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Child Life Science
As a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS), you’ll be an integral part of the interdisciplinary pediatric healthcare team. You’ll help children and families navigate and cope with all aspects of pediatric healthcare to help them feel safe and supported.
Experiential Learning
- Hands-on experiences in the classroom
- Observe and interact with family and children in different settings
- Complete at least 160 hours in an internship working with children
- Networking opportunities through community projects, guest speakers, student club activities, and job fairs
Program Details
Family and Consumer Sciences Core – 12-15 hrs.
- FCS 100: Family Dynamics (3 hrs.)
- FCS 220: Consumer Issues in Health Care (3 hrs.)
- FCS 310: Community Program Planning (3 hrs.) and FCS 311: Evaluation and Research Methods (3 hrs.) or FCS 346 FCS Resource Management (3 hrs.)
- FCS 442: Foundations of FCS (3 hrs.)
Additional Required FCS Courses – 12 credit hours
- FCS 342: Child Development in the Family (3 hrs.)
- FCS 350: Matters of Life and Death (3 hrs.)
- FCS 450: or 550: Play Therapy (3 hrs.)
- FCS 451: Child Life Profession (3 hrs.)
Required Supporting Courses – 16 credit hours
- ETE 210: Human Development from Birth to Young Adulthood (3 hrs.)
- BIO 111: Introduction to Cell Biology (3 hrs.)
- BIO 230: Human Anatomy & Physiology I (3 hrs.)
- BIO 232: Human Anatomy & Physiology II (3 hrs.)
- ETE 280: Exploring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of Children Families or FCS 204 Family
- Programs Across the Lifespan or SOC 311 Comparative Family Systems or SW 310 Child Welfare I (3 hrs.)
- NUR 391: Medical Terminology (1 hr.)
Research Course (choose 1) – 3 credit hours
- FCS 311: Research Methods & Evaluation (3 hrs.)
- FCS 541: Research Methods (3 hrs.)
- KHS 310: Statistical Procedures in Health Sciences (3 hrs.)
- NUR 303: Research in Nursing (3 hrs.)
- SOC 240: Research Methods (3 hrs.)
- SW 260: Research Methods (3 hrs.)
Required Professional Work Experience – 0-2 credit hours
- EHS 301: Cooperative Education Internship
Career Opportunities
Child Life Specialists work in hospitals and non-clinical settings, such as schools, family intervention services, private clinics, funeral homes, rehabilitation clinics, and the court system.
Minor
Get ready to learn about consumer issues before tailoring a program to your career interests!