earning credits toward certification is a possibility, but continuing education that builds on past courses is also a possibility.
On the other hand, there are crucial things to consider if you’re a student interested in studying child development and debating how to support and create conditions that stimulate young students’ naturally curious brains.
The child development online course should:
- Establish your goals.
- Clarify your interests.
- Provide advice on what to do for your child’s age.
- The needs of your youngster.
- Parenting issues, you may be having some problems.
- Medical conditions that affect your child’s needs as a parent.
- The expense of the course in light of your family’s financial situation.
- How much time you’ll have to spend on a course.
- How long does it take to complete the required coursework?
Additionally, regardless of the degree, students should think about their career goals when selecting a bachelor’s in child development.
This advice is helpful to them because most parents and some students are quite busy.
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How Long Does It Take to Earn an Online Certificate in Child Development?
Online bachelor’s degree programs in child development normally take four years to finish for students.
This is due to the fact that most universities require 120 credits in order to grant an online child development degree.
The length of child development classes offered online for parents looking to learn how to raise their children is roughly four months.
Whatever route you pick, make sure that online courses will enable you to complete your certificate faster than the conventional one.
How much do online courses in child development cost?
The price of an online degree in child development depends on a number of criteria.
State residency is necessary since many colleges and universities charge more tuition for out-of-state students. On the other hand, regardless of the location of the student, some universities charge a flat tuition for online students.
Whereas standard online platforms bill users according to the degree of course they enroll in. This implies that a beginner’s course in child development will undoubtedly be less expensive than an advanced one.
Technology fees are another significant expense that occasionally only affect online students as opposed to their counterparts in traditional classrooms.
Given everything, you should prepare to spend between $1,500 and $3000 if you’re a student pursuing an online degree in child development.
If you’re a parent considering online child development training, be ready to shell out between $250 and $750 for the entire course.
Best Online Child Development Classes
1. Online Child Development Certificate | Penn Foster
- Provider: Penn Foster
- Cost: $459
- A period of 120 hours
By giving our students and clients the credentials they need to advance in their chosen industries, Penn Foster aspires to better the lives of both groups of people.
Through their online courses at the Penn Foster Career School, they have consistently demonstrated excellence in this area.
With Penn Foster Career School’s Child Development certificate program, you can study at your own pace in the convenience of your own home.
For the purpose of applying for the CDA credential, 120 hours of formal instruction in eight subjects related to professional child care are satisfied by this certificate.
This certificate is intended to satisfy the 120-hour formal education requirement for professional child care set forth by the CDA. It includes the fundamentals of early childhood education, child growth and development, as well as young children’s health, safety, and nutrition.
Penn Foster has held accrediting status for more than 50 years. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) has granted Penn Foster accreditation.
Last but not least, Penn Foster profession School can help you build the necessary knowledge and abilities so that you can start on the path to a rewarding profession in child development.
As a result, it comes in first place among the finest online schools for child development.
2. Online Early Childhood Development: Global Strategies for Implementation | HarvardX
- Provider: edX
- Price: Free
- Estimated time frame: seven weeks
Take free online courses in child development to advance your knowledge and career options.
You may study child development and other in-demand subjects from top universities and colleges across the world on edX.
There are particular certificates that can be obtained for employment in the field of child development.
In the field of Early Childhood Education (ECE), the Child Development Associate certificate, or CDA, is a well-known diploma.
You can advance in your ECE career with a CDA certification. There are many ways to get a CDA online right now.
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3. Online Bachelor of Science in Child Development – Appalachian State University Online
- Price: $224 for each credit hour
- Timeframe: 120 hours
You can learn the knowledge and abilities to mentor today’s kids from birth through kindergarten with App State Online’s adaptable online Bachelor of Science in Child Development – Birth through Kindergarten program.
As part of Appalachian University’s undergraduate degree program in child development, you will take this course to learn how to better support children’s achievement during crucial periods of discovery, learning, and growth.
You’ll examine the duties and obligations of professionals working with infants through kindergarten, as well as strategies for encouraging and involving learning.
The total number of hours delivered by Appalachian and your transfer hours by the end of the program must be 120.
4. Online Bachelor of Science in Child Development – Point University
- Point University is the provider.
- Price: $410 for each credit hour
- Timeframe: Four Years
During a child’s formative years of development, interactive education provides the foundation for long-term success.
The Point University Online Bachelor of Science in Child Development program equips graduates with the skills necessary to work with young children (birth to age 8) in a variety of settings, designing environments and activities that foster their physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual growth.
Additionally, it offers an online bachelor’s degree in child development with an emphasis on children from birth to age eight and covers psychology, family engagement, and educational foundations.
Students can choose their study schedule for the child development bachelor’s degree at Point University because the majority of the courses are entirely online.
The number of credits students decide to take each term affects how long the program will last. A bachelor’s degree in child development earned online typically takes four years to complete all 120 credits.
Most importantly, Point University has received regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). While the education degree (GaPSC) is accredited by the National Council on Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Professional Standards Commission of Georgia.
The wide curriculum of the online bachelor’s degree program in child development offers a foundation in sociocultural contexts, early childhood development, and education.
Some of the courses available to students are listed below:
- Educational Foundations
- Culture and Education
- Classroom Management
- Educational Psychology
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5. Online Bachelor’s in Child Development – Concordia University-Saint Paul
- Provider: Concordia University, St. Paul
- Cost: $420 per Credit
- Duration: 8 weeks
The 42-credit Bachelor of Arts in Child Development program can be finished fully online.
The working adults who want to get a degree but require the freedom to attend classes on their own are the target audience for this online bachelor’s program in child development.
Students will study developmentally appropriate practices while concentrating on leadership and advocacy in the field of early education.
The #1-ranked online child development degree program offered by CSP addresses the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) guidelines for first professional training.
Above all, bachelor’s degree holders from CSP institutions earn some of the top wages among alumni from Minnesota’s colleges and universities.
6. Online Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education Degree – Liberty University
- Provider: Liberty University
- Cost: $250 per credit hour
- Duration: 120 Hours
The mascot of Liberty University, a private institution in Lynchburg, Virginia, is Sparky the Eagle.
At Liberty University, you can tailor your associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree to fit your interests while attending classes on-campus in Central Virginia or globally online.
As a result, Liberty University, which grants a variety of unique bachelor’s degrees, becomes one of the greatest online learning institutions.
With a strong Christian teaching approach and a committed 24/7 support team, students can now earn an online Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education degree.
Adults who want to instruct preschool and elementary school students online should enroll in this 120-credit program.
Liberty University’s School of Education offers the following required courses:
- Early Childhood Education Fundamentals
- Wellness in the Early Childhood Setting
- Developmental Psychology
- Psychology of Childhood
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7. Online BS in Early Childhood Education – The University of Alabama
- University of Alabama, the provider
- Price: $385 for each credit hour
- A period of 120 hours
Anyone can earn a BS in Early Childhood Education online from the University of Alabama.
For those who work in or wish to work in early childhood development programs, this Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education (ECE) is for you.
The ECE program at the University of Alabama requires 120 hours of coursework, with a minimum of 30 hours coming from the university. A two-year university can accept up to 60 hours in transfer.
The University of Alabama’s online program will prepare you to influence young children’s futures.
The Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education degree will provide you an understanding of children’s growth and development from birth to age eight, enabling you to assist them as they go through some of their most important developmental stages.
8. Early Childhood Development Undergraduate Certificate- WVU Online
- Provider: WVU Online
- Cost: $427 per Credit Hour
- Duration: 15 Total Credit Hours
This university in Morgantown, West Virginia, has around 28,000 students. There are 14 colleges and schools in Morgantown and approximately 350 majors to select from, so there are plenty of opportunities for success.
WVU also offers online degree choices if you’re seeking for a curriculum that’s both flexible and cheap. Their online Bachelor of Science in Child Development and Family Studies is worth a look.
Child Development (non-certification track) and Preschool Education Birth-4 are two areas of emphasis in this WVU curriculum (with Pre-K certification).
Courses that may be required include:
- Business of Child Care
- Early Socio-Emotional Growth
- Special Education in Contemporary Society
- Differentiated Instruction for Young Children
- Technology for Young Children with/without Special Needs
9. Online Bachelor of Arts in Education in Educational Studies – Early Childhood Education | Arizona State University
- Provided by ASU Online
- Price per credit: $584
- A period of 120 hours
Students can gain practical experience in collaborative and reflective practice through the ASU Online Bachelor of Arts in Education with an emphasis in Educational Studies in Early Childhood Education.
In order to deal with children under the age of five, it improves communication skills, fosters leadership, and fosters critical thinking.
You can follow your passion for working with kids while gaining development and instructional skills with the early childhood education emphasis of the online Bachelor of Arts in Education in educational studies from ASU.
People who work in early childhood settings like Head Start, child development centers, preschools, and private and public child care would benefit from this training.
To receive this degree, students must pass 40 classes and 120 credits.
The ASU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences offers the following required courses:
- Aging and the Life Course
- Early Childhood Intervention
- Child Dysfunction in the Family
- Marriage and Family Relationships
- Personal Growth in Human Relationships
- Infant/Toddler Development in the Family
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10. Online Program in Human Development – California State University, East Bay
California State University, East Bay offers a Human Development undergraduate degree that is entirely online. Every topic is taken online as students progress through the curriculum in an organized, step-by-step manner.
The three concentrations available to students are Early Childhood Development, Women’s Development, and Adult Development & Gerontology.
The program will be helpful to full-time workers who want to transfer to a community college and pursue a four-year degree. Juniors are welcome to apply (higher division transfer eligibility is required).
There are 180 modules total in this unique online program. Some possible necessary courses are:
- Child Development
- Adult Development and Aging
- Theories of Human Development
- Girls and Women Across the Lifespan
- Foundational Aspects of Adolescent Development
- Social and Cultural Dynamics of Human Development
11. Child & Family Studies Bachelor’s Degree — Child Development | Eastern Kentucky University
- Eastern Kentucky University as a provider
- Price: $409 for each credit hour
- Accelerated 8-week period
You will be prepared to lead in the areas of human development and family services thanks to EKU’s 100% online program in child and family studies.
The abilities you acquire will enable you to work with kids in educational, institutional, and human services settings.
Making sure that young children from all backgrounds complete developmental milestones and realize their full potential allows you to have a positive impact on their lives. Early childhood education and development is a rewarding career.
EKU is one of the top universities in the nation and is a brick and mortar, regionally accredited university that has been educating students for over a century.
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12. Online Bachelor of Science in Human Development – Pennsylvania State University – World Campus
- Penn State Online as the provider
- Price per Credit: $555
- A period of 120 hours
Penn State World Campus, sometimes referred to as “Penn State Online,” is the online campus of The Pennsylvania State University.
Since its founding in 1998, the World Campus has expanded steadily. Over 17,000 students are enrolled in more than 125 degree and certificate programs at Penn State Online.
A somewhat uncommon degree is now available to students: the Undergraduate Certificate in Children, Youth, and Family Services.
This adaptable online program costs $555 per credit.
This course is perfect for those who wish to learn more about human services or who are just beginning out in the area.
The credits from this program can be used to get a bachelor’s degree in human development.
Students must complete 30 credits in order to receive this credential. These are some examples of potential courses:
- Family Development
- Adolescent Development
- Infant and Child Development
- Human Development and Family Studies Interventions
- Values and Ethics in Health and Human Development Professions
13. Online Bachelor of Arts degree in Children’s Learning and Development Concentrations – University of Massachusetts Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Amherst is the provider.
- Price per Credit: $405
- A period of 120 hours
People just like you have been able to complete their degrees in interdisciplinary studies at a top-tier public institution for the past 50 years thanks to the institution Without Walls program at UMass Amherst.
The University of Wyoming’s Interdisciplinary Studies degree completion program allows you to create your own course of study in the learning and development of children.
Through this program, you can complete your bachelor’s degree entirely online without ever having to visit a campus by bringing in or earning up to 105 credits for prior courses, prior learning, work experience, and life experience.
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14. Online Early Childhood Education Certificate – Washington State University
- Washington State University is the provider.
- Price: $430 for each credit hour
- Timeframe: 8 Weeks
Would you like to see stronger communities, families, and individuals?
Your understanding of how diverse educational techniques, social policies, and prevention/intervention tactics impact the development of children, teens, and families will grow thanks to this online early childhood education degree from WSU.
The online early childhood education degree also explores how biological, familial, social, neighborhood, academic, and civic elements affect child development and how this understanding can be applied to construct creative and successful programs for young children and their families.
Despite being an online program, the early childhood education credential is only accessible to citizens of Washington.
Possible required courses are:
- Family Systems
- Lifespan Development
- Family Stress and Coping
- Parent-Child Relationships
- Human Development Theories
- Dev. Effective Communication and Life Skills
15. Online Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education – Kansas State University
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- Kansas State University is the provider.
- Price: $450 for each credit hour
- Time Frame: 120 Credit Hours
Students can become administrators or instructors in early childhood settings by completing the online early childhood education bachelor’s degree program at K-State.
It takes four years to finish this 120-credit online bachelor’s degree in child development.
Courses on language development, gender roles in families, exceptional early childhood development, and reflective practice are all necessary.
Near the participants’ homes, accredited schools offer field experience opportunities.
You will learn the most recent techniques for teaching and caring for young children from birth to kindergarten, including those with special needs, learning challenges, or developmental delays, in the online early childhood education bachelor’s degree program.
This program combines online learning with a field experience at an accredited school close to you, regardless of where you live in the United States.
Using a tablet and video recording equipment, K-State instructors will be able to observe and evaluate your teaching in real-time and provide feedback to help you improve.
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16. Online Early Childhood Development – Fresno Pacific University
- Fresno Pacific University is a provider.
- Cost: $495, $520
- Timeframe: 18 months
You may fully understand how children develop from birth to age eight with the aid of the online bachelor of arts in early childhood development.
Their experienced teachers provide a strong academic and practical basis while putting an emphasis on the child’s environment.
You’ll get knowledge on how to address young children’s specific needs, particularly those of those who have special needs.
Essentially, this online course:
- The program is accessible both in person and totally online.
- Cohorts have weekly meetings.
- To finish the program, 12 to 24 adults work together in a group.
- Students come from a diverse variety of ages and ethnicities.
The NCATE standards for baccalaureate degrees and the California Preschool Learning Foundations, both issued by the California State Department of Education, serve as the foundation for the program.
Seven categories have been developed by the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing (CCTC, www.ctc.ca.gov) for graduates to demonstrate subject-matter expertise.
17. Online Child Development Classes – ed2go
- Provider: ed2go
- Cost: Variable
- Timeframe: 8 months to 1 year
Maintaining your skill set is crucial when your job involves forming the minds of children.
Child development courses from ed2go can help you keep current on the latest breakthroughs in the area and obtain new knowledge that you can impart to those in your care, whether you’re new to the subject or already work as a teacher or child care provider.
Every day, parents put their faith in you. You may put your trust in ed2go to give you a thorough education in child development.
Their online courses in childhood development encompass everything from professional credentials to topics like language development and classroom management.
You will also finish the 120 hours of professional development necessary by the Council of Professional Recognition throughout this online CDA certification study, putting you one step closer to obtaining this significant credential.
Additionally, they provide early childhood education courses that emphasize concrete strategies for empowering kids to develop into successful adults.
Start right now with ed2go’s simple, open-enrollment system and useful online lectures.
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