Quick Links
Obtaining the master’s degree in Child Life will equip you with research, leadership, and administration skills that will increase your marketability for additional job opportunities.
Edgewood College is the only college in Wisconsin that offers students the opportunity to earn a master’s degree in Child Life. Students who graduate from the Child Life program go on to become child life professionals that serve children and families not only in Wisconsin, but throughout the United States, and in other countries around the world. Through the program, you'll develop expertise in helping children and families cope with stressful and traumatic events, including acute and chronic illness, hospitalization and medical encounters, pain and medical procedures, grief and loss. You will benefit from:
This program meets the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) requirements for coursework, internship and certification. The Edgewood College Child Life program will continue to follow the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) accreditation of master's program requirements as they become available.
To receive the Master of Science in Child Life, you must have:
This course will cover the theoretical perspectives of the care of children in hospitals beginning in the 1800's and researchers that created the foundations of psychosocial care of children.
CHLF601 - Introduction to Child Life
This course will explore the Child Life profession: theoretical and historical perspectives on Child Life; programming, job availability, trends affecting academic preparation; program requirements, field experiences, including practicums, internships and volunteer experiences; supplemental career options; interviews and presentations from child life professionals working within the field of Child Life.
CHLF610 - Infant, Child, Youth, and Adolescent Development for the Child Life Professional
This course will review all areas of development, from infancy, childhood, youth, and adolescent. The course will examine direct applications of the knowledge and use of developmental theory to the practice of an effective child life professional.
CHLF620 - Psychosocial Care of Hospitalized Children and Families
This course will look at effects of hospitalization on infants, children, adolescents and families at each stage of development. The course will focus on applied theory and interventions to lessen the stress of hospitalization. The role of family systems and the relationship with the child life specialist as a member of the health care team will be explored. A practicum is required.
CHLF630 - Medical Terminology for Child Life
This course will use a systematic approach to basic medical terminology vocabulary. The knowledge obtained in this course will help students to successfully navigate in health care settings. Through the course and semester assignments students will learn ways to incorporate medical terminology in child life practice, interventions and resources.
CHLF640 - Child Life Seminar I: Communication and Collaboration
This seminar style course will examine a variety of communication styles, both verbal and written, that will ensure effective communication with patients and families, child life colleagues, and the interdisciplinary health care team. Additionally, strategies for effective collaboration these groups will be explored. Documentation and charting styles will also be reviewed.
CHLF650 - Child Life Seminar II: Leadership and Internship Preparation
The goal of this seminar style course is to help the student prepare for the various steps of the internship application process, including resumes, written essays and interviews. Additionally, this course will explore leadership theories and styles to better prepare students for the leadership qualities needed to be a successful child life professional.
CHLF660 - Pediatric Condition and Effects on Child Growth and Development
This course focuses on school-age and adolescent typical development; the study of the cognition and emotional development of a typical developing child, and how to explain common medical diagnosis/conditions and support the child (patient, sibling, and classroom (school reentry).
CHLF670 - Materials and Methods of Play for Child Life
This course will explore various materials and methodology for child life play/activity programs; including preparation, therapeutic medical play, distraction, and coping.
CHLF680 - Loss, Bereavement, and Trauma for Child Life
This course will study a variety of special needs, interventions, and coping strategies for dealing with crisis situations of emergency room trauma, dying children and youth, and grieving families. This course will present an overview of child life services and programming in the following settings: emergency department, trauma, critical care, death and dying, grief and bereavement.
CHLF700 - Child Life Field Experience
The Child Life Internship is a supervised observation and participation in Child Life programming for hospitalized children and adolescents in pediatric hospitals, community hospitals or other approved health care facilities.
ED 603 - Introduction to Research
This course provides a general introduction to educational research and ethnographic, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Students learn how to construct research statements, research designs and data collection tools; do literature reviews; collect and analyze data; write up research findings; and develop research proposals.
ED 692 - Research Capstone Project
Students in this course design, conduct and write up a Master's research capstone project. Prerequisites: ED 603
PHIL 642 - Ethics for Health Care Professionals
This course examines various important ethical issues in medical practice and health care while exploring some philosophical approaches to moral responsibility. Major areas of focus include ethics in clinical medicine, public health, and the intersection of health ethics with global justice. This course has the goals of familiarizing students with some important issues in health care ethics as well as fostering independent critical thinking and writing on these topics.
Fall A
Spring A
Summer A
Fall B
Spring B
Fall A
Spring A
Summer A
Fall B
Spring B
Summer or Fall B
Attending graduate school is one of the best investments you will ever make in yourself and your future. While the benefits related to personal development and growth are priceless, you can also expect your MS-Child Life degree, which will qualify you to become a professional Child Life Specialist and sit for the national certification to become a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) by the Association of Child Life Professionals. Be sure to consider not only the total cost of your education, but think about how that total breaks down in terms of monthly costs, which can make your investment feel more manageable and affordable.
Tuition and Financial Aid information for master’s programs.
Graduate students are eligible for financial aid in the form of Federal Stafford Loans. Learn more about Stafford Loans, including eligibility requirements and application instructions.
Graduate Student Financial Aid
Our admissions and financial aid counselors have worked with thousands of students who have questioned how they could afford to complete their graduate education. They will use their experience to suggest creative solutions for financing your education. We work with students and organizations to manage tuition reimbursement plans, extend tuition discounts to various corporate partners in the region, offer third party billing and monthly payment plans, and work with veterans to maximize their available aid.
To be considered for admission, applicants must provide all of the following items. Only completed applications will be reviewed by the School of Education, Child Life Program for admission consideration:
Additional evidence may be reviewed by the School of Education. This could include information in such areas of the candidate’s background as:
These criteria reflect the policy recommendations and professional expectations of various national and state organizations related to the preparation of child life professionals. Edgewood College considers these criteria to be significant and appropriate guidelines for judging the professional merit of candidates in child life. Students who have successfully pursued their academic work, have been actively involved in planning their programs with appropriate advisors, and who responsibly and reflectively participate in activities related to their professional preparation for child life should have no difficulty in meeting the criteria for admission to the child life program.
We offer rolling admission. Applications for fall enrollment will be reviewed on two dates, provided seats are still open. Acceptance/waitlist decisions will be made on:
Questions? Contact the Graduate Admissions office at 608-663-4299 or gps@edgewood.edu.
Katie Glass, an Edgewood College graduate, is the Director of the Child Life Masters Program. She has been a part of the Edgewood College faculty since 2008. She is Certified Child Life Specialist and has practiced clinically both at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth in Lebanon, New Hampshire and the American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, WI. She is an active member of the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) and sits on multiple national committees promoting the profession and national academic standards. Katie has created several liaison programs which provide actual experience within the Child Life Program for students at American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison as well as various community health organizations.
The Edgewood College Child Life Program is an Association of Child Life Professionals Endorsed Academic Program.