CHILD LIFE (CL)
COLLEGE OF NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES
LEADING TO THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.S.)

 

Child Life Program Overview

The purpose of the Child Life program is to prepare students to be advanced practitioners in Child Life by providing rigorous study of Child Life theory and application including assessment, therapeutic intervention, and multi-disciplinary collaboration. The Child Life program aims to provide high quality educational experiences that will further students’ opportunities for placement in competitive hospital-based Practicum and Internship programs, and prepare students to be successful on the National Child Life Certification Exam maintained by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP).

 

Requirements for Admission

To be considered for admission to the graduate program in Child Life, an applicant must:

  1. Initially satisfy all Southeastern Louisiana University's graduate admission requirements (Consult the Southeastern General Catalog for admission requirements).
  2. Complete a Bachelor's degree with a minimum of a 3.25 GPA on the last 60 hours of course work.
  3. Submit a portfolio that includes:
      1. A personal statement (1500 word limit) including background information about professional / volunteer experiences, professional goals, and future plans.
      2. A resume' that includes full name, address, phone numbers, email address, academic experiences, prior related work experience, degrees held, honors, awards, special interests, and other appropriate information.
      3. Two confidential letters of recommendation: One from the academic setting and one from the clinical setting. Confidential letters of recommendation must be sealed and signed by the recommender or submitted directly from the email address of the recommender.
      4. Verification of the completion of at least 100 hours of volunteer or paid work experience with hospitalized children (ages birth to 18 years).
  4. Completion of all prerequisite courses including:
      1. Medical Terminology
      2. Lifespan Development
      3. Family Development
      4. Parenting
      5. Research Methods
      6. Statistics

 

Program Application Admission Deadlines

For Fall Admission, all application materials must be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator no later than June 30. For Spring Admission, all application materials must be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator no later than November 1. Upon evaluation of application materials, qualified applicants will be invited to participate in an interview. Interviews may be on campus or held via video conferencing.

 

Admission Notification

Admission to the Child Life program is selective and requires a favorable evaluation by the Child Life Program Admissions Committee. Within two weeks after participation in the program admission interview, applicants will be notified that they are either accepted or not accepted for admission.

 

Requirements for Degree

Student enrolled in the program will be required to complete all coursework, earning no less than a “B” in all courses; a passing score on the comprehensive examination; and the satisfactory completion of a master’s thesis if the thesis is chosen.

 

Requirements for Program Retention and Progression

  1. A student must earn a "B" in each course in the program to be eligible for progression.
  2. A student who earns a grade below "B" will be placed on probation and must repeat the course and earn at least a "B." If a grade below a "B" is earned in the subsequent course, the student may be dismissed from the program.
  3. A student who earns two grades of "W" in the program is not eligible for progression. A student may appeal progression for extenuating circumstances. "W" grades received as a result of an approved resignation from the University are not included in this calculation.
  4. A student who earns a "D" or "F" in any course taken for graduate credit may be ineligible for further graduate work. A student who earns a "D" or "F" because of extenuating, non-academic circumstances may appeal for readmission.
  5. The College of Nursing and Health Sciences reserves the right to investigate situations which may affect the student's ability to function. In addition, a physician's release may be required. Students who have health conditions that may prevent their meeting the objectives of the program or a course in the program or that  may cause potential injury to the student or the patients for whom they care, will be required to have a personal interview with the Department Head or Dean or with an appropriate College of Nursing and Health Sciences committee.
  6. Drug testing will be required.
  7. Federal background check, including finger printing will be required.
  8. Students enrolled in practicum and internship courses are required to meet other agency requirements.

 

Curriculum

There are four curricular paths students may choose from:

Option One: BS to MS Accelerated Program with Thesis. This option is available for professional who are currently Certified Child Life Specialists, or students who have completed their undergraduate degree at Southeastern majoring in Family and Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Child Life. Students must have also completed both a Practicum and Internship during their 120 hour undergraduate degree plan. This option requires the satisfactory completion of a thesis.

NURS 804: Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence Based Practice  3 hours
CL 630: Advanced Medical Play and Psychosocial Interventions  3 hours
CL 521: Advanced Child Development  3 hours
CL 602: Developmental Perspectives on Illness and Health  3 hours
CL 504: Child Life Theory and Family-Centered Care  3 hours
CL 608: Family Dynamics and Psychosocial Interventions  3 hours
CL 512: Parenting Children with Chronic Illness  3 hours
CL 514: Child and Family Perspectives on Death, Dying, & Loss  3 hours
CL 618: Therapeutic Communication for the Pediatric Health Care Professional  3 hours
CL 628: Child Life Administration and Program Development  3 hours
CL 770: Thesis  6 hours
Total: 36 hours

 

Option Two: BS to MS Accelerated Program, Non-Thesis. This option is available for professionals who are currently Certified Child Life Specialists, or students who have completed their undergraduate degree at Southeastern majoring in Family and Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Child Life. Students must have also completed both a Practicum and Internship during their 120 hour undergraduate degree plan. This option does not require a thesis.

NURS 804: Clinical Scholarship and Analytic Methods for Evidence Based Practice  3 hours
CL 630: Advanced Medical Play and Psychosocial Interventions  3 hours
CL 521: Advanced Child Development  3 hours
CL 602: Developmental Perspectives on Illness and Health  3 hours
CL 504: Child Life Theory and Family-Centered Care  3 hours
CL 608: Family Dynamics and Psychosocial Interventions  3 hours
CL 512: Parenting Children with Chronic Illness  3 hours
CL 514: Child and Family Perspectives on Death, Dying, & Loss  3 hours
CL 618: Therapeutic Communication for the Pediatric Health Care Professional  3 hours
CL 628: Child Life Administration and Program Development  3 hours
Approved Electives  6 hours
Total:  36 hours

 

Option Three: Traditional MS Program, with Thesis. This option is available for students who have a Bachelor’s degree in a related area, and have completed all prerequisite courses. This option requires the satisfactory completion of a thesis.

NURS 804: Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence Based Practice  3 hours
CL 630: Advanced Medical Play and Psychosocial Interventions  3 hours
CL 521: Advanced Child Development  3 hours
CL 602: Developmental Perspectives on Illness and Health  3 hours
CL 504: Child Life Theory and Family-Centered Care  3 hours
CL 608: Family Dynamics and Psychosocial Interventions  3 hours
CL 512: Parenting Children with Chronic Illness  3 hours
CL 514: Child and Family Perspectives on Death, Dying, & Loss  3 hours
CL 618: Therapeutic Communication for the Pediatric Health Care Professional  3 hours
CL 622: Child Life Practicum  3 hours
CL 624: Child Life Internship 12 hours
CL 628: Child Life Administration and Program Development  3 hours
CL 770: Thesis  6 hours
Total: 51 hours

 

Option Four: Traditional MS Program, Non-Thesis. This option is available for students who have a Bachelor’s degree in a related area, and have completed all prerequisite courses. This option does not require a thesis.

NURS 804: Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence Based Practice  3 hours
CL 630: Advanced Medical Play and Psychosocial Interventions  3 hours
CL 521: Advanced Child Development  3 hours
CL 602: Developmental Perspectives on Illness and Health  3 hours
CL 504: Child Life Theory and Family-Centered Care  3 hours
CL 608: Family Dynamics and Psychosocial Interventions  3 hours
CL 512: Parenting Children with Chronic Illness  3 hours
CL 514: Child and Family Perspectives on Death, Dying, & Loss  3 hours
CL 618: Therapeutic Communication for the Pediatric Health Care Professional  3 hours
CL 622: Child Life Practicum  3 hours
CL 624: Child Life Internship 12 hours
CL 628: Child Life Administration and Program Development  3 hours
Approved Electives  6 hours
Total: 51 hours