Please Note: The program requirements listed below are for students entering in the catalog year 2011-2012.  Students who entered in previous catalog years should refer to the program requirement sheets in the Advising area of MyWheelock. Students entering in future years should follow the requirements in that catalog year.

M.S. Child Life And Family Centered Care Course Requirements (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.

Core Courses (9 credits)
HDF 526 The Meaning and Development of Play (3 credits)
Multicultural selective (3 credits)
Research selective (3 credits)

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 credits)
CLF 670 Clinical Issues in Child Life Programs (3 credits)
CLP 671 Clinical Experience & Seminar I: Children in Health Care Settings (6 credits)
CLF 770 Child LIfe Program Development and Administration (3 credits)
CLP 673 Clinical Experience and Seminar II: Child Health & Development (3 credits)

Elective Courses (6 credits)

MS/Child Life and Family Centered Care: Advanced Standing Course Requirements (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.

Core Courses (9 credits)
HDF 526 The Meaning and Development of Play (3 credits)
Multicultural selective (3 credits)
Research selective (3 credits)

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 Course Requirements (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 selectives (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 504 Assessment of Development in B-3 (3 credits)
CFS 514 Curriculum Development B-3 (3 credits)
CFS 606 Family Support: Children with Special Needs (1 credit)
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)