Earn Your Associate of Arts in Child Development 100% Online
Prepare for an exciting career in Child Development with our 100% online degree program
Flexibility and Convenience
Earning your Associate of Arts in Child Development degree at Murray State College Online is convenient, flexible, and affordable. With no set class times and no visits to campus, you can log in when it fits your schedule, so you can fit your education into your life, not the other way around.
Learn New Skills
Whether you go on to earn a bachelor’s degree or enter the job market right away, Murray State College Online will give you the skills you need to find success in today’s competitive job market.
Affordable and Accessible
With generous transfer credit policies and low tuition, you can earn your degree at an affordable price and gain the skills and knowledge you need to continue your education or advance in your career. Log in from anywhere when it’s convenient for you.
How do online courses work?
Students log in to the Blackboard learning management system via computer at any time and can work from anywhere. Through Blackboard, students can contact professors, interact with other students, watch lectures, upload assignments, and take exams. Students can study in their own time with no need to come to campus.
Program Requirements and Course Details
Associate of Arts in Child Development
Murray State College’s associate degrees in childhood development offer an educational and practical foundation for students interested in working with children from infancy through adolescence. The Associate of Arts in Childhood Development prepares students to work in early childhood programs and is designed for transfer to a four-year institution, if desired. The Associate in Applied Science – Childhood Development prepares students for careers in child development services and provides those already employed in childcare with the opportunity to increase their knowledge and update their skills.
In addition to theoretical principles, the curriculum offers practical skills, hands-on learning experiences, and utilizes the actual working environment to promote knowledge gained in each course. With curriculum designed to adhere to the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s standards, the demand for graduates of this program continues to increase as the need for quality childcare becomes one of the most important concerns of our nation.
Murray Online’s flexible approach to field observations – available online and in-person – provides students the rare opportunity to complete a degree in childhood development fully online. Each course emphasizes the immediately applicable, practical approaches to improve your work with children, parents, families, and community partnerships.
Depending on background and experiences, graduates of the program may obtain employment in the following roles:
- Head Start Teacher/Early Head Start Teacher
- Child Care Master/Lead Teacher
- Family Child Care Home Provider
- Child Care Center Director
- School‐age Program Provider
- Early Intervention/Special Needs Program
- Paraprofessional Assistant
- Home Visitor
Graduates may also consider transferring to a four-year institution for further study and to prepare for professional careers in:
- Early Childhood Education
- Post-Secondary Education
- Social Work
- Elementary Education
- Psychology
38–41 credit hours in general education courses
24 credits hours in electives courses
If you would like to receive a tentative evaluation of transfer credit,
please contact Online Admissions at 580.319.5453 or online@mscok.edu
Associate of Arts in Child Development Degree Requirements
General Education Requirements
| Course # | Course Description | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 1113 | English Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 1213 | English Composition II | 3 |
| HST 1483 | US History to 1877 (or) HST 1493 US History since 1877 | 3 |
| GVT 1113 | American Federal Government | 3 |
| PHS 1114 or BIO 1114 | General Physical Science or General Biology | 4 |
| SOC 1113 or PSY 1113 | Intro to Sociology or Intro to Psychology | 3 |
| SPC 1113 | Fundamentals of Speech | 3 |
| CIS 1113 | Computer Applications or displayed proficiency in 3 hours of liberal arts | 3 |
| COL 1211 | Success Strategies | 1 |
| Any approved Health, Wellness, and Human Performance Course | 2 |
Recommended Program Electives
| CD 1243 | Health, Safety & Nutrition | 3 |
| CD 1253 | Infant & Toddler Program | 3 |
| CD 1353 | Child & Family Development | 3 |
| CD 2453 | Curriculum Planning | 3 |
| CD 2463 | Admin of Child Care Centers | 3 |
| CD 2533 | Guidance of Young Children | 3 |
| CD 2543 | Creative Arts for Young Children | 3 |
| CD 2553 | Cognitive Activities | 3 |
| CD 2563 | Family & Community Relations | 3 |
| CD 2573 | Children with Special Needs | 3 |
| CD 2583 | Language & Physical Skills for Children | 3 |
| CD 2593 | The School-Age Child | 3 |
From Here, Go Anywhere. Get started on your online degree today.