Programs Offering Pre-Approved Courses

The pre-approval process evaluates a program's course(s) utilizing course descriptions, syllabi and other materials to make a determination as to whether or not a specific course fulfills one or more of the 2019 course requirements. If pre-approved, academic programs can provide assurance to their students that their course offerings will meet one or more of the certification (2019) course requirements.

The following is a list of programs offering pre-approved courses. Please note students taking pre-approved courses will still be required to complete an Eligibility Assessment.

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California

UC Santa Barbara Extension (2023-2025)

Santa Barbara, CA
Website: http://ucsb.pro/childlife
Contact: Sunny Kim, PhD, BCBA
Email: help@extension.ucsb.edu
Phone: (805) 893-4200
Degree: Certificate in Child Life
Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Courses Pre-Approved:
-Child Life Course: EDX370.2 Child Life: Introduction to Theory and Practice
-Child Development (two courses must be taken to meet the requirement): ED X370.10 Child Development Birth to 18 years, ED X370.19 Early Child Development Birth to Eight, EDX370.21 Adolescent Development (ages 9-18)
-Family Systems: ED X370.12 Family Systems: Child, Family and Community
-Play: ED X370.3 Therapeutic Role of Play in Pediatric Care
-Loss and Bereavement: ED X370.4 Death, Dying & Grief in Pediatric Care
-Research: EDX370.14 Research Methodologies in Child Life
-Additional 3 Courses: ED X370.5 Assessment, Preparation and Medical Terminology, ED X370.11 Pediatric Palliative Care and Hospice, ED X370.13 Children with Disabilities in the Healthcare System

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Colorado

Metropolitan State University of Denver (2021-2023)

Website: https://www.msudenver.edu/psychology/
Contact: Dr. Lisa Hagen
Email: lkindleb@msudenver.edu
Phone: (303) 615-0496
Distance Learning Opportunities: All courses are offered online
Classes available to non-matriculating students: n/a
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Child Life Course: PSY 3490 Child Life Theory and Practice
Child Development (both courses must be taken): PSY 3250 Child Psychology, PSY 3260 Psychology of Adolescence
Play: PSY 3460 Psychology of Play
Death and Dying: PSY 2270 Death and Dying
Research: PSY 4700 Senior Experience in Human Development and Family Studies
Additional 3: PSY 2210 Psychology of Human Development, PSY 3340 Cognitive Development and Learning, PSY 3400 Child Psychopathology

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Florida

Nova Southeastern University (2022-2024)

Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Department: Fischler College of Education
Contact: Tara Sheehan Ph.D., BCBA
Email: tarashee@nova.edu
Phone: 954-262-8467

Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes

Degree: MS in Developmental Disabilities, Child Life Specialist Concentration
Website: https://education.nova.edu/degrees/masters/developmental-disabilities/index.html

Child Life Course: HSDD 5510 foundations of child life and family centered care
Family Systems: HSDD 5518 Family Systems and the Hospitalized Child
Death and Dying: HSDD 5534 Death and Dying
Child Development:  HSDD 5522 Theories of Child Growth and Development, HSDD 5523 Theories of Adolescent Growth and Development (both courses must be taken to meet the requirement)
Play: HSDD 5532 Therapeutic Benefits of Play
Additional 3: HSDD 5515 Ethics in Child Life, HSDD 5530 Interventions in Child Life, HSDD 5525 Medial Terminology for the Child Life Professional
Research: HSDD 5100 Program Design & Evaluation

Degree: BS in Child Development, Child Life Concentration
Website: https://education.nova.edu/degrees/bachelors/child-development/index.html

Child Life Course: ECDP 3510 Foundations in Child Life and Family Centered Care
Family Systems: ECDP 4518 Family Systems
Death and Dying: HUMN 4100 Death Dying
Child Development:  ECDP 3321 Infant and Toddler Development , ECDP 3334 Preschool, Primary, and Middle Development, EECP 3351 Adolescent Development (three courses must be taken to meet the requirement)
Play: ECDP 4367 Play and Children Curricular Applications
Additional 3: HS 3300 Ethical and Professional Issues in Human Services, EDEC 4320 Cultural Perspectives in Working with Children and Families, ECDP 3341 Child and Adolescent Mental Health, EDEC 2405 Supporting Children and Adolescents with Special Needs
Research: ECDP 4510 Research Methods and Program Evaluation

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Georgia

University of Georgia (2023-2025)

Athens, GA
Website: http://www.fcs.uga.edu/hdfs/graduate-programs-m.s.-child-life
Department: Human Development & Family Science
Contact: Diane Bales, Ph.D., Child Life Director
Email: dbales@uga.edu
Phone: (706) 542-7566
Degree:
1. Master's in Child Life
2. Joint Undergraduate Child Life Program with Augusta University
Date of Origin: 1980

Distance Learning Opportunities: No
Class available to non-matriculating students: No
ACLP Endorsed: Yes, the graduate program is endorsed
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes

Research: HDFS 2300 The Science of Studying Human Development and Families
Additional 3: HDFS 4860/6860: Parenting and Child Guidance, HDFS 4330: Diversity in Human Development and Family Systems, and HDFS 4900S/6900S: Seminar in Human Development and Family Science - More than a Four-Legged Friend: The Benefits of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT)

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Minnesota

Minnesota State University, Mankato (2022-2024)

Program/Department Website: https://ahn.mnsu.edu/fcs/

Contact: Heather Von Bank, Ph.D.

Email: heather.von-bank@mnsu.edu

Phone: (507) 389-2421

Degree Offered: Child Development and Family Studies, BS

Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Child Life Course: FCS 202: Introduction to Child Life Specialist

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New Mexico

Central New Mexico Community College (2021-2023)

Website: https://www.cnm.edu/student-resources/class-schedule/topics-courses

Contact: Jennifer Kean or Ana Bacon
Email: jkean@salud.unm.edu alontiverozbacon@salud.unm.edu
Phone: 505 272-2671
Distance Learning: yes
Non-matriculating students: Yes
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Child Life Course Requirement: ECED 2096 Introduction to Child Life: Normalizing Hospitalization for Children, A Child Life Approach

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New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire (2023-2025)

Durham, NH
Website: https://chhs.unh.edu/human-development-family-studies/program/minor/child-life
Department: Human Development and Family Studies
Contact: Trish Cox, M.S.Ed, MSW, CCLS, Assistant Clinical Faculty and Kerry Kazura, Ph.D., Department Chair & Associate Professor

Email: trish.cox@unh.edu, Kerry.kazura@unh.edu
Phone: (603) 862-1853, (603) 862-2135

Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Degree: Undergraduate minor - Child Life Minor offered by the Department of Family Studies, must be matriculated at UNH to do minor.
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes

Research: SW 601: Research Methods

Child Life Course: HDFS 565: Introduction to Child Life

Loss and Bereavement: NURS 535: Death and Dying

Play: HDFS 697: Special Topics: Learning Through Play
Child Development: HDFS 623: Developmental Perspectives on Infancy and Early Childhood, HDFS 624: Developmental Perspectives on Adolescence and Early Adulthood

Family Systems: HDFS: 641 Parenting Across the Lifespan

Additional 3 Courses: Child Life Design and Programming, HDFS 709 Child Development Internship, HDFS 734 Curriculum for Young Children

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New York

Bank Street College

New York, NY
Website: www.bankstreet.edu
Department: Education
Contact: Troy Pinkney-Ragsdale, Director of Child Life Program
Email: tpinkney@bankstreet.edu
Phone: (212) 875-4473

Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
Class available to non-matriculating students: No
Degree: Graduate - Child Life (Online Program Began Fall 2015
Date of Origin: 1988
ACLP Endorsed: Yes
Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY
Website: http://falk.syr.edu/ChildFamilyStudies/Undergraduate.aspx
Department: Child and Family Studies
Contact: Robert Moreno, Ph.D., Department Chair
Email: rmoreno@syr.edu
Phone: (315) 443-1715

Distance Learning Opportunities: No
Class available to non-matriculating students: No
Degree: B.S. - Child and Family Studies with a specialization in Child Life
Courses Pre-Approved: None
ACLP Endorsed: Yes
Utica College

Utica, NY
Website: https://www.utica.edu/academics/programs/psychology-child-life
Contact: Melissa Racioppa, MS, CCLS
Email: mjraciop@utica.edu
Phone: 315-792-3006
Distance Learning Opportunities: No
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Degree: Undergraduate
Date of Origin: 1978
Courses Pre-Approved: None
Molloy College

Website: https://www.molloy.edu/academics/schools/arts-sciences/undergraduate/psychology/#accordion1

Contact: Cheryl A. Camenzuli, PhD
Email: ccamenzuli@molloy.edu
Phone: (516)323-3841
Degree: Undergraduate BS Psychology, Child Life Minor
Date of Origin: 2023-2025

Courses Pre-Approved: Yes

Child Life Course: PSY 3800 Introduction to Child Life
Play Course: PSY 3810: Theories of Play and Creative Art Therapies
Child Development Courses: PSY 2050-01 Child Development I: Pre-natal through Middle Childhood; PSY 2060-01 Child Development II- Middle Childhood Through Adolescence

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Ohio

Bowling Green State University (2023-2025)

Bowling Green, Ohio
Website: https://www.bgsu.edu/catalog/colleges-and-programs/college-of-education-and-human-development/child-life-minor.html
Department: College of Education and Human Development
Contact: Brittany Mikuluk, M.Ed., CCLS Adjunct Instructor
Email: bmikulu@bgsu.edu
Phone: 419-372-7401
Degree: Undergraduate
Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes. HDFS 3150 & HDFS 4150 are offered by Remote Synchronous Online.
Courses Offered to Non-Matriculating Students: Yes
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Child Life Course: HDFS 3150: Introduction to Child Life
Play: HDFS 4150: Therapeutic Play
University of Dayton (2022-2024)

Dayton, OH
Website: https://catalog.udayton.edu/undergraduate/schoolofeducationandhealthsciences/programsofstudy/
Contact: Sabrina Neeley
Email: sneeley1@udayton.edu
Phone: (937) 229-3572
Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Programs: Education & Allied Studies
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Child Development (2 courses must be taken to meet the requirement): EDT 211 Child Development Birth to Age 8, EDT 222 Middle Childhood to Young Adult Development, PSY 351 Child Psychology
Research: HSS 428 Research in Sport & Health Sciences
Family Systems: SOC 331 Marriage and Family
Death and Dying: SWK 331 Death and Dying
Additional 3: HSS 201 Medical Terminology, HSS 206 Anatomy & Physiology, PHL 315 Medical Ethics Section 1

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Pennsylvania

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA
Website: https://bulletin.temple.edu/courses/rcth/
Contact: Heather Burket, Ed.M., CTRS, CCLS
Email: hburket@temple.edu
Phone: 215-204-3947
Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Courses Pre-Approved: None
Messiah College

Mechanicsburg, PA
Website: http://www.messiah.edu/departments/family/academic_programs/programs/hdfs.html

Contact: Joan McGeary, M.S., CCLS, Adjunct Instructor, Human Development and Family Science
Email: jmcgeary@messiah.edu
Phone: 717-766-2511 x. 2850 (Dr. Raeann R. Hamon, Chair of HDFS Dept.)

Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes (Summer Sessions Only)

Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Courses Pre-Approved: None
University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA
Website: http://www.education.pitt.edu/adp/
Department: Applied Developmental Psychology
Contact: Robert Gallen, Ph.D.
Email: robert.gallen@pitt.edu
Phone: (412) 780-0462

Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes, some courses available online or in hybrid formats
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Degree: B.S. in Applied Developmental Psychology with Child Life Option
M.S. in Applied Developmental Psychology with Child Life Concentration
Courses Pre-Approved: None
Bloomsburg University

Website: https://www.bloomu.edu/academics/programs/child-life-specialist

Contact: Michael Patte, Ph.D.

Email: mpatte@bloomu.edu

Phone: 570-389-4026

Courses Pre-Approved: Yes

Child Life Course: CHLS 340 Children and Families in Medical Settings

Child Development Courses: ECED 110 Child Development: Birth to Early Adolescence; PSYC 210 Child Development; PSYC 211 Adolescent Development

Family Systems Course: CLS 345 Child, Family, and Community Engagement

Play Course: CLS 344 Play, Creativity, and Expressive Arts

Loss/Bereavement or Death/Dying: CHLS 341 Death, Dying and Loss – Child and Family Perspectives

Research: CHLS 342 Applied Research Methods

Additional Courses: BIOL 180 Anatomy and Physiology 1; BIOL 181 Anatomy and Physiology 2; BIOL 108 Medical Terminology; COMM 315 Health Communication; COMM 411 Family Communication; COMM 495 Advanced Health Communication Seminar; PHI 205 Medical Ethics and PSYC 212 Lifespan Development

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Texas

Tarleton State University (2022-2024)

Stephenville, TX

Website: https://www.tarleton.edu/degrees/bachelors/bs-child-and-famliy-studies/index.html
Contact: Dr. Deborah Anne Banker
Email: banker@tarleton.edu
Phone: 254.968.9941
Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes, program is entirely online
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Research: CHFS 4356: Online Research Methods in Human Sciences
Child Life: CHFS 4345: Child Life Theory and Practice
Child Development: CHFS 3300: Child Development Theory, Research and Practice, CHFS 1304: Infant and Toddler Development-both courses must be taken in order to meet the requirement.
Family Systems: CHFS 4309 Parenting
Play: CHFS 4340: Play Theory and Research
Loss/Bereavement or Death/Dying: CHFS 4355 Grief, Loss, and Bereavement
Additional 3 Courses: TECA 1318 Wellness of the Young Child, CHFS 4320 Early Intervention Services, CHFS 4350 Policies and Ethical Standards
Texas Christian University (2022-2024)

Fort Worth, TX
Website: https://child.tcu.edu
Department: Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development, Psychology Department
Contact: Casey Call, Ph.D., Assistant Director
Email: c.d.call@tcu.edu
Phone: (817) 257-7415
Distance Learning Opportunities: No
Degree: Undergraduate – Child Development, BA or BS
Class available to non-matriculating students: No
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes

Child Life Course: CHDV 40223:Fundamentals of Child Life Practice (taught by a CCLS)
Child Development: PSYC 30323: Child Psychology & EDUC 30143: Child & Adolescent Development (both courses must be taken to meet the requirement)
Play: CHDV 30223: Fundamentals of Play (taught by a CCLS)
Research: PSYC 30533:Developmental Research & Evaluation
Family Systems: CHDV 40493: Family Systems
Loss and Bereavement: SOWO 40563: Grief and Loss
Additional 3: CHDV 20123: Trauma-Informed Interventions, CHDV 25053: Global Advocacy, CHDV 50533: Case Studies in Child Development
Abilene Christian University (2023-2025)

Abilene, TX
Website: www.acu.edu
Contact: Heidi Morris
Email: hwm97t@acu.edu
Phone: 325-674-2000
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Child Life Course: FAM 325: Child Life
Child Development Courses: FAM 275: Child Development Ages 0-11, FAM 280: Child Development 12-18
Family Systems: Fam 362: Families in Society
Play: Fam 335: Therapeutic Play
Loss/Bereavement: FAM 443 Death and Bereavement
Research: FAM 365: Research Methods
Additional 3 Courses: BIOL 291: Anatomy and Physiology 1, BIBP Biomedical Ethics, KINE 302 Medical Terminology

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Virginia

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA
Website: www.gmu.edu
Contact: HDFS Program Coordinator
Email: HDFS@gmu.edu
Phone: (703) 993-5856
Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes

Child Life Course: HDFS 301- The Hospitalized Child and Family

Play: HDFS 302 - Therapeutic Benefits of Play

Family Systems: HDFS 400 - Advanced Family Processes

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Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (2021-2023)

Stevens Point, WI
Website:http://www.uwsp.edu/fcs
Contact: Becky Konietzki, Academic and Career Advisor
Email:Becky.Konietzki@uwsp.edu
Phone: (715) 346-3233
Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Degree: Undergraduate - Child Life and Family Studies
Date of Origin: 2018
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes

Child Life Course: HD 350/550 Child Life Principles and Perspectives
Child Development (all courses must be taken in order to fulfill the requirement): HD 361/561 Development & Guidance of Children, HD 466/666 Development & Guidance of Adolescents
Family Systems: HD 367/567 Intentional Intimacy and Family Systems
Play: HD 455/655: Child Life and Therapeutic Play
Research: HS 360 Research Design and Methods for the Health Sciences, COL/FN 720: Outcome Based Program Evaluation
Loss and Bereavement: HD 465 / 665 Grief and Loss
Additional 3 Courses: HS 295 Medical Terminology, BIOL 287 Essentials of Human Anatomy, FCS 295 Ethics and Professional Development in Human Services

Programs Offering Pre-Approved Courses

California

Colorado

Florida

Georgia

Minnesota

New Mexico

New Hampshire

New York

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Texas

Virginia

Wisconsin

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