Child Life, Master of Arts (MA)
Program prerequisite: prior to beginning the Advanced Standing students must complete a BA in Children’s Studies: Child Life and Health or a related field that includes all 10 academic courses required for certification eligibility through the Association of Child Life Professionals.
In the child life field, students who obtain a master's degree are more competitive for clinical practicum, internship, and in the job market. Additionally, this program provides students with research skill sets unique to the child life field, in addition to supervisory and managerial skills for administrative level child life positions.
All graduate students in the MA in Child Life program will complete the Required Core Courses and four electives.
Track One: If a graduate student is a Certified Child Life Specialist, they will not need to complete a child life practicum or child life internship in order to graduate from the program. Students in track one will complete a total of 44–45 credit hours in order to graduate from the program.
Track Two: If a graduate student is not a Certified Child Life Specialist, they will need complete a child life practicum and child life internship in order to graduate from the program or provide documentation verifying successful completion of a previous child life practicum and/or child life internship.
*If students need affiliation for the child life practicum or child life internship, they will be required to register for CDST 595 Child Life Practicum and Internship. Students who need hospital affiliation will complete a total of 44–51 credit hours in order to graduate from the program.
*If students do not need affiliation for the child life practicum or child life internship, they will not need to register for CDST 595 Child Life Practicum and Internship. Students who do not need hospital affiliation will complete a total of 44–45 credit hours in order to graduate from the program.
| Required Core Courses | 25 | |
| FAMILY SYSTEMS IN HEALTHCARE | ||
| CHILD LIFE RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES | ||
| ADMINISTRATION IN CHILD LIFE PROGRAMS | ||
| CHILD LIFE GRANT WRITING | ||
| CHILD LIFE THESIS | ||
or CDST 601 | CHILD LIFE RESEARCH PROJECT | |
| Required Electives–All students are required to take four electives. Additional electives available with prior approval from Child Life Advisor. | 19-20 | |
| DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN CHILDHOOD | ||
| TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES | ||
| MINDFULNESS AND ALTERNATIVE PRACTICES FOR WORKING WITH CHILDREN | ||
| DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN | ||
| PEDIATRIC MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY | ||
| CHILD LIFE PRACTICE ASSESSMENT AND PREPARATION | ||
| SCHOOL REINTEGRATION AND SUPPORT | ||
| PEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE | ||
| NON-TRADITIONAL CHILD LIFE | ||
| INTERNATIONAL CHILD LIFE | ||
| Required Clinical Experience–for students who need hospital affiliation for child life practicum or child life internship. | 0-6 | |
| CHILD LIFE PRACTICUM AND INTERNSHIP | ||
| Total Credits | 44-51 | |