Paul Thayer, Chair and Associate Professor
Suzanne Graca, Instructor
Carolyn Kurker-Gallagher, Instructor
Stefi Rubin, Associate Professor
Claire White, Assistant Professor

Available Programs of Study:

• Certificate in Parenting Education
• Master of Science, Child Life and Family Centered Care
• Master of Science, Child Life and Family Centered Care: Advanced Standing
• Master of Science, Child Life and Family Centered Care: Combined Degree

Certificate in Parenting Education/15 Credits

Increasingly, parenting education is being recognized as an appropriate strategy for supporting parents and parents-to-be, and as a foundation for raising healthy children and families. There is a high demand for knowledgeable, skilled professionals in this developing field. In this program, professionals who work with families in supportive, educational and therapeutic capacities will gain knowledge of the issues and concerns of parents, and of how to respond to these concerns; gain an understanding of how adults grow and develop and of the developmental stages of parenting; and gain the skills needed to work more effectively with parents individually and in groups.

HDF 515	Lifespan Development II: Adult Development	3 credits
CFS 614	Perspective on Parenting	3 credits
CFS 737	Working with Parents	3 credits
CFP 603	Practicum and Seminar I: Family Studies	3 credits

Elective Courses

Students select an additional 3 credits from among HDF or CFS course offerings 3 credits

M.S./Child Life And Family Centered Care/39 Credits

The Child Life and Family-Centered Care program prepares students to work as child life specialists in inpatient, outpatient, and community-based health care settings. Students develop skills as child development specialists, interdisciplinary team members and health educators. They select courses in child life, human development, multiculturalism, research, and child and family studies. The Child Life and Family-Centered Care Program includes clinical experiences and course work that prepare students, as members of an interdisciplinary health team, to support the psychosocial and developmental needs of children and families across the health care continuum. Upon successful completion of the program, students will obtain a Master of Science in Child Life and Family Centered Care, and will be eligible to sit for the Child Life Council Certification examination.

Requirements

Core Courses 9 credits

HDF 526	The Meaning and Development of Play/3 cr
	Multicultural selective/3 cr
	Research selective/3 cr

Department Courses 6 credits

Selectives in Human Development or other related courses to be determined with academic advisor.

Program Courses 18 credits

CLF 632	The Child and Family in Health Care/3 cr
CLF 670	Clinical Issues in Child Life Programs/3 cr
CLP 671	Clinical Experience & Seminar I: Children in Health Care Settings/6 cr
CLF 770	Child Life Program Development and Administration/3 cr
CLP 673	Clinical Experience and Seminar II: Child Health & Development/3 cr

Elective Courses 6 credits

MS/Child Life and Family Centered Care: Advanced Standing/36 Credits

Designed for students who are currently eligible to become certified as Child Life Specialists or have completed a 480-hour internship under a certified Child Life Specialist, this program offers opportunities for students to advance the skills of the Child Life Competencies. During one required 200-hour internship in a community health care or specialty settings, students work with interdisciplinary teams in more specialized areas of child life, including: child development and family-centered care, health promotion, bereavement support and program development. Upon successful completion of the program, students will obtain a Master of Science in Child Life and Family Centered Care and will be eligible to sit for the Child Life Council Certification Examination.

Requirements

Core Courses 9 credits

HDF 526

The Meaning and Development of Play

3 credits

 

Multicultural selective/3 cr

Research selective/3 cr

Department Courses 9 credits

Selectives in Human Development or other related field

Program Courses 12 credits

CLF 632	The Child and Family in Health Care	3 credits
CLF 670	Clinical Issues in Child Life Programs	3 credits
CLP 670	Clinical Experience and Seminar I: Child Health & Development	3 credits
CLF 770	Child Life Program Development and Administration	3 credits

Elective Courses 6 credits

Optional internship: CLP 672 Clinical Experience and Seminar II 3 credits

Master of Science in Child Life and Family Centered Care: Combined Degree/27 graduate credits

This program is only open to students who graduate with a professional major in Child Life from Wheelock College. Students must enter the program within 3 years of receiving their undergraduate degree.

Required graduate coursework

CLF 670	Clinical Issues in Child Life	3 credits
CLF 770	Child Life Program Development and Administration	3 credits

Research selective 3 credits

Human Development Selectives (Choose two) 6 credits

HDF 501	Lifespan Development I: Birth-Adolescence	3 credits
HDF 502	Infant and Toddler Behavior and Development	3 credits
HDF 521	Children’s Cognitive Development	3 credits
HDF 560	Risk and Resiliency in Infancy	3 credits

Professional Internship Course 3 credits

CLP 670

Child Life Internship/Seminar I

3 credits

Graduate Selectives (choose 3) 9 credits

CFS 614	Perspectives on Parenting	3 credits
CFS 617	Bereavement Care	3 credits
CFS 618	Contemporary Issues in Child and Family Studies	3 credits
CFS 622	Issues in Death and Dying	3 credits
CFS 630	Helping Children Cope with Stress	3 credits
CFS 737	Working with Parents	3 credits
SWK 670	Spirituality of Children and Families	3 credits