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

California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA
Website: www.calstatela.edu
Contact: Liudmila Flores
Email:lflores@cslanet.calstatela.edu
Phone: (323) 343-6188
Distance Learning Opportunities: No
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Courses Pre-Approved:
Research: CHDV 2000 Techniques for the Study of Children
Family Systems: CHDV 4300 Parent Child Development over the Family Life Cycle
UC Santa Barbara Extension

Santa Barbara, CA
Website: http://ucsb.pro/childlife
Contact: Sofia Muller
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 (both 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 Five
-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 Introduction to Research
-Additional 3 Courses: ED X370.5 Assessment, Preparation and Medical Terminology, ED X370.15 Child Life & Trauma, ED X370.17 Child Development: Challenges in Global Maternal and Child, ED X370.18 Child Life in Non-Traditional Settings: Beyond the Hospital, ED X370.20 Health Care Ethics, ED X370.21 Adolescent Development

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Colorado

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Website: https://www.msudenver.edu/psychology/
Contact: Dr. Lisa Hagen
Email: lkindleb@msudenver.edu
Phone: 303-615-0523
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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Georgia

University of Georgia

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
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Research: HDFS 2300 The Science of Studying Human Development and Families

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Florida

Nova Southeastern University

Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Department: Fischler College of Education
Contact: Emmy Maurilus, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Email: em986@nova.edu
Phone: (954) 262-6922

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: http://www.nova.edu/humanservices/devdisabilities/curriculum.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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Louisiana

Southeastern Louisiana University

Hammond, LA
Website: http://www.southeastern.edu/acad_research/depts/hhs/grad_prg/childlife_graduate.html
Department: Health and Human Sciences
Contact: Holly Kihm, Ph.D., CCLS, CFLE, Program Coordinator
Email: ho lly.kihm@selu.edu
Phone: 985-549-5693
Degree: Undergraduate - BS, Family and Consumer Science with a concentration in Child Life and Graduate - MS, Child Life (100% Online)
Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes, Graduate Program is 100% Online
Class Available to Non-Matriculating Students: Yes
Courses Pre-Approved:

Online: FCS 320: Infant Development; FCS 322: Adolescent Development; FCS 441: Family Relations; FCS 324: Theory and Guidance of Play; FCS 412: Family Stress and Coping; FCS 326: Child Life Practicum; Child Life 404: Child Life Theory and Family-Centered Care; Child Life 602: Developmental Perspectives on Illness and Health; Child Life 608: Family Dynamics and Psychosocial Interventions; Child Life 622: Practicum; Child Life 624: Child Life Internship; Child Life 628: Child Life Administration and Program Development

In-Class: FCS 321: Child Development; FCS 325: Introduction to Child Life; FCS 328: Advanced Child Life
Louisiana State University

Baton Rouge, LA
Website: https://www.lsu.edu/chse/socialwork/academics/child-family-studies-bs.php
Department: Child and Family Studies
Contact: Brittany Wittenberg, Ph.D., CCLS, CFLE
Email: bwittenberg@lsu.edu
Phone: 225-578-0908
Degree: Undergraduate
Date of Origin: 2018

Distance Learning Opportunities: No
Class available to non-matriculating students: No
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Child Life Course: SW4070 Special Topics in Social Work: Child Life Theory and Practice

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Massachusetts

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Michigan

Central Michigan University

Mt. Pleasant, MI
Website: www.cmich.edu
Contact: Tierney Popp, PhD, Professor, Human Development and Family Studies
Email: popp1tk@cmich.edu
Phone: 989-774-7608
Distance Learning Opportunities: No
Class available to non-matriculating students: No
Courses Pre-Approved:
Child Life Course: HDF 404: Children and Hospitalization

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Minnesota

Minnesota State University, Mankato

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

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 York

Molloy College

Website: https://www.molloy.edu/academics/undergraduate-minors/child-life-minor
Contact: Melissa Gebbia
Email: mgebbia@molloy.edu
Phone: (516)323-3848
Distance Learning Opportunities: No
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Degree: Undergraduate
Date of Origin: 2018
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Child Development (both courses must be taken to meet the requirement): PSY 2050 Child Development I: Pre-natal through Middle Childhood, PSY 2060 Child Development II- Middle Childhood Through Adolescence
Child Life: PSY 3800 Introduction to Child Life
Play: PSY 3810: Theory of Play and Creative Art Therapies

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Ohio

Miami University

Oxford, OH
Website: https://miamioh.edu/ehs/academics/departments/fsw/academics/majors/family-science/child-life/index.html
Contact: Elise Radina
Email: childlife@miamioh.edu
Phone: 513-529-2323
Distance Learning Opportunities: Some core courses are available online.
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Programs: Child Life Specialist Certificate (Undergraduate), Graduate Child Life Specialist Certificate
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Child Development (Both courses must be taken to meet the requirement.): FSW 245: Children & Families Ages Conception-12, FSW: 481/581 Adolescent Development in Diverse Families
Research: FSW 295: Research and Evaluation Methods, FSW 616: Research Methods I, PSY 294 Writing and Research Methods, KNH 295 Research and Evaluation Methods
Family Systems: FSW 261: Diverse Family Systems Across the Life Cycle
Play: FSW: 445/545 Therapeutic Play
Child Life Course: FSW: 318 Child Life Theory and Practice
Death and Dying: SOC/FSW: 435/535 Death Studies
Bowling Green State University

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, CCLS Adjunct Instructor
Email: bmikulu@bgsu.edu
Phone: 419-372-7401
Degree: Undergraduate
Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes. Introduction to Child Life is offered by Remote Synchronous Online.
Courses Pre-Approved: HDFS 2210 (Child Development) or consent of instructor.
University of Dayton

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

Bloomsburg University

Website: https://www.bloomu.edu/coe
Department: Education
Contact: Michael Patte
Email: mpatte@bloomu.edu
Phone: 570-389-4026
Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Degree: child life minor and certificate
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Child Development: PSYCH 211 Early Childhood Development, PSYCH 212 Adolescent Development
Family Systems: PROFSTUD 414 & EDL 507- Child, Family, & Community Engagement
Play: PROFSTUD 347-Play and Expressive Arts for the Developing Child
Loss and Bereavement: PROFSTUD 341- Death, Dying and Loss
Research: PROFSTUD 342 Applied Research Methods
CL Course: PROFSTUD 340-Children and Families in Medical Settings
Additional 3: PSYCH 210 Lifespan Development, PHIL 290 Medical Ethics, COUNSEL 420/520 Human Development, COUNSEL 400/500 Introductions to the Helping Professions, BIOL 173 Anatomy & Physiology 1, BIOL 174 Anatomy & Physiology 2, Communication Studies 324- Health Communication

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Texas

Tarleton State University

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: 254.968.9441
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

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

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 12-28
Family Systems: Fam 362: Families in Society
Play: Fam 440: Therapeutic Play
Loss/Bereavement: FAM 440.01 Death and Bereavement
Research: FAM 440: Research Methods in Child and Family Services
Additional 3 Courses: BIOL 291: Anatomy and Physiology 1, BIBP 352: Biomedical Ethics, KINE 302.01 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.DL1 - The Hospitalized Child and Family
Family Systems: HDFS 400- Advanced Family Processes

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Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

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

Georgia

Florida

Louisiana

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

New Mexico

New York

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Texas

Virginia

Wisconsin

Certification