Overview

The Child and Family Development M.S. at San Diego State University offers a comprehensive exploration of human growth, focusing on social-emotional health and the vital roles of families and communities. This advanced programme is specifically designed to accommodate both full-time students and working professionals through evening sessions. Students gain the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to lead in various educational and social service environments.

Why Child and Family Development at San Diego State University?

This programme is distinguished as one of only two child development master's degrees available within the California State University system. It plays a pivotal role in training high-level professionals for the region, with the department taking a leadership role in curriculum integration. Students benefit from a flexible learning environment that includes three distinct capstone options—thesis, project, or comprehensive exam—allowing for a tailored academic experience that aligns with specific career goals or research interests.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 8548 per year
National fee: USD 8548 per year
Local fee: USD 8548 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum consists of 30-32 graduate credits. Modules may include:

Family Processes
Professional Development and Professionalism
Human Development Theories
Research Methods and Program Development
Attachment Regulation in Young Children
Intervention and Prevention Lifespan Approach

Careers with Child and Family Development

Graduates are well-prepared for advanced roles in the public and private sectors. Many alumni secure leadership positions as directors of early childhood education centres, developmental specialists, or coordinators in community-based programmes. The degree also serves as a significant credential for K-12 teachers seeking to enhance their pedagogical strategies and salary potential. Additionally, the programme provides a robust foundation for those pursuing Ph.D. or Psy.D. qualifications. Common employment settings include:

Preschools and day care centres
Hospitals and hospice centres
Public welfare and family service agencies
Family planning clinics
Non-profit organisations focused on child advocacy

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Human development and theories

Family processes and theories

Applications for prevention and intervention

Research methods

Program development and proposal writing

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-24 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-02-01 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

105

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

30 SCH

30-32

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

San Diego, United States

Disciplines

Family & Consumer Science Early Childhood Education Childhood Studies View 73 other Masters in Childhood Studies in United States

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

105

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

A bachelor’s degree (Child Development or related fields preferred)

International coursework documents (if international applicant)

Completion of entire application package and all supplementary documents

3 letters of recommendation

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

11548 USD / year

≈ 11548 USD / year
Out-of-State

11548 USD / year

≈ 11548 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

8548 USD / year

≈ 8548 USD / year

Additional Details

Non-resident tuition: Add $444 per unit to the basic tuition and fees listed above.

Living costs

San Diego

United States

1400 - 2455 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

Interested in financing your studies? Find a student loan that works for you.

MPOWER Financing No cosigner. No collateral. No hidden fees.

Check your Eligibility

Get the funding you need to study in the U.S. or Canada - with a process that's fast, simple, and built for international students.

Flexible loans from US$2,001 to US$100,000
Fixed interest rates -- no inflation surprises
No upfront fees or prepayment penalties
Accepted at 500+ universities across the U.S. & Canada
100% online application -- instant conditional offer
Free visa & career support through our Path2Success program

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Need help with your student visa?

Get Visa Support

Get personalized guidance from a certified VFS Global advisor and save 20% through Studyportals.

Avoid common visa mistakes and delays
Know exactly what documents you need
Get a clear checklist tailored to your situation

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Child and Family Development.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Additional Details

Living costs

San Diego

Financing

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

Our partners