10 Most Affordable Master’s in Human and Family Development Online in 2021

Missouri State University confers a cheap human and family development master's degree that can be taken 100 percent online or as a hybrid program. Students will be able to complete this degree in 18 months with full-time study. Courses are delivered asynchronously and follow the 16-week academic term format. Students will find a wide variety of courses in their curriculum, from current issues and trends to research courses. This degree was built for professionals who are already working in the field; students should expect advanced concepts to be taught in the classroom. This degree requires 36 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive exam. Sample courses include Children and Families in a Diverse Society, Programming and Policy Issues for Early Childhood Settings, and Inquiry in Early Childhood and Family Development.

Amberton University confers an online Master's in Human and Family Development that is perfect for students who are interested in counseling as a main component of their career. Students will be given access to an interdisciplinary program that combines counseling and human development within the curriculum and the program's various projects. Students will find a curriculum that is split into three sections: Core Requirements, Major Requirements, and Counseling Electives. Counseling electives are courses in which students can choose their specialization, tailoring their curriculum to their interests. Students can expect to complete 36 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive written exam for graduation. Sample courses include Conflict Management and Resolution, Aging and End of Life Issues, and Theory and Application of Research Methods.

Students at the University of North Alabama will be eligible to earn an online Master's in Human and Family Development that will provide them with ample opportunities to advance their career while still working full-time. This degree focuses on family studies and is delivered 100 percent online and was designed to be completed in two years with full-time study. Nearly half of the curriculum is available for students to build their own specialization within the field of study. Students can choose to either take a comprehensive exam or a thesis project as their final project. They will also be expected to take 31 credit hours of coursework and a practicum that takes place in their community in order to graduate. Sample courses include Family Problems and Methods of Intervention, Family Diversity and Social Change, and Social Psychology of Intimate Relationships.

Texas Woman's University confers an online Master's of Human and Family Development that was created to focus on the family unit and the various developmental changes and roles that happens within families. This is a 100 percent online program that delivers courses asynchronously and synchronous in the traditional academic term format. Students will have the chance to choose a content specialization that can be tailored to their specific interests while also completing the core and research requirements necessary for the degree. They may also choose to partake in a practicum if they so choose; the practicum will take place in their own community. This degree requires at least 34 credit hours of coursework, a final project of the student's choosing, and a comprehensive exam. Sample courses include Lifespan and Human Development, Statistics for Research in Family Sciences, and Family Changes and Diversity.

Students at Concordia University at St. Paul are offered the chance to earn an online human and family development master's degree that focuses mainly on family science. This is a 100 percent online degree that has a focus on the family unit and views the issues that may affect the family from a preventive perspective; it is approved by the National Council on Family Relations. Students will learn various skills necessary to interact with the family unit, such as communication and decision-making skills. Those who successfully complete this degree on the certified track will earn the Certified Family Life Educator credential. Courses in this program are delivered asynchronously and on a seven-week term schedule; it is possible to earn this degree in around 18 months with part-time study. Students can expect to complete 36 credit hours of coursework as well as a capstone project and comprehensive written exam. Sample courses include Public Policy and Applied Ethics, Family Communication and Relationships, and Systemic Dynamics of Families.

The University of Nebraska at Lincoln confers an online Master's in Human and Family Development that was built to provide advanced education to in-service professionals. This is a 100 percent online degree that delivers asynchronous and synchronous courses in an eight-week term format, making it simple for students to complete all the necessary requirements in as little as two years. The curriculum combines courses on youth and family development with business and administrative courses; it was designed for professionals ready to move into management positions within their work environment. Students will be expected to complete 36 credit hours of coursework as well as a capstone project and comprehensive exam. Sample courses include Family Professionals as Consumers of Research, Theories of Human Development and Family Relations, and Foundation in Public Service.

Students at Texas Tech University are offered a human and family development master's online degree that is taught by a nationally renown faculty. Students will find a 100 percent online program that offers two concentrations: Gerontology and Youth Development. These are provided in partnership with the Great Plain Interactive Distance Education Alliance, a consortium of schools that make their online courses available to all students in order to confer online graduate degrees. The Youth Development concentration will require a practicum, research project, or a thesis as well as 28 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive exam. Sample courses include Youth Professionals as Consumers of Research, Program Management and Administration, and Program Design, Evaluation, and Implementation.

North Carolina State University provides an online Master's in Human and Family Development that was built for in-service and pre-service professionals alike. This is a research-based degree that is best pursued by students interested in doctoral study or a research career. The curriculum is 100 percent online and is delivered through synchronous courses on a 10-week term schedule. Students will find a curriculum that can be tailored to a specific area or a broad perspective dealing with development, community, youths, and family. Students will also write their own thesis based on the focus of their degree; they will be required to orally defend it on campus. Other requirements include 36 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive exam. Sample courses include Professional Ethics and Family Policy, Applied Concepts in Child and Youth Development, and Family and Youth Professionals as Leaders.

Professionals interested in an interdisciplinary Master's in Human and Family Development online degree should visit the University of Southern Mississippi. The school offers an academic research-based program that was built specifically for working professionals. This degree is offered 100 percent online and can be completed in as little as two years. Students will be offered a comprehensive curriculum that is taught by in-service professionals who have years of experience in the field. The curriculum is structured so that professionals take the time to learn about every facet that affects the family unit, including developmental concepts ranging from newborn to gerontology. Students will be expected to complete 37 credit hours of coursework, a thesis, two practicums, and a comprehensive exam. Sample courses include Intimate Relationship Development, Adulthood and Aging in the Family System, and Critical Issues in Child Development.

Oklahoma State University confers an online Master's in Human and Family Development that is focused on the design and implementation of different types of support services aimed at individuals, communities, and families. This is a 100 percent online program that is delivered asynchronously and on the traditional 16-week term schedule; summer school terms are four weeks in length. Students can reasonably complete all the requirements for this degree within two years of part-time study. The curriculum is focused on the individuals and families within the context of the community. This is a great program for professionals interested in serving their local communities in a variety of roles. Students can expect to complete 36 credit hours of coursework, a creative project, and a comprehensive exam. Sample courses include Coping with Family Crises, Human Development in the Context of Family and Community, and Dynamics of Family Interaction.