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Make a Difference
If you’ve already completed a bachelor’s degree and you wish to complete the necessary coursework to become eligible for certification as a child life specialist, then the Child Life Specialist Graduate Certificate is designed for you. 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 serve an important role in improving the illness-related experiences of both patients and their families.
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.
Eligibility
This certificate is open to:
- Current Miami master’s degree students.
- Newly admitted Miami graduate students.
- Students who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree at another university and need additional courses for child life certification.
*Note: Students obtaining only a certificate and who are not enrolled in a graduate degree program are not eligible for financial aid.
Child Life 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. 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
Miami University offers two pathways to complete the Child Life Specialist Graduate Certificate. The in-person pathway includes courses taught on the Oxford and Middletown campuses. The online pathway allows students to complete all the courses in the certificate 100% online (beginning Fall 2024). When applying for the program, please take care to select the correct pathway.
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
- Resume
- 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?
- Official Transcript(s)
- Minimum GPA: 3.0
Child Life Graduate Certificate Application Process and Funding
Applications are accepted at any time. Students are encouraged to apply by May 1 for fall admission, Oct. 1 for spring admission, and Feb. 1 for summer admission.
*Note: Students obtaining only a certificate and who are not enrolled in a graduate degree program are not eligible for financial aid.
Contact Us
Graduate Admission
513-529-GRAD (4723)
[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]