With a child development degree, you’ll be ready to make a difference with professional roles in human service and education careers.
DEGREE TYPE
Bachelor's Degree
PROGRAM TYPE
Undergraduate
LOCATION
Online
Online: Child Care and Guidance
AA
Online
Online
DEGREE TYPE
Associate Degree
PROGRAM TYPE
Undergraduate
LOCATION
DEPARTMENT
Be the driving force for quality child care.
With the importance of early childhood development becoming apparent, an associate’s degree becomes a valuable qualification for child care workers and preschool teachers. Our program teaches you how to create healthy care and learning environments, while giving you a solid foundation to pursue a bachelor’s degree in child development.
Students acquire first-hand knowledge of child development in action through experiential learning with children and families in a variety of University and community settings
Where Bold Ideas Take Shape
The study of child development encompasses the human life span from conception through adolescence. Learn how to create healthy, supportive learning and care environments. More specifically, you’ll drive real change:
- Study the development of children from conception through adolescence.
- Continue working, secure an internship or balance life’s other responsibilities by taking online courses.
- Start towards your bachelor’s degree in child development with our stackable degree path.
What Can You Do with an Online Child Care and Guidance Degree?
Graduates will have a strong foundation to build towards a bachelor’s degree in child development or pursue a career in the field of child care with confidence.
Child Care Degree Career Opportunities
- Daycare worker
- Nanny
- Preschool teacher
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Child Care and Guidance Associates Degree Outcomes & Careers 
-
$62k 
Child Care Worker
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a child care worker is $62,920 per year.
-
$41k 
Preschool Teacher
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a preschool teacher is $41,450.
-
$47k
Teacher Assistant
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a teacher assistant is $47,560.
Child Care Curriculum
The child care degree requires a minimum of 73 credit hours to complete, including the general education requirements.
Required Courses:
- CF102 Relationships in the 21st Century (3)
- CF120 Foundations of Child Development (3)
- CF124 Children's Health, Nutrition and Safety (3)
- CF200 Constructive Guidance and Discipline (3)
- CF215 Observation: Perception and Process (3)
- CF233 Creative Thought and Express in Children (3)
- CF250 Family Child Care: Feasibility Management (3)
- CF280 Learning Theory andApplication: Preschool (3)
- CF285 Learning Theory and Application: Infants and Toddlers (3)
- CF306 History and Theory of Child Development (3)
- CF310 School Age Child Care (3)
- EX390 Psychology and Education of Children with
- Exceptionalities (3)
- FE200 Family Resource Management (3)
- LI243 Children’s Literature (3)
Additional Requirements* - 26 hours:
- UI100 First Year Experience (1)
- Civics (3)
- Written Communication (6)
- Oral Communication (3)
- Natural Sciences (7 hours; one course to include lab
- requirement)
- Mathematics (3)
- Humanities and Fine Arts (3)
Fall Semester (15)
- UI100(1)
- CF120(3)
- EN100(3)
- Civics (3)
- Humanities & Fine Arts(3)
- Natural Science w/ lab (4)
Spring Semester (18)
- CF102 (3)
- CF124 (3)
- CF200 (3)
- EN140 (3)
- Natural Sciences (3)
- Oral Communication (3)
Fall Semester (18)
- CF215 (3)
- CF233 (3)
- CF250 (3)
- CF280 (3)
- CF306 (3)
- FE200 (4)
Spring Semester (18)
- CF285 (3)
- CF310 (3)
- EX390 (3)
- LI243 (3)
- Mathematics (3)
What will it cost?
College of Education, Health and Human Studies
This degree is housed within the College of Education, Health and Human Studies. The college boasts programs that train students in mind, body, and soul. So, whether you want to teach, to care, to support, or to fix, we have a program to get you there.
Get Funding for Your Education
Missouri’s opened the door to a more educated workforce. We want to help you walk through it. If you’re an adult learner and a Missouri resident returning to college, learn about the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant. It’s a statewide financial aid program that can be used to pursue a certificate, degree or industry-recognized credential in a high need area in Missouri. This major is eligible for the Fast Track grant.
Victor Wilburn, Ph.D.
Chair of the Department of Child and Family Studies
As a professor of Child Development and one who was trained in Agriculture, I see the university setting as a field of opportunities to plant the seed of ideas, inspiration, and purpose; I do this with the hope and expectation that the minds and efforts of future student professionals evolve to produce outcomes that are fruitful to their professions and their communities.
View Department Faculty
Online Learning at SEMO
When it comes to your success, we do whatever it takes. Online learning at SEMO takes the same reputable college courses taught by Southeast faculty and makes them available anytime, anywhere.
Earn Your Degree on Your Schedule.
Do more than dream about the future. Take the first steps to make it all happen.
Getting the Job
Your education is just one piece to launching an extraordinary career. Once you’ve mastered the material, you still have to find the job you want, make the right connections, and sell your knowledge and experience—if all this is giving you anxiety, don’t panic. SEMO’s Career Services office is here to help you with the next step. Our boldly supportive faculty will provide the expertise and support you need, so you’re landing your dream job in no time.
Alumni are employed by
98% of College of Education, Health and Human Studies graduates are employed or enrolled in grad school within a year.
Stackable Degree Path
Earn credentials faster with our stackable degree path! You can work towards your Bachelor of Science in child development while earning your associate’s degree. There are no additional classes needed with this option, getting you to a degree faster without extra work.
Additional Resources
Location
Office Location
Kent Library 305
Mailing Address
One University Plaza, MS 4610
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701