CLS 5506. Child Development. (3 Credits)

Child life specialists utilize their fluency in child development to design and implement interventions that serve to promote resiliency within patients and families. Therefore, students seeking certification as child life specialists must demonstrate competency in major theoretical approaches to the study of child development, specifically within the domains of physical, cognitive and social-emotional development. Students must also be able to identify the role of ecological and environmental factors as mediating factors within child development. This course will examine theories of human development that are especially relevant to infants and children in early and middle childhood. Students will learn psychoanalytic, social learning, behaviorist, ecological, humanistic and psychosexual theories and will apply these theoretical perspectives to child growth and development. This course is also designed to present research and evidence-based practice concerning the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of children.

CLS 5530. The Child with Special Healthcare Needs. (3 Credits)

This course will examine the impact of having a child with developmental differences in the healthcare environment and will also examine having a child with complex medical needs and its impact on the child and family. This course will provide the child life student with the fundamental skills to adapt therapeutic activities to accommodate the child with both developmental differences and medically complex needs.

CLS 5535. Childhood Trauma: Resiliency in Children. (3 Credits)

This course will examine both protective and risk factors influencing the development of resiliency in children and will study hospitalization as a potential trauma affecting childhood. Child life students will focus on identifying the strengths and protective factors of the pediatric patient and family to encourage the development of resiliency.

CLS 5540. Pediatric Psychosocial Assessment. (3 Credits)

This course will examine utilization of pediatric psychosocial assessment by the child life professional as a means to assess pediatric patient needs and to develop an individualized plan of care. Students will develop skills in conducting psychosocial assessment.

CLS 5550. Child Life Program Administration. (3 Credits)

This course will introduce child life students to the skills needed to provide effective leadership for child life programs, including budgeting and finances, health and safety issues, volunteer management and cultivation, staff management and development, staff retention, and ongoing program improvement.

CLS 5570. The Child Life Practicum Experience. (3 Credits)

Child life students will spend a minimum of 100 hours in a supervised volunteer/practicum position in a setting serving children and families impacted by illness, injury, and healthcare experiences with a Certified Child Life Specialist preceptor. Child life students will engage in observation of the Certified Child Life Specialist, examining the role and psychosocial services provided by the specialist.

CLS 5575. The Child Life Internship. (12 Credits)

This course is the capstone of the Family Life experience for the student in the Child Life minor. This internship occurs during the fourth year and is full time internship. Child life students use learned academic information and field experiences to serve in a hospital or other medical setting with children for a minimum of 600 hours during one semester under the supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist.