Online Master’s in Child Development: Core Concentration
Advance your career in child development with Erikson’s fully online Master’s in Child Development: Core Concentration program. Whether you’re working, parenting, or managing other responsibilities, this flexible program delivers research-driven learning you can apply immediately in your community, classroom, or workplace.
MSCD Core OVERVIEW
Build Expertise in Child Development – From Anywhere
Gain child development expertise with professional applications.
Knowledge of child and adolescent development can be applied across a range of practice settings and disciplines, including child psychology, early childhood education, policy and advocacy, social work, and more.
Whether you’re working in early education, social services, or a related field, Erikson’s fully online Master’s in Child Development: Core Concentration is designed to help you grow, professionally and personally. This program gives you a deep, research-informed understanding of how children develop, with real-world applications that you can immediately bring back to your community, classroom, or workplace You’ll explore how development intersects with equity, trauma, culture, and systems of support, so you can advocate effectively for children and families in any setting.
Join One of The Nation’s Top Grantors of Master’s Degrees in Child Development
Start your child development degree program this Fall or Spring. Our fully online program offer the flexibility you need to advance your education without interrupting your career or personal life
33-36 Credit Hours
Fully Online
Fall or Spring Start Date
Part-or Full-Time
Why Choose Erikson’s Online Child Development Degree?
Flexible Study Options
Study part-time or full-time based on your needs.
Specialized Pathways
Select the specific concentration courses that will prepare you for your chosen focus.
This concentration prepares you to seek the Early Care and Education (ECE) Credential, Levels 2-6, through the Entitled Route.
Faculty Experts
Collaborate with nationally-recognized faculty and learn from leading voices in the fields of early childhood and family development.
Small, Personal Classes
Be seen and heard working closely with your professors and peers.
Self-Reflective Supervision Seminars
Learn resilience and healthy professional practices from experienced practitioners.
Professional Growth
Flexible Format, Career-Ready Results
An online Master’s in Child Development from Erikson is as valuable and impactful as our on-campus programs. We’ve meticulously designed our virtual experience to provide the same high-quality instruction, hands-on learning, and networking opportunities as their in-person counterparts. As a result, employers actively seek out Erikson graduates, including those who completed their online child development degrees, recognizing the depth of knowledge and practical skills our students gain.
When you earn your child development degree online from Erikson, you’ll gain expertise that applies across diverse settings, positioning you for leadership roles and enabling you to drive meaningful change for children and families. Erikson graduates take on roles such as:
- Program director/administrator
- Family/parent support specialist
- Research specialist
- Home visiting supervisor
- Children’s Museum Educator
- Child Care Worker
Employers Hire Erikson Graduates
Learn Your Way
Built for Busy Lives
Our fully online MSCD Core concentration is crafted specifically for working professionals, parents, and anyone balancing multiple responsibilities. We know your life doesn’t stop for your education, so we’ve built a program that makes continuous learning and career advancement possible.
Study at Your Pace
Access course materials and complete assignments on your schedule, with clear deadlines to keep you on track. Our flexible options allow you to choose a part-time or full-time track (20, 28, or 32 months) that fits your current commitments.
Work-Life Integration
Over 90% of Erikson students work either part-time or full-time while pursuing their degrees. Our online format allows you to advance your career without interruption, seamlessly integrating your studies into your busy schedule.
Dedicated Support
Our program advisors work individually with you to create a personalized academic plan that supports your professional and personal responsibilities. We’re here to help you navigate your educational journey effectively.
Financial Services
Invest In Your Future: Funding Your Child Development Degree
Your Master’s in Child Development shouldn’t break the bank.
We understand that investing in your future is a significant decision, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Erikson awards over $2 million in scholarships to students enrolled in our degree and graduate certificate programs. Our financial advisors will work with you to create a personalized financial plan that makes your goals achievable.
Apply Now for Priority Scholarship Considerations
Applications received before March 15th (for Fall) and November 15th (for Spring) are given priority consideration for scholarship awards.
Hear from Our Child Development Alumni
MSCD Core Courses
Explore a Few of the Online Child Development Concentration Courses
In this core concentration, you have a choice of electives across topics such as social and emotional learning, early childhood development, infancy, and leadership and advocacy.
Career Services
Our Career Services team is there for you in both the preparation and search for a job.
With hundreds of partnerships and robust networks of alumni and field experts, the Career Services team is here to help you put your education into practice.
Career counseling and workshops
Annual job fair and networking events
Interview prep and resume reviews
Career placement program
Student and graduate resume book
Erikson is a Gateways to Opportunity Credential Entitled Institution
Erikson Institute has partnered with Illinois Gateways to Opportunity to be able to provide an entitled application route for many of our certificate and degree programs.
Students in the Core concentration may seek these additional Illinois Gateways to Opportunity credentials to help demonstrate your content knowledge, skills and experience, especially to potential employers within Illinois.
Premiere Faculty
Your Professors are Scholars & Leaders in the Field
Scholars with Decades of Experience
Our faculty and teaching staff are nationally recognized. With specific research interests and decades of experience, each of our faculty enriches your academic experience, connecting you to new networks and the latest data.
FAQ
Master’s in Childhood Development Generalist Concentration FAQs
We award over $2 million in scholarships to students enrolled in our degree and graduate certificate programs. Erikson also participates in the federal Direct Loan programs, and assuming you meet all eligibility requirements, you will have access to both Unsubsidized and Graduate PLUS loans to help finance your Erikson higher education.
Over 90% of our students work either part-time or full-time as they are pursuing their Erikson degree.
One factor to consider as you think about your work schedule is whether you want to pursue your master’s degree program in two or three years. While there are always exceptions to this, most students who wish to work full time while enrolled at Erikson opt for the three-year program. Students who have more flexibility in their work schedule or want to complete their program in a shorter period of time while working part-time tend to enroll in the two-year program.
It’s important to note that depending on your chosen concentration and specific internship requirements, you will be required to be available during business hours two or three days per week during your internship year. Evening/weekend internships are very uncommon, so we encourage you to plan ahead and communicate as necessary with your employer in advance of your final year in the master’s program.
Your internship coordinator and field liaison, as well as our Career Services office will work with you to prepare you for seeking positions while you’re enrolled at Erikson and upon graduating from the program. You’ll receive feedback on your resume and cover letters, and we also maintain a job board on our campus portal where employers list part-time and full-time positions for which they’re hiring.
The Career Services team also plans an annual social work, early education, and child development job fair for Erikson students and alumni. In concert with the job fair, you can submit your resume to be included in an annual Resume Book that we distribute to organizations and managers who are interested in hiring Erikson students and alumni.
Erikson students live in a wide range of neighborhoods in Chicago and in the suburbs. We do not offer campus housing. While we can’t make specific recommendations about where you should live, we encourage you to find a neighborhood that suits your style, taste, and budget. To help you in your housing search, we work closely with StudentSpace , a free apartment-finding service that specializes in helping graduate students find housing in Chicago.
Because of Erikson’s small size, you’ll have access to a wide range of both informal and formal student support services. These include:
- Your Internship Coordinator and Field Liaison will help you identify and apply for your internship placement. Erikson has hundreds of pre-approved internship sites, so you don’t have to worry about finding a placement site on your own.
- Advising about your financial aid options, including personal financial education, is coordinated through the Financial Aid Office.
- Academic advising is facilitated through your faculty advisor and program director.
- The Academic Success Center provides services to help you with the academic reading and writing expectations of your program. The Center also sponsors discussion groups for selected masters degree program courses.
- The Director of Student Experience and Accessibility provides advising and support for students with disabilities and students who need accommodations for their academic work.
- AllOne Health is a confidential graduate student assistance program offered to all Erikson students through Guardian and Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH). You have unlimited access to consult with a professional counselor via telephone. Face-to-face counseling sessions are available, if needed, with an IBH network provider — and up to eight sessions are free of charge as part of AllOne Health.
- Validated parking at a reduced rate is provided to Erikson students in three nearby parking garages. You will also have access to deeply discounted public transportation through the CTA U-Pass program.
You will be responsible for identifying potential internship locations that could include direct service, informal education, applied research, or parent/ family support services. Erikson will support you in securing an internship
Your Professional Growth Starts Here
Erikson’s Online Master’s of Child Development program will prepare you for serving the complex needs of children and their families. Ready to get started?