Online Master’s in Child Development and Family Studies
Tarleton State University’s online Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Child Development and Family Studies (CHFS), expands your career opportunities in educational and community settings. This graduate program in Child Development and Family Studies emphasizes content areas such as theories related to families and children, research methodology, and current issues impacting child development and family dynamics.
By providing an intellectually rigorous curriculum studying children, adolescents, and families across the lifespan, our online Master’s program prepares you for career advancement throughout the field of child development.
Why earn a M.S. in Child Development and Family Studies?
As a field, Child Development and Family Studies encompasses various academic disciplines and leads to a variety of employment opportunities. More employers in Child Development and Family Studies are beginning to require bachelor’s degrees for lower level positions, and seeking out directors, administrators, and family service advocates who hold graduate degrees in Child Development and Family Studies. Obtaining a Master’s degree provides you with the comprehensive background to contribute to research and to qualify for leadership roles.
What can you do with a Master’s in Child Development and Family Studies?
With your online Master’s degree in Child Development and Family Studies, you can pursue a variety of positions including child advocate, child life specialist, and researcher, in Texas and beyond.
Common employment settings for those with expertise in child development include:
- Education (early childhood education programs, higher education institutions, parent/family life education)
- Social / Community Services (child advocacy centers, adoption/foster agencies, behavioral health centers)
- Medical (Hospitals and health care facilities)
- Business (companies that manufacture and market children’s items)
- Communication (publishing children’s books, television shows, magazines)
- Government (early childhood intervention, military child care and family programs, legislative advocacy)
Estimated Completion
30 credit hours (18+ months)
Application Process
Cost
Locations Available
Department
College
Graduate Degree Requirements
The Child Development and Family Studies graduate program requires 30 semester credit hours (SCH); 21 of the 30 SCH are required courses. If you select the thesis option, 6 SCH are reserved for the thesis with another 3 SCH for the prescribed electives. If you select the non-thesis option, there are 9 SCH of prescribed electives.
The coursework examines child development from a variety of perspectives, incorporates education-related classes, and introduces you to research methods in the social sciences. For more information on child development classes, please refer to the university catalog.
Required/Core Courses
| Prefix and Number | Required/Core Course Title | SCH |
|---|---|---|
| CHFS 5313 | Advanced Child Development | 3 |
| CHFS 5321 | Family Theories and Research | 3 |
| CHFS 5339 | Language and Cognitive Development in Childhood | 3 |
| CHFS 5347 | Child and Family Advocacy | 3 |
| CHFS 5320 | Social and Emotional Development | 3 |
| CHFS 5330 | Interpersonal Relationships | 3 |
| EDUC 5398 or PSYC 3000 | Techniques of Research Statistics | 3 |
| CHFS 5360 | Research Methods in Human Sciences | 3 |
| CHFS 5390 | Education Seminar | (3) or thesis |
| CHFS 5088 | Thesis* | 3 |
| CHFS 5350 | Advanced Family Life Education | (3) or thesis |
CHFS Program Highlights
In the Child Development and Family Studies graduate program, you have a multitude of avenues to advance your career aspirations and find a supportive community. Through engaging coursework, hands-on experiences, and networking opportunities, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in your field. Additionally, our program fosters a sense of community and collaboration, ensuring that you can build meaningful connections with fellow students, faculty, and professionals in the field.
Students have the opportunity to conduct their own research projects under faculty guidance or assist faculty with their ongoing research. Previously, students’ work has been presented at the TXAEYC Annual Conference and the TxCFR Annual Conference.
Each spring, the CHFS program hosts at least two Service Day projects that benefit children and families in many communities. As an online student, you can be offered a project that allows you to participate from your location or travel to the Stephenville campus for the opportunity to perform community service in person. e.
The CHFS Club provides opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to socialize, provide community service, and learn more about the overall field of child and family studies.
Accreditation
Tarleton’s online degree in Child Development and Family Studies is accredited, demonstrating our commitment to high-quality graduate education.
What Master’s degrees are related to Child Development and Family Studies?
An online Master’s in Child Development and Family Studies provides you with advanced knowledge and research skills related to human development and family structures. Tarleton State University also offers many different graduate degrees and certifications that may be of interest, including:
Learn more about Tarleton’s Child Development and Family Studies Program
Tarleton’s Master of Science in Child Development and Family Studies is a career-focused graduate program offering the analytical skills and specialized knowledge to pursue leadership positions. The online coursework of this Master’s program offers child development classes in a convenient format that still allows for rigor and academic opportunities.
Learn more about graduate studies at Tarleton!