Graduate endorsement is a voluntary process by which graduate academic programs can be reviewed by a panel of child life academics. The endorsement process evaluates the applying program's structure, resources, and sustainability as well as their curriculum using the competency-based graduate curriculum map. If endorsed, graduate programs can provide assurance to their students that their offered coursework will meet ACLP certification requirements. Endorsement also allows the academic freedom to structure their programs as they see fit and cover required topics across their entire curriculum rather than prescribing specific courses.
In order for an academic program to be eligible for graduate endorsement, it must:
- provide a master's degree in child life or related area with a concentration in child life
- Employ at least 1.0 FTE faculty member who holds an advanced degree, is a Certified Child Life Specialist, and is involved in child life program decision making and curriculum development
The endorsement process outlined below is subject to change prior to the opening of the Graduate Endorsement Application on the Application Portal. It is only meant to provide a general idea of what to expect when undertaking the endorsement process.