Child & Family Development, BA, Online
Quick Facts
Credit Hours: 120 | Estimated Time to Completion: 4 years | Cost Per Credit Hour: $480.65 | Start Dates: Fall, Spring, Summer
Program Details
- Location
- Wayne Campus, Akron Campus
- Level
- undergraduate
- Degree/Program Type
- Bachelor of Arts / major
- Format
- online
- Course Info
- Course Sequence
- College
- Health and Human Sciences, College of (Dean's Office)
- School/Department
- School of Social Work & Family Sciences
Program Contact
- Shannon R. Zentall, Ph.D.
-
Associate Professor
330-972-8158
Program Overview
The University of Akron Online offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Child and Family Development for students who want to make a meaningful impact on the well-being of children, families, and communities. Delivered 100% online and taught by the same expert faculty who teach in-person classes, the program provides an interdisciplinary education that blends theoretical foundations with application to real-world settings.
Students engage in comprehensive coursework covering human development, diversity, family dynamics, ethics, law and policy, family life education, financial and consumer issues, early childhood programming, and practical and research applications. Hands-on training is built into the major: field experience is provided in several required classes, and every student completes an internship with an agency aligned to their career goals.
Each student also pursues a certificate or minor alongside the major, tailoring the degree to individual career interests. This applied learning approach produces graduates who are highly competitive in the job market, with over 90% of surveyed alumni working in their chosen profession.
What You'll Learn
The Child and Family Development curriculum pairs a foundation in human development with applied training in family services, preparing you to support individuals and families at every stage of life.
Skills Gained
Understanding of child, adolescent, and adult development
Cultural competence and responsiveness to diverse family structures
Family life education and parent education strategies
Case management and home-based intervention techniques
Family resource and financial management guidance
Observation, documentation, and research fundamentals
Core Practice
Complete field experience built into several required courses
Intern with an agency aligned to your career goals in the capstone internship
Apply developmental theory to real-world family and childhood settings
Earn a complementary certificate or minor alongside the major
Study fully online with the same expert faculty as in-person classes
Key Topics
Child development and intimate relationships
Human development across the lifespan
Diversity, culture, ethnicity, and the family
Family dynamics, crisis, and parent-child relations
Health, nutrition, and family financial management
Law, policy, and the legal environment of families
Career Outcomes
The Child and Family Development major leads to a variety of in-demand career paths that support the well-being of children, youth, and families. Because every student completes an internship and a certificate or minor aligned to their goals, graduates enter the job market with hands-on experience employers are looking for.
Job Titles
Child or youth advocate
Case manager
Parent educator
Preschool or child care owner or director
Family or youth extension educator
Lead preschool teacher
Child care licensing specialist
Internship or volunteer coordinator
Where You’ll Work
Child welfare and family service agencies
Early childhood education and child care programs
Home-based intervention and family support programs
Nonprofit and community organizations
Government and licensing agencies
Cooperative extension programs
Career Advancement Pathways
Many graduates continue to graduate programs in counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work, education, child life, or the social sciences. The degree's blend of developmental theory, applied coursework, and internship experience builds a strong foundation for advanced study and for leadership roles in family-serving organizations.
Additional Program Information
Child & Family Development Curriculum
The 120-credit-hour curriculum blends theoretical foundations with real-world application. Students choose coursework that aligns with their interests in human development, family dynamics, and applied practice areas.
General Education & Liberal Arts Foundation
Build a broad academic foundation through online coursework in writing, speaking, mathematics, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. You'll explore U.S. and global perspectives and other interdisciplinary subjects that strengthen critical thinking and prepare you for work with diverse families and communities.
→ View general education requirements
Child and Family Development Core
Establish your foundation with core courses in child development and intimate relationships, then choose coursework across human development, diversity issues, health and nutrition, family resource and financial management, and family dynamics. Applied courses cover areas such as parent education, case management, home-based intervention, mediation, and early childhood programs.
Certificates and Minors
Every student pursues a certificate or minor that aligns the degree with individual career goals. Options include the Case Management for Children and Families certificate, the Parent and Family Education certificate, the Child Development minor, and the Family Development minor.
Seminar and Internship Experience
Cap your degree with the Seminar in Child and Family Development and a hands-on internship with an agency aligned to your career goals, applying what you've learned in a professional setting before you graduate.
Hands-On Training
Real-World Experience Built Into the Major
Field experience is built into several required courses and a capstone internship, and over 90% of surveyed alumni are working in their chosen profession.
Career-Ready Credentials
Graduate With a Certificate or Minor
Every student graduates with a certificate or minor alongside their major, earning a career-aligned credential in areas such as case management or parent and family education.
Rankings
Recognized Among Top Online Universities
UAkron Online has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s top online universities, reflecting a strong commitment to quality and student success.
Admissions Information
Explore the requirements, application process, and financial options to help you take the next step into the Child and Family Development program.
To apply to the Child and Family Development program, you'll need to:
- Submit an undergraduate application to The University of Akron
- Provide official academic transcripts
- Meet the general admissions requirements of The University of Akron
- Earn a grade of C or better in CHFD 201 Intimate Relationships and CHFD 265 Child Development to be accepted into the major
Need help? An Enrollment Advisor can guide you through each step.
Tuition and Cost Considerations
- Tuition is charged on a per-credit-hour basis of $482.75
- Online students pay in-state tuition, with a $1 per credit hour out-of-state surcharge
→ View bachelor’s degree tuition estimates
→ View additional cost of attendance information
Financial Aid Options
Eligible students may qualify for:
- FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
- Federal and state grants
- Scholarships
- Student loans
- Employer tuition assistance programs
The University of Akron awards significant financial aid annually, with a large percentage of undergraduate students receiving some form of assistance.
→ Learn more about financial aid
Scholarships
- Students are eligible for:
- Many scholarships require no separate application
- Aid packages may include multiple funding sources
- Programs like the Tuition Guarantee help provide cost predictability over four years (for eligible students)
Get Help
The Office of Student Financial Aid provides support throughout the financial aid process, including FAFSA assistance, scholarship guidance, and educational cost planning.
To apply to the Child and Family Development program, you'll need to:
- Submit an undergraduate application to The University of Akron
- Provide official academic transcripts
- Meet the general admissions requirements of The University of Akron
- Earn a grade of C or better in CHFD 201 Intimate Relationships and CHFD 265 Child Development to be accepted into the major
Need help? An Enrollment Advisor can guide you through each step.
Tuition and Cost Considerations
- Tuition is charged on a per-credit-hour basis of $482.75
- Online students pay in-state tuition, with a $1 per credit hour out-of-state surcharge
→ View bachelor’s degree tuition estimates
→ View additional cost of attendance information
Financial Aid Options
Eligible students may qualify for:
- FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
- Federal and state grants
- Scholarships
- Student loans
- Employer tuition assistance programs
The University of Akron awards significant financial aid annually, with a large percentage of undergraduate students receiving some form of assistance.
→ Learn more about financial aid
Scholarships
- Students are eligible for:
- Many scholarships require no separate application
- Aid packages may include multiple funding sources
- Programs like the Tuition Guarantee help provide cost predictability over four years (for eligible students)
Get Help
The Office of Student Financial Aid provides support throughout the financial aid process, including FAFSA assistance, scholarship guidance, and educational cost planning.
Online Child & Family Development Faculty
Learn from the same expert faculty who teach in-person classes, bringing research and real-world practice in child and family development to every online course.
Online BA in Child & Family Development FAQs
Graduates work as child and youth advocates, case managers, parent educators, preschool and child care owners or directors, family and youth extension educators, lead preschool teachers, child care licensing specialists, and internship or volunteer coordinators. Many also continue to graduate programs in counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work, education, child life, or the social sciences.
Salary potential varies based on occupation, employer, experience, and geographic location. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, social and human service assistants earn a median annual wage of approximately $45,000, with employment projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. Preschool teachers earn a median annual wage of approximately $37,000, and roles in program direction, licensing, and advocacy can offer higher earning potential.
Yes. The Bachelor of Arts in Child and Family Development is delivered 100% online and taught by the same expert faculty who teach in-person classes, so you can complete your degree on a schedule that fits your life.
Students must meet the general admissions requirements of The University of Akron. To be accepted into the Child and Family Development major, students must also earn a grade of C or better in CHFD 201 Intimate Relationships and CHFD 265 Child Development.
Yes. Field experience is built into several required courses, and every student completes a capstone internship with an agency aligned to their career goals. Each student also pursues a certificate or minor, adding a credential that strengthens their resume before graduation.
Earn Your Bachelor’s in Child & Family Development Online
Prepare for a career supporting children, families, and communities with a 100% online degree from The University of Akron.