This page is to be used as a planning tool. Your degree audit is the official record of degree requirements. Updated August 2023.

Pre-Child Life

https://clas.uiowa.edu/hhp/graduate/ms/child-life

 

What is Child Life?

"Certified Child Life Specialists are educated and clinically trained in the developmental impact of illness and injury. Their role helps improve patient and family care, satisfaction, and overall experience."

 

"In both healthcare and community settings, Certified Child Life Specialists help infants, children, youth, and families cope with the stress and uncertainty of acute and chronic illness, injury, trauma, disability, loss and bereavement. They provide evidence-based, developmentally, and psychologically appropriate interventions including therapeutic play, preparation for procedures, and education to reduce fear, anxiety, and pain." (https://www.childlife.org/the-child-life-profession)

 

Child Life is a graduate level program at the University of Iowa (MS in HHP without Thesis-Child Life)

  • 9-10 openings available annually; applicants are nationwide.
  • Deadline for fall admission: Feb.1

Required to apply:

  • 3.0 G.P.A. or higher
  • One course in Human Anatomy
    • HHP:1100 Human Anatomy
    • HHP:1150 Human Anatomy with lab
    • HHP: 1400 Human Anatomy & Physiology
    • ACB:3110 Principles of Human Anatomy (Pharmacy Interest and Nursing Interest students only)
  • CLSA:3750 Medical Terminology
  • Two courses in Child Development.  Options include:
    • PSY:2401 Introduction to Developmental Sci
    • PSQF:2116 Applied Child and Adolescent Psych.
    • PSQF:4106 Child Development
    • PSQF:4133 The Adolescent and Young Adult (not offered every semester)
  • Strongly Recommended: TR:1077 Introduction to Child Life
  • Minimum of 100 verified hours of experience in a Child Life or pediatric care setting. (paid or volunteer)
  • Three letters of recommendation; at least one from a Child Life Specialist
     
  • Application information for the graduate program including the admissions requirements for the graduate college: https://clas.uiowa.edu/hhp/graduate/application-and-admission
     

 

Undergraduate to Graduate (U2G) with MS in Child Life

Students may complete a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in 5 years.  This is a highly competitive program.

  • Be enrolled as a B.A. or B.S. student at the University of Iowa
  • Complete a minimum of 80 sh at the time of admission to the U2G program, a minimum of 30 sh earned at U.I.
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.25
  • Complete all General Education CLAS Core requirements
  • Complete all Child Life Pre-requisites listed above (courses, hours, etc.)

 

General Child Life Certification Information

Those seeking certification must either graduate from an ACPL-endorsed child life program or complete required coursework as outlined on the website and sit for the Child Life Professional Certification Exam: https://www.childlife.org/certification/students

Child Life Academic Programs (by state) found here: https://www.childlife.org/certification/certification-resources/child-life-academic-programs

 

Additional Information

University of Iowa’s U2G with MS in Child Life, including the application process, can be found at: https://clas.uiowa.edu/hhp/undergraduate/bs/therapeutic-recreation/undergraduate-graduate-u2g-bs-therapeutic-recreationms-child

Child Life program at U. I., contact Emily Mozena: Emily-mozena@uiowa.edu, 319-335-3822

Child Life profession and the Certification can be found at: https://www.childlife.org/certification/students/requirements-after-201