Explore the best online child development courses

Do you want to work with children and families? Learn how online child development courses from edX can help you build the skills needed for rewarding careers working with children and families.

Key takeaways

  • Child development studies the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development of children from birth through adolescence.
  • Studying child development can prepare you for careers in education, healthcare, social services, and other child-focused fields.
  • Online child development courses from edX can help you build specialized skills or prepare for further study and careers in child development.

Popular online child development courses with certificates

Early Childhood Development: Global Strategies for Implementation
Harvard University
Course
Protecting Children in Humanitarian Settings
Columbia University
Course
Autism and Neurodiversity: Building Your Child's Strengths
Curtin University
Course

What is child development?

How do children learn and grow from birth through adolescence? Child development examines the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional changes that occur from birth through adolescence.

Child development professionals use their expertise in early education, behavioral support, and social services settings to support healthy child development.

Why learn child development?

  • Career paths: Studying child development can prepare you for rewarding opportunities in education, healthcare, and the public sector.
  • Early intervention: With child development training, you can spot developmental delays sooner and make a difference in the lives of children.
  • High demand: In 2023, 7.5 million children ages 3-21 qualified for special education services, a number that continues to grow. That's driving demand for child development specialists.

Browse online child development certificates

Find new interests and advance your career opportunities

Stand out in your field

Use the knowledge and skills you have gained to drive impact at work and grow your career.

Learn at your own pace

On your computer, tablet or phone, online courses make learning flexible to fit your busy life.

Earn a valuable credential

Showcase your key skills and valuable knowledge.

Certificates

Maternal and Child Health
George Washington University
MicroMasters
5 courses
Transitioning to Peace
King's College London
Professional Certificate
3 courses

Careers in child development

Whether you take a few child development courses or earn an advanced degree, studying child development can prepare you for a variety of meaningful careers. Here are three career paths where you can apply your child development knowledge, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Special education teacher

Special education teachers work directly with students with disabilities. These professionals assess students' skills to determine their educational needs, develop individualized education programs, plan and teach lessons adapted to individual needs, and monitor and discuss progress with parents, guardians, and other educational stakeholders.

  • Required education: Bachelor's degree in education or a related field
  • BLS median annual salary (2024): $64,270

Why learn child development online with edX

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How to start learning child development

Ready to start learning about child development? Start building a strong foundation before branching into specialized areas. You can get started today by taking courses online through edX.

1. Learn the foundations of child growth and development

First, you'll build foundational knowledge of early childhood development, cognitive growth, and childhood learning. These courses will prepare you for more advanced studies.

Featured courses

Introduction to Developmental, Social & Clinical Psychology
The University of Queensland
XSeries
4 courses
Fundamentals of Psychology
Doane University
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Introduction to Psychology | 心理学概论
Tsinghua University
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Explore child development programs

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you learn in a child development course?

A child development course can teach you about typical early developmental milestones, including gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and language development. You can also explore social-emotional development, cognitive growth, and factors that shape children from birth through adolescence.

Is child development a good career field?

Yes, child development can be a good career field. Studying child development can prepare you for careers in early childhood education, special education, behavioral intervention, and child and family services. With a growing number of children in need of support services, many of these roles report strong demand.

Do I need a degree to study child development?

No, you don't need a degree to study child development. You can take child development classes online through edX, which connects you with top universities around the world. If you're interested in careers that require a license or certification, such as special education teacher or behavioral intervention specialist, you will need a degree.

How long does it take to learn child development?

You can start learning child development in 1-3 months by taking online child development classes. These courses can build your foundational understanding of childhood developmental milestones. You can then take more advanced and specialized courses or consider a degree in child development.