Child Life Specialist
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The Child Life Specialist Graduate Certificate is designed for students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree and now wish to complete the necessary coursework to become eligible for certification as a child life specialist. The Child Life Specialist Graduate Certificate includes coursework required by the Association of Child Life Professionals for eligibility to complete official child life internships and take the Child Life Professional Certification Exam.
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Curriculum and Courses
This non-sequential, 6-course certificate program addresses the following topics: death, dying, and bereavement; therapeutic/medical play; family dynamics, adolescent development (one of the two child development courses required for certification; and social science research. In addition, students complete a field experience in child life (e.g., volunteer hours with children, child life practicum). The certificate totals 15 graduate credit hours.
- FSW/SOC 535: Death Studies
- FSW 545: Therapeutic Play
- FSW 575: Family Theories
- FSW 581: Adolescent Development in Diverse Families: Ages 13-25
- FSW 616: Social Work Research I
- FSW 640: Internship
Admissions Requirements
This certificate is open to current Miami graduate students, newly admitted Miami graduate students, and students who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree at another university and need additional courses for child life certification.
