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.

The Child Life program is a dual degree program, combining a BS or BA degree in the Arts and Sciences, a child health minor, and a Master of Science degree in Child Life and Family‑Centered Care. The Child Life program prepares child life specialists to work in inpatient, outpatient, and community‑based health care settings. Through the use of play and other forms of communication, the child life specialist functions as a member of the professional health care team to help reduce the stress of hospitalization, illness and healthcare procedures. Sensitivity to the emotional and developmental needs of children and families of diverse backgrounds is stressed as an important concern of this field.

General Requirements

• Must be a current Wheelock student
• After meeting with the Coordinator of the Undergraduate Child Life program, students apply* during the spring semester of their sophomore year for admission to the program.
  Students are eligible to apply to enter the program after successful completion of both semesters of Human Growth and Development (HDP 120/121 and 122/123 or HDP 125/127) ) with a grade of B- or better, successful completion of the Child and Family Health course (CLF 210) with a grade of B- or better, successful completion of all sections of the WLCE, and a minimum GPA of 2.67.
• Entry into the child life program is competitive and is by application only. Acceptance into the college does not guarantee admission into the child life program. Students in the dual degree program must complete 134 undergraduate credits required for graduation from the college, including 16 credits to complete the child health minor, and an additional 30 graduate credits for completion of the MS degree.
• Students may be able to complete the program in only five years, but may elect to finish the program in six years. Students should work carefully with their advisor to plan a course of study that best meets their needs.
• Minimum GPA-Students in the dual-degree program must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.67 (B-).

Undergraduate Course Requirements (48 credits)

Support Courses (20 credits)
LSC 153 Human Biology (4 credits)
or
LSC 302 Human Diseases (4 credits)
MAT 120 Quantitative Reasoning (4 credits)
MAT 170 Statistics for Behavioral Sciences (4 credits)
HDP 362 Meaning & Development of Play (4 credits)
Research Selective (4 credits)

Minor in Child Health (16 credits)
CLF 210 Child and Family Health Systems (4 credits)
CLF 255 Children with Special Healthcare Needs (pre-requisite CLF 210) (4 credits)
CLF XXX Family Centered Healthcare (4 credits)
Child Health Selective (4 credits) Choose one from:
HDS 225 Cross-cultural Perspectives on Health and Illness
HDP XXX Health Psychology
CFS 240 Helping Children Cope with Grief and Loss

Professional Courses (8 credits)
CLF 350 Role of the Child Life Specialist (4 credits)
CLF 421 Child Life Methods and Materials (4 credits)

Selectives (4 credits)
The selective requirement may be fulfilled by completing any course in Human Development (HD), Child and Family Studies (CFS) or Professional Studies (PRO), including the following suggested courses, provided the course has not been used to fulfill any other requirement.
EDU 331 Multicultural Picture Books (2 credits)
EDU 332 Multicultural Chapter Books (2 credits)
CFS 240 Helping Children Cope with Grief and Loss (4 credits)
CLF 355 Hospitalized Child in England (4 credits)
HDP 371 Humor and Child Development (4 credits)
PRO 417 Welcoming LGBT Families in Education & Human Services (4 credits)

Master of Science in Child Life and Family Centered Care (30 graduate credits)

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)

Multicultural selective (Choose one) (3 credits)
CFS 632 Cross Cultural Perspectives on Grief
PRO 517 Welcoming LGBT Families in Education & Human Services
CFS 608 Multicultural Perspectives on Family

Professional Internship Courses (9 credits)
CLP 671 Child Life Internship/Seminar I (6 credits)
CLP 673 Clinical Experience & Seminar II: Child Health & Development (3 credits)

Graduate Selective (choose one) 3 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 (3 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 634 Families and Chronic Illness (3 credits)
EDU 531 Learning and Teaching Through the Arts (3 credits)
CLF 674 The Hospitalized Child in England (3 credits)
CFS 737 Working with Parents (3 credits)
SWK 670 Spirituality of Children & Families (3 credits)