Pursuing a Career in Child Development

America's future depends on the development, education, and care of its young. Meeting the educational need of all children presents a difficult challenge to educators, curriculum developers, and psychologists. That means that students pursuing a degree in child development, child psychology, early childhood education, or day care management should have a wide range of career opportunities in the coming years.

Young children are often faced with social and educational difficulties and it takes skilled, well-trained professionals to intervene at an early stage to ensure that children reach their full potential. The field is far flung, with an exciting breadth of specialties in helping diagnose potential learning disabilities, social or emotional disorders, and physical restrictions that may inhibit a child's progress.

Graduates of online early childhood degree programs enjoy extensive career options including roles as:

• Pre-school, Toddler, Elementary School Teachers
• Instructional Aides
• Early Childhood Development Specialists
• Child Psychologists

Other possible career fields include:

• Child Day Care Management Specialists
• Parenting Educators
• Child Welfare Education Specialists
• Guidance Counselors

Finally, you may want to consider:

• Youth Program Administrators
• Special Education Teacher
• School District Curriculum Developers

Online Degree Programs in Early Childhood Education

Your online degree program in early childhood education may lead to an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree, or a special certification for work in the field. Coursework typically builds a solid foundation in child development, psychology, counseling, or teaching. You can learn how young people learn about the world around them as well as relate to formal education in the classroom. Online classes may include studies in learning processes, learning disabilities, emotional disorders, health and nutrition, child abuse, instructional methods, cognitive evaluations, teaching math, art, or reading, and issues including community stigma and child neglect.

Your online degree may qualify you for jobs in early childhood education administration, child day care management, and family services positions in the private sector, school districts, or with Federal, state, and local agencies. Child care workers, according to the Department of Labor, may pursue licensure or certifications to work in their state. The job outlook in the field is good, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics expecting continued job growth during the 2006-2016 decade.

Jobs Growth in Child Development and Education

You might choose to use your child development or psychology training in the classroom as a pre-school, kindergarten, elementary, or special education teacher. Faster-than-average growth is predicted for special education teachers who have graduated from online degree programs. The median annual wage in 2008 for special education teachers was $50,020, with top earnings around $78,980.

Pre-school teachers should be in demand in fast-growing school districts in the West and South, according to the Labor Department. In addition to your degree, you'll be required to earn a license to teach in your state. The most-common credential is the Child Development Associate (CDA). The top-end of the scale for pre-school teachers in 2008 was $41,660.

Early childhood education administration specialists work at the top of the profession, with jobs that may require an online master's or doctoral degree, plus classroom experience. Top wages for administrators of preschool or child care centers in 2008 averaged $77,150.