Early Childhood and Family Policy, Graduate Certificate

Program Overview

Society and policymakers are becoming more and more focused on the importance of the early years and the need for quality services that are distributed equitably and sustainably over time. The online early childhood & family policy graduate certificate is geared for those who plan to work and support young children and their families. Courses are taught online n 8-week sessions.

Program Outcomes

Students develop essential policy skills and understand the interrelationship of early childhood and family policies from a range of systems including mental health, education, health care, family leave, child abuse and neglect, incarceration of parents, and minimum wage.

Career Outlook

This graduate certificate prepares you to be an advocate. It may also provide opportunities and experience to advance into leadership positions.

The curriculum provides real-world applications that can benefit people working in a variety of fields such as:

Local, state, or federal Departments of Education or Health and Human Services
State or federal education policy organizations
Legislative/congressional offices
Judicial offices
Social service agencies with advocacy departments
Non-governmental agencies for education, health, mental health, housing, and legal services
International agencies
Family advocacy programs
School districts
Educational or family policy think tanks
Philanthropic foundations

Career Pathways and Potential Earnings

Graduates of Early Childhood and Family Policy can expect job titles and median salaries similar to the following:

Career Pathways and Potential Earnings for Early Childhood and Family Policy Students

Target Occupation

National Median Salary (USD)

Childcare Workers

$30,024

Psychologists, All Other

$117,749

Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other

$49,691

Farm and Home Management Educators

$59,758

Disclaimer: Salary data is sourced from © 2025 Lightcast, based on information from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Please note that this information is intended solely for reference purposes. MSU Online disclaims any responsibility or liability for any inaccuracies, omissions, or errors in the data.

A Top-Ranked Education

29th among Best Public Universities in America — U.S. News & World Report, 2026
Veteran-Friendly 'Gold Status' 10 Years in a Row — Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, 2025
#13 in Online Master's Education Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2026
#22 in Best Education Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2026
#4 in Graduate Programs for Educational Psychology — U.S. News & World Report, 2026
#11 in Graduate Programs for Student Counseling and Personnel Services — U.S. News & World Report, 2026

Tuition & Fees per credit

In-State Tuition

Out-of-State Tuition

$622

Cost of Attendance

The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found on the "Estimate Your Cost of Attendance" page.

The MSU Value Promise

You can be ensured a return on your investment at Michigan State University.

As one of the top research universities in the world, Michigan State University has advanced the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years.

MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community.

MSU has been offering online degree programs for over 20 years. Our maturity is evident in the high quality of the learning experience enjoyed by our online students.

MSU provides programs and initiatives that support and enhance diversity. We will expand our campus and external partnerships to put in place inclusive recruitment and retention practices. We nurture and promote individuals’ varied experiences and perspectives, ensuring structures and processes make possible full participation by all members of our community.

MSU actively collaborates with campus and external partners to innovate across all dimensions of graduate education. We create and support networks that increase collaboration and improve educational opportunities for our online students.

MSU’s nationally recognized online programs foster student growth and well-being throughout their academic career. We will expand inclusive mentoring practices and accelerate improvement across units to implement evidence-based practices to ensure our students complete successfully.

Continuing education can be one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding experiences you undertake in your life. We hope you consider becoming a Spartan, to learn online and reach your career goals. With highly ranked online programs and exceptional professors, we educate students who advance the common good with uncommon will.

Course Information

Core Courses

History, Child Development, and Equity (3 credits)
Examining Practices, Policies, and Key Issues (3 credits)
Theory, Analysis, and Research (3 credits)
Policy, Leadership, and Policy Advocacy (3 credits)

Admissions Requirements

To be accepted to this program, you must have:

A bachelor's degree
Résumé/CV
- Previous work experience preferred
A written personal statement
- Detailing your professional interests and goals
A written academic statement
- Detailing why you are academically interested in the field and how you wish to use the degree in professional settings
3 letters of recommendation
- At least one academic reference is preferred. If the applicant has been out of
  school for a while, ask letter writers to discuss the applicant's ability to apply research and theory
Official transcripts from all previous schools
No GRE required
- GRE needed for international students
TOEFL is English is not your native language

To apply to this program:

Complete a university graduate application
- Including paying the application fee
Submit all required materials to the application portal.
Send all official transcripts to Michigan State University.
Complete a department application form
GRE scores are not required if you are a U.S. resident applying to the Masters Plan B program. International applicants must submit GRE scores. Send the GRE scores directly to the University.
Applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores
from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) taken within the last 2 years. The code for Michigan State University is 1465.

Early Childhood and Family Policy

Graduate Certificate

Online

Course Delivery

12

Total Credits

$622

Credit Hour

2 Years

Minimum Duration

Dr. Yuya Kiuchi

Director of IDEA's graduate programs

Program Overview

Program Outcomes

Career Outlook

Career Pathways and Potential Earnings

A Top-Ranked Education

Key Dates

Fall Semester

Application Deadline

Spring Semester

Application Deadline

Summer Semester

Application Deadline

Tuition & Fees per credit

Cost of Attendance

The MSU Value Promise

Next Steps

Course Information

Core Courses

Admissions Requirements

To be accepted to this program, you must have:

To apply to this program: