While early childhood education continues to be of high importance to parents, policymakers, and the public, many incorrectly identify this critical period as birth through preschool or kindergarten. Although the brain develops the majority of its neurons between birth and 3 years old, early childhood education is defined as the period of birth through 8 years old, correlating with the second- or third-grade level.

Online or on campus, the right degree program can empower you with a deepened understanding of child development and learning, equipping you with the knowledge and professional competencies to help prepare you for roles in and out of the classroom.

A master’s in early childhood studies program can also help you link the importance of early childhood education to issues of equity and inclusion, helping students learn and grow in a variety of environments. You’ll examine trends, apply cutting-edge research to the field’s most pressing issues, and become a skillful collaborator with families, colleagues, and agencies.

The career options are numerous for someone with an MS in Early Childhood Education. If you’re interested in working in the childcare field, you could become a childcare administrator or the assistant director, director, or owner of a childcare center. You could work as a preschool director or a program administrator for early childhood programs. You might also pursue a career as a child development instructor or an early childhood studies lecturer. Or you could work on child and educational policies as a child and family advocate or a public policy coordinator.

If you’re interested in increasing your understanding of child development and effective learning practices, earning an MS in Early Childhood Education is worth it. In the degree program, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of how play, creativity, and core early childhood learning subjects intertwine to foster children’s inquisitiveness, nurture their unique interests, and cultivate a genuine enthusiasm for learning. With a master’s in early childhood education, you’ll have a degree that can enable you to thrive in an advocacy, leadership, or teaching role in an educational setting or an early childhood-focused organization.

The career outlook for those with a master’s degree in early childhood education shows growth in the coming years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of preschool and childcare directors will grow by 7% through 2028¹.

¹Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/preschool-teachers.htm; national long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

From public policy to professional development, the jobs for someone with an MS in Childhood Studies are as diverse as individuals and their reasons for pursuing an early childhood education degree. Below is a sample of potential career options:

• Child and family advocate
• Public policy coordinator
• Child development instructor
• Professional development facilitator
• Lecturer in early childhood studies
• Childcare administrator
• Owner, director, or assistant director of a childcare center
• Director or assistant director of a childcare program
• Preschool director
• Program administrator for early childhood programs

Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of a degree program.

Ultimately, this decision comes down to personal preferences and time-management needs. Many enrolled in online master’s in early childhood studies programs find that online learning allows them to more easily balance work and personal commitments along with their academics. Others prefer the familiarity of a traditional brick-and-mortar institution. The choice is up to you.

Yes. When you enroll in an MS in Early Childhood Studies program, you will learn how children’s brains develop throughout childhood, including which early experiences promote or impede development. You will also gain an understanding of the many influences on child development, including brain architecture, mental health, toxic stress, trauma, and resilience.

Walden’s MS in Early Childhood Studies is a non-licensure degree program that is designed for existing licensed teachers or those in education who do not wish to teach in the classroom but are focusing their career on the importance of early learning. Many early childhood studies degree-holders work as advocates or take on leadership roles in early learning environments. Early childhood education degrees, on the other hand, are generally designed for first-time educators who wish to teach in the classroom and need a program that leads to licensure.