Master of Science in Child Life and Family Centered Care
The master’s program in Child Life and Family Centered Care is a cohort-based program. Students begin and complete the program in the same semester (fall enrollment only). Students develop child life skills and to participate as members of an interdisciplinary health care team.
Applicants to the Child Life and Family Centered Care program can apply to one of three tracks:
- Child Life and Family Centered Care: designed to train students for entry level positions as child life specialists and prepare them to sit for the Child Life Council certification examination.
- Child Life and Family Centered Care: Advanced Standing: appropriate for students who are already eligible for certification as child life specialists. This program offers opportunities for students to enhance their child life skills.
- Child Life and Family Centered Care: Combined Degree (for Wheelock alumni): the combined degree track is designed for alumni of Wheelock’s undergraduate Child Life concentration. Students who enter this program receive 12 credits for their undergraduate coursework.
Signature Course
Students select courses in child life, human development, multiculturalism, research and child and family studies. A unique opportunity available to graduate students in the Wheelock Child Life and Family Centered Care program is our Hospitalized Child in England (HCE) course, which takes place each summer.
Students who take Hospitalized Child in England (HCE) spend five weeks with children and families receiving health care in London, England. They work with a hospital play specialist in an area hospital to provide psychosocial support to the child and parents during the hospital stay. Through this hands-on experience, seminars and site visits participants learn about the health care system in Britain and how it provides services to a diverse society.
For a detailed list of courses, please go to the graduate section of our catalog in .pdf and click on School of Education and Child Life: Child Life.
Certification
Upon completion of the Child Life and Family Centered Care program students are eligible to sit for the Child Life Certification Examination.
Internship Experience
The clinical internship in Child Life allows students to explore and develop a professional understanding of the roles of the child life specialist. The experience offers students the chance to connect theory and real-world practice, through the support of faculty advisors and field practitioners. Internship sites include pediatric inpatient, outpatient and community health care settings. The number of hours spent in varies based on the program students enroll in.
- Child Life and Family Centered Care: Those enrolled in the track preparing entry level professionals complete two internships, one 400 hour and one 200 hour.
- Child Life and Family Centered Care: Advanced Standing: Students must complete a required 200-hour internship, and may elect to do an additional 200-hour internship.
- Child Life and Family Centered Care: Combined Degree: Students complete a required 200-hour internship, and many elect to do an additional 200 hour internship.
For more information go to the Field Experiences Website at http://www.wheelock.edu/fld/.
FAQs
Q: How many credits is this program?
A: The different tracks have different credit loads:
- Child Life and Family Centered Care: Minimum 39
- Child Life and Family Centered Care: Advanced Standing: Minimum 36
- Child Life and Family Centered Care: Combined Degree 27
Q: How many total hours are the internships?
A: At least 200, but up to 600 or 800 depending on the track
you enroll in.
Q: Am I paid for my internship?
A: No, the internships are not paid positions.
Q: Will I be able to use my current job as a placement opportunity?
A: In rare instances students can use their current job as
their internship. Students must discuss this with the program coordinator
or faculty advisor.
Q: Can I begin this program in any semester?
A: We only admit students for the fall semester, which begins
in September. The program is a cohort model, allowing students to begin
together and take introductory coursework that is required prior to
beginning internships.
Q: What is the deadline for application?
A: April 1.
Q: Do I need to be a full-time student to participate in
this program?
A: Students may enroll in the programs as a full-time or part-time
student.
Q: Do I need prior experience to qualify for admission to
this program?
A: Applicants must perform at least 100 hours of volunteer
work in a pediatric health care setting under the supervision of a
child life specialist before beginning this program*. You must submit
evidence of having completed a minimum of 50 hours of the volunteer
work and the projected completion by the application deadline (April
1). The 100 hours must be completed prior to being admitted to this
program.
*Applicants to the Advanced Standing or Combined Degree tracks often do not need to complete volunteer hours because their previous internships or work experience will suffice. Check with the Office of Graduate Admissions to see if you qualify for a waiver of the volunteer hours by emailing graduate@wheelock.edu or calling 617.879.2006.
Q: What if I am already eligible for or have taken the Child
Life Certification exam?
A: Applicants who have already taken the certification exam,
or who are eligible to take the exam, should apply for admission to
the Advanced Standing program, or the Combined Degree program if they
are an undergraduate student at Wheelock with a concentration in Child
Life.
Q: Do I have to interview for admission to the program?
A: Yes, interviews will be scheduled in the weeks after the
April 1 application deadline. Informational interviews to learn more
about the Child Life profession and this program can be scheduled at
any time during the application process. To schedule an interview with
a faculty member, email the Office of Graduate Admissions at
graduate@wheelock.edu.
Q: What will I need to submit if I apply to this program?
A: A graduate
program application, a 3-5 page essay, a copy of your resumé,
copies of your academic transcripts and 3 letters of reference. Applicants
must also submit documentation of the 100
hours of volunteer work under the supervision of a child life specialist.
Some applicants will not need to submit proof of volunteer work. Check
with the Office of Graduate Admissions to see you do. For full details
of required admissions materials visit our Graduate
Admissions site.
Applying to a Wheelock College Graduate Program
Go to our application process web page to find out more on how to apply to this program.
If you have any questions about these programs, other graduate programs at Wheelock College, or about applying to Wheelock College, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at graduate@wheelock.edu or call (617) 879-2206, (toll-free (800) 734-5212), or visit the Office of Graduate Admissions Web Site.
