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Department of Human Development and Family Studies
Child Life Program Plan
Please note that acceptance into this concentration is on a competitive, space-available basis. See below for more detailed information.
The child life curriculum consists of a comprehensive foundation of courses related to the growth and development of the healthy child as well as the hospitalized child. Students participate in many laboratory and practicum experiences with children. These experiences, along with theoretical information, provide a foundation necessary for working with hospitalized children and their families. This curriculum leads to child life certification by qualifying students to sit for the Child Life Professional Certification Examination upon graduation.
Students must make application to the Child Life Program usually during the first semester of their junior year. Acceptance and retention into the program is determined by: (1) satisfactory recommendation of HDFS faculty committee, and, (2) an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.2 or a GPA of 2.5 in the major core courses. Please note that intern placements are competitive and are determined by the hospitals. Students who have below a B average will have limited options for hospital placements. Application for the internship (HD 496) also should be made during the first semester of the junior year. Additional volunteer hours in the pediatric unit of a hospital are strongly recommended.
A. UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE, AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES CORE REQUIREMENTS (See appropriate catalog).
University Core
HES Core (HES 310)
B. REQUIRED COURSES FOR A HDFS MAJOR WITH A CONCENTRATION IN CHILD LIFE
HD 202 Child Development: Infancy and Toddlerhood
HD 205 Child Development: Preschool
HD 302 Child Development: Adolescence
HD 321 Conceptual and Creative Experiences for Young Children - I
HD 322 Conceptual and Creative Experiences for Young Children – II
HD 382 Parent and Family Development
HD 422 Administering Children’s Centers and Programs (W)
HD 426 Hospitalized Children and Youth
HD 451 Loss and Bereavement
HD 472 Program Evaluation
HD 488 Senior Seminar
HD 496 Human Development and Family Studies (Child Life) Internship
BSC 114:115 Principles of Biology (N)
BSC 201 Medical Etymology (Independent Study)
BSC 215 Human Biology
BSC 216 Human Biology
PHL 204 Medical Ethics
C. RECOMMENDED ELECTIVES TO ENHANCE A CONCENTRATION IN CHILD LIFE (see catalog for prerequisites)
HD 226 Introduction to Child Life
HD 401 Cultural Influences on Children, Youth, and Families (W)
HD 480 Children and Divorce
HD 426 Interpersonal Relationships
HHE 272 First Aid, Safety, and CPR
HHE 440 Understanding Stress Management
SPE 493 Introduction to Severe Disabilities
PY 207 Psychology of Adjustment
PY 358 Abnormal Psychology
NHM 101 Introduction to Human Nutrition
SPE 300 Accommodation Strategies in Special Education
BER 345 Educational Statistics
PY 211 Elementary Statistical Methods
Process of Applying to UA’s Child Life Program
To be admitted into the Child Life Program, an application packet must be submitted after the student has completed 60-90 hours, including at least 12 hours of HD courses. Students must be accepted into the program before they can take HD 426, Hospitalized Children and Youth (only offered in the fall semester), and before they can be scheduled for an internship. Internships are nationally competitive, require formal application to the desired hospital or health care setting, and, typically, need to be arranged one to two semesters ahead of time. Most hospitals require a 3.0 GPA to apply to their internship program. Please see your advisor for additional information.
Admission and retention in the Child Life Concentration is based upon (a) satisfactory recommendation by HDFS faculty committee and, (b) overall GPA of at least 2.5 or above in the major core courses. It is the student’s responsibility to make application for admission to the program and to provide the faculty committee with information that will help them to make a favorable recommendation. Please see your advisor for appropriate forms.
The faculty committee will judge student applications on the basis of academic achievement and the “Standards for Academic and Clinical Preparation for Programs in Child Life” published by the Child Life Council, the governing board for the profession. These standards include:
• • strong personal qualities appropriate for relating to children, families, peers, supervisors, and others
• • good to excellent evaluations in practicum experiences
• • facility in writing and speaking
• • skills in observation and documentation
• • team communication and relationship skills
In addition to the completed application form (which can be obtained from the departmental office or your adviser), your application packet must also include:
• • a typed one-page statement of purpose regarding why you would like to in UA’s Child Life program,
• • two to three letters of recommendation,
• • a curriculum vitae or resume,
• • a transcript of undergraduate work, and
• • selected examples of writing assignments.
Information and documentation of volunteer hours should also be included with your application. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Sherwood Burns at (205) 348-0472.
