The undergraduate certificate in Child Life is ideal if you already have your bachelor’s degree and wish to complete the coursework that can help to support the academic requirements to sit for the Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) examination. This 7-course online certificate teaches you a range of therapeutic activities designed to assist children and families facing stressful healthcare or traumatic events requiring coping support (counseling, grief support, advocacy, etc.). Completion of this certificate will help you stand out in the growing and competitive child life field where the CCLS is being increasingly recognized as a necessary component to pediatric care.
Note: Additional coursework may be needed depending on your bachelor’s degree to fully meet the academic requirements to sit for the CCLS. In addition, all candidates for the CCLS examination must complete the required fieldwork/internship, which is not offered by the university. Additional information on these requirements can be found at www.childlife.org.
Certificate Objectives
Upon successful completion of this certificate, the student will be able to:
- Provide an overview of the field of child life theory and practice.
- Understand the issues faced by children and their families during times of acute or chronic illness.
- Provide evidence of professional level academic training in the field of child life.
Programmatic Admission Requirements
The following is required for admission into this program. All documentation must be provided prior to course registration:
- Your official bachelor’s degree transcript from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
- Signed statement of understanding (SOU)
Please visit our AMU or APU undergraduate admission page for more information on institutional admission requirements.
Note: Your bachelor’s field of study may impact the need for additional coursework to sit for the CCLS licensing examination. Please see the Child Life Council website for more information.
Need help?
If you have questions regarding a program’s admission requirements, please contact an Admissions Coach at 877-755-2787 or info@apus.edu.
Certificate Requirements (21 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHFD307 | Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
| CHFD340 | Family Development | 3 |
| HDFS401 | Child Life Theory and Practice | 3 |
| HDFS402 | Benefits of Therapeutic Play | 3 |
| HDFS403 | Death, Dying, and Grief | 3 |
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| Research Methods for Sociology | ||
| Research Methods in Psychology | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| Medical Terminology | ||
| Healthcare: Moral Issues | ||
| Practicum Experience | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 21 | |