Early Childhood Development vs. Child Development

Question

I am interested in learning about the psychological and physical development of children. As far as I can tell, this is Child Development. I can only find Universities offering BA degrees for this. I don't have an AA though, and not interested right now in getting a BA.

The local Community Colleges offer Early Childhood Development which seems to be geared for becoming a teacher, which I am not so interested in doing.

What is the difference between these two studies? Would taking ECD classes towards an AA be the only starting point?

Thanks!

Answer 1

I have gone down this same path.  

With an AA degree in ECE, you can teach Preschool.  It pays about $12-14/hour.  If you don't want to be a Preschool teacher, skip the whole Community College thing.  4-year colleges don't want to take credits from Community Colleges, and if you transfer to a 4 year institution, you won't get credit for all your classes, no matter what they try and tell you.

If you want to study Child Development (ages birth - 18) then you need to go to a 4-year college.  As part of getting the degree, you will take some Early Childhood classes, but they will not make up the whole of your degree.  With a 4 year degree, your options are greatly increased.  If you just want to take some classes, take them at a 4-year institution.   If you have little kids and getting away is a problem, see if they have an online classes option, or an at home option, where you could watch the class on your TV.      

Answer 2

Early Childhood Development only teaches you about children to age 5.  Child Development teaches you about children to age 18.

What do you plan on doing with the information you learn?  If it is personal and you plan on doing nothing with it except to educate yourself, you don't need any degree.  You can become a student at large at the university/community college and just take the classes you like.

Answer 3

I am currently an early childhood education major.  childhood development is usually (but not limited to) a two year course, resulting in an AA.  Which is why I had to major in early childhood education (or early childhood development) which can get me a BA (4 year major).  I am in no way becoming a teacher, I am actually going into art therapy for young children but I have to transfer to a specific University to do that (not all of them offer the program).  However not every field of study has a specific major and this one covers all that I need and allows most of my courses to transfer.  You should probably speak to someone at a school you are interested in and they could help you figure out what works best for you.