Transform Lives: Become a Child Life Specialist
Child life specialists are child development experts who engage in developmentally appropriate medical play to prepare pediatric patients for medical procedures and ensure life remains as normal as possible for children in healthcare settings and other challenging environments. The field of Child Life is evidence-based, providing interventions (e.g., therapeutic play, education, self-care, stress reduction, distraction, etc) with children and families that are developmentally appropriate. As important members of a child’s care team, Child Life Specialists play a crucial role in enhancing the illness-related experiences of both patients and their families.
The Child Life Specialist Co-Major 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. This is the only co-major preparing students for careers as child life specialists in Ohio.
This co-major is open to all current Miami undergraduate students from any major.
Child Life Curriculum and Courses
The Child Life Specialist co-major curriculum includes the coursework required for eligibility to take the Child Life Professional Certification Exam. This 33-hour program addresses the following topics: child life theory and practice; death, dying, and bereavement; therapeutic/medical play; family dynamics, child and adolescent development; and social science research. In addition, students complete a field experience in child life (e.g., volunteer hours with children, child life practicum). Below are courses approved by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP):
- FSW 245 Children and Families: Ages Conception – 12
- FSW 261 Diverse Families Across the Life Cycle
- FSW/KNH 295 Research and Evaluation Methods
- FSW 318 Child Life Theory and Practice
- FSW/SOC 435/535 Death Studies
- FSW 445/545 Therapeutic Play
- FSW 475/575 Family Theories
- FSW 481/581 Adolescent Development in Diverse Families: Ages 13-25
- FSW 616 Graduate Social Work Research I
- PSY 294 Writing and Research Methods
At Miami, there is something for everyone.
Additional Opportunities for Child Life Students
Alumni Child Life Specialist Placements
Alumni have been hired as certified child life specialists across the country, including:
- Children’s Medical Center (Dallas)
- Children’s National Hospital (Washington, DC)
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center
- Cleveland Clinic
- Dayton Children’s Hospital
- Mott Children’s (Ann Arbor)
- Nationwide Children’s (Columbus)
- Rady Children’s (San Diego)
- Riley Children’s (Indianapolis)
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
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- Akron Children’s Hospital
- Children’s Mercy Kansas City
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center
- Cleveland Clinic
- Dayton Children’s
- Geisinger
- Hackensack Meridian (Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s)
- Hasbro Children’s Hospital
- Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
- Indiana University Health (Riley Children’s)
- Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital
- Nationwide Children’s
- Northshore University HealthSystem
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Child Life Specialist Certification Process
The Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) provides an Eligibility Assessment where candidates for certification can track their progress through the various requirements and will ultimately allow them to register for the certification exam.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree, Required 10 courses.
- Child Life Experience
- Complete a minimum of 600 hours of a child life clinical experience under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist.
- Volunteer, practicum, and paid work hours are not accepted.
- Miami University does not guarantee successful acceptance to these highly competitive experiences, but offers academic preparation and application assistance.
Application Requirements
- Personal Statement (300 words or fewer):
- Why have you chosen to enter the field of Child Life?
- What experiences do you have working with children?
- Resume or list of work/volunteer experiences with children with the number of hours completed in each position.
Child Life Co-Major Application Process and Financial Aid
Students must apply for the child life co-major. The application process is selective but not competitive. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. There is no deadline for the application, although Miami students are encouraged to apply by Nov. 1 of their junior year.
(Note to prospective Miami students/high school students: Please apply to the co-major after you have begun as a student at Miami.)
Contact Us
Undergraduate Admission
513-529-2531
[email protected]
Department of Family Science and Social Work
Elise Radina
Professor
Department of Family Science and Social Work
Roudedbush Hall 209B
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-2323
[email protected]