This 15-credit program will prepare students to meet the professional requirements of the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) to become eligible to write the Child Life Certification Exam. Students who have successfully completed the exam and received the designation of CCLS (Certified Child Life Specialist) can become employed in hospital child life programs and community health settings.

Child Life Specialists utilize therapeutic play, preparation, education, and support to decrease stress and anxiety experienced by children, youth, and families facing illness, injury, and hospitalization. The Graduate certificate in Child Life and Community Health will create a pathway for success for students interested in this area of practice.

While the certificate prepares students for a career in a hospital or community health care setting, the certificate will also be an asset to graduates working in a variety of settings supporting children, youth, and families in challenging life situations. The program will prepare students to continue their education at the graduate level, through providing foundational theories specific to child life, play, child development, transitions, and working with grief and loss.