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Master of Science in Child Life Course Descriptions

38 Total Credit Hours

In addition, 600 clinical hours of in-person Child Life internship are required.

Required Courses 

  • CHLF 600 – History of Child Life 3 credits. This course will cover the theoretical perspectives of the care of children in hospitals beginning in the 1800’s and the researchers that created the foundations of psychosocial care of children. 
  • CHLF 601 – Introduction to Child Life 3 credits. The child life profession, including theoretical and historical perspectives on child life; programming, job availability, trends affecting academic preparation; program requirements, field experiences, including practicum placements, internships and volunteer experiences; supplemental career options; interviews and presentations of program directors, child life professionals, and alumnae working in the field of child life. 
  • CHLF 610 – Child, Youth, and Adolescent Devel 3 credits. The course will review all areas of development from infancy, childhood, youth, and adolescence. The course will examine direct applications of the knowledge and use of developmental theory to the practice of an effective child life professional. 
  • CHLF 620 – Psychosocial Care Hspt Child Family 3 credits. This course will look at the effects of hospitalization on infants, children, adolescents, and families at each stage of development. This course will focus on applied theory and interventions to lessen the stress of hospitalization. The role of family systems and the relationship with the child life specialist as a member of the health care team will be explored. A practicum is required.
  • CHLF 630 – Medical Terminology 2 credits. This course will use a systematic approach to basic medical terminology vocabulary. The knowledge obtained in this course will help students to successfully navigate in health care settings. Through the course and semester assignments students will learn ways to incorporate medical terminology in child life practice, interventions and resources.  
  • CHLF 640 – Semi: Communication and Collab 3 credits. This seminar course will examine a variety of communication styles, both verbal and written, that will ensure effective communication with patients and families, child life colleagues, and the interdisciplinary health team. Strategies for effective collaboration with these groups will be explored. Documentation and charting styles will also be reviewed. 
  • CHLF 650 – Semi: Leadership and Intern Prep 3 credits. The goal of this course is to help the student prepare for the various steps of the internship application process, including resumes, written essays, and interviews. This course will explore leadership theories and styles to better prepare students for success as child life specialists. 
  • CHLF 660 – Peds Cond Eff on Child Growth/Devel 3 credits. This course reviews the common medical diseases and conditions of children and adolescents, including those requiring surgical intervention. Emerging treatments and innovative research in child life and the healthcare environment will be explored. 
  • CHLF 670 – Materials and Methods of Play 3 credits. This course will explore various materials and methodology for child life play/activity programs, including preparation, therapeutic play, distraction, and coping.  
  • CHLF 680 – Loss, Bereavement, and Trauma 3 credits. This course will study a variety of special needs, interventions, and coping strategies for dealing with crisis situations of emergency room trauma, dying children and youth, and grieving families. This course will present an overview of child life services and programming in the following settings: emergency department, trauma, critical care, death and dying, grief and bereavement. 
  • CHLF 699 – Child Life Practicum 1 credit. Experiential learning and observation of Certified Child Life Specialists, child life practicum students begin to increase their knowledge of evidence-based, developmentally-appropriate interventions including therapeutic play, preparation and education that support and reduce fear, anxiety and pain for infants, children, youth and families as they cope with the stress and uncertainty of illness, injury and treatment. Through these experiences, child life practicum students will enhance their knowledge of the child life profession and investigate the process of applying child life and developmental theory to practice. 
  • CHLF 700 – Child Life Field Experience 3 credits. The child life internship consists of supervised observation of and participation in child life programming for hospitalized children and adolescents in pediatric hospitals, community hospitals or other approved health care facilities. 
  • PHIL 642 – Ethics for Health Leaders 3 credits. This course focuses on ethical issues in professions related to health care while exploring some philosophical approaches to moral responsibility. It is aimed at students pursuing a graduate degree in health systems leadership as well as other health care professions. Major areas of exploration include ethics in clinical medicine, public health, and the intersection of health ethics with global justice. Course goals include familiarizing students with some important ethical issues in healthcare, enhancing students’ abilities to analyze and evaluate ethical issues, and fostering critical thinking and communication skills.