Programs Offering Pre-Approved Courses

The pre-approval process evaluates a program's course(s) utilizing course descriptions, syllabi and other materials to make a determination as to whether or not a specific course fulfills one or more of the 2019 course requirements. If pre-approved, academic programs can provide assurance to their students that their course offerings will meet one or more of the certification (2019) course requirements.

The following is a list of programs offering pre-approved courses. Please note students taking pre-approved courses will still be required to complete an Eligibility Assessment.

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California

UC Santa Barbara Extension (Jan 2024 - Dec 2025)
- Website: http://ucsb.pro/childlife
- Contact: Sunny Kim, PhD, BCBA
- Email: help@extension.ucsb.edu
- Phone: (805) 893-4200
- Degree: Certificate in Child Life
- Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
- Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
- Courses Pre-Approved:
  - Child Life Course: EDX370.2 Child Life: Introduction to Theory and Practice
  - Child Development (two courses must be taken to meet the requirement): ED X370.10 Child Development Birth to 18 years, ED X370.19 Early Child Development Birth to Eight, EDX370.21 Adolescent Development (ages 9-18)
  - Family Systems: ED X370.12 Family Systems: Child, Family and Community
  - Play: ED X370.3 Therapeutic Role of Play in Pediatric Care
  - Loss and Bereavement: ED X370.4 Death, Dying & Grief in Pediatric Care
  - Research: EDX370.14 Research Methodologies in Child Life
  - Additional 3 Courses: ED X370.5 Assessment, Preparation and Medical Terminology, ED X370.11 Pediatric Palliative Care and Hospice, ED X370.13 Children with Disabilities in the Healthcare System, ED X370.14 Child Life & Trauma, ED X370-18 Child Life in Non-Traditional Settings, ED X370.20 Health Care Ethics, ED X370.22 Administration, Leadership and Advocacy

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Colorado

Metropolitan State University of Denver (Jan 2024 - Dec 2025)
- Website: https://www.msudenver.edu/psychology/
- Contact: Dr. Lisa Hagen
- Email: lkindleb@msudenver.edu
- Phone: (303) 615-0496
- Distance Learning Opportunities: All courses are offered online
- Classes available to non-matriculating students: n/a
- Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
- Child Life Course: PSY 3490 Child Life Theory and Practice
- Child Development: PSY 3250 Child Psychology, PSY 3260 Psychology of Adolescence
- Family Systems: PSY 3580 Development in the Family Context
- Play: PSY 3460 Psychology of Play
- Death and Dying: PSY 2270 Death and Dying
- Research: PSY 4700 Senior Experience in Human Development and Family Studies
- Additional 3: PSY 2210 Psychology of Human Development, PSY 3340 Cognitive Development and Learning, PSY 2400 Child Psychopathology

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Florida

Nova Southeastern University (Jan 2024 - Dec 2025)
Department: Fischler College of Education
Contact: Tara Sheehan Ph.D., BCBA
Email: tarashee@nova.edu
Phone: 954-262-8467

Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
- Degree: BS in Child Development, Child Life Concentration
- Website: https://education.nova.edu/degrees/bachelors/child-development/index.html
- Child Life Course: ECDP 3510 Foundations in Child Life and Family Centered Care
- Family Systems: ECDP 4518 Family Systems
- Death and Dying: HUMN 4100 Death Dying
- Child Development: ECDP 3321 Infant and Toddler Development , ECDP 3334 Preschool, Primary, and Middle Development, EECP 3351 Adolescent Development (three courses must be taken to meet the requirement)
- Play: ECDP 4367 Play and Children Curricular Applications
- Additional 3: HS 3300 Ethical and Professional Issues in Human Services, EDEC 4320 Cultural Perspectives in Working with Children and Families, ECDP 3341 Child and Adolescent Mental Health, EDEC 2405 Supporting Children and Adolescents with Special Needs
- Research: ECDP 4510 Research Methods and Program Evaluation

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Georgia

University of Georgia (2023-2025)

Athens, GA
Website: http://www.fcs.uga.edu/hdfs/graduate-programs-m.s.-child-life
Department: Human Development & Family Science
Contact: Diane Bales, Ph.D., Child Life Director
Email: dbales@uga.edu
Phone: (706) 542-7566
Degree:
1. Master's in Child Life
2. Joint Undergraduate Child Life Program with Augusta University
Date of Origin: 1980

Distance Learning Opportunities: No
Class available to non-matriculating students: No
ACLP Endorsed: Yes, the graduate program is endorsed
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes

Research: HDFS 2300 The Science of Studying Human Development and Families
Additional 3: HDFS 4860/6860: Parenting and Child Guidance, HDFS 4330: Diversity in Human Development and Family Systems, and HDFS 4900S/6900S: Seminar in Human Development and Family Science - More than a Four-Legged Friend: The Benefits of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT)

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Minnesota

Minnesota State University, Mankato (2022-2024)

Program/Department Website: https://ahn.mnsu.edu/fcs/

Contact: Heather Von Bank, Ph.D.

Email: heather.von-bank@mnsu.edu

Phone: (507) 389-2421

Degree Offered: Child Development and Family Studies, BS

Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Child Life Course: FCS 202: Introduction to Child Life Specialist
Play Course: FCSD 402: The Role of Play in Child Development

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Missouri

Missouri State University (Jan 2024 - Dec 2025)

Website: http://education.missouristate.edu/childlifestudies/
Department: Childhood Education and Family Studies
Contact: Dr. Lindsey Murphy, PhD, CCLS
Email: LindsayMurphy@MissouriState.edu
Phone: (417) 836-4492
Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes (100% Online)
Class available to non-matriculating students: No
Degree: Graduate – M.S. in Child Life Studies, and Undergraduate – B.S. in Child and Family Development with Child Life Option
Date of Origin: Graduate – 2016, Undergraduate – 2006

Courses Pre-Approved

Undergraduate:

Child Life Course	CFD 354 Working with the Hospitalized Child
Child Development	CFD 160A Principles of Development in Early Childhood
Child Development	CFD 557 Growth & Development Middle Childhood to Adolescence
Family Systems	CFD 163-001 Relationships in Today’s Families
Play	CFD 454 Therapeutic Play for the Hospitalized Child
Loss/Bereavement or Death/Dying	CLS 306-897-SP23 Death, Separation, and Loss
Research	CFD 580 Introduction to Research in Chil & Family Development
Additional Courses (ACEE)	CFD 301 Play as Development
Additional Courses (ACEE)	CFD 510 Child Life Theory and Practice
Additional Courses (ACEE)	LLT 102 Scientific and Medical Terminology
Additional Courses (ACEE)	CFD 353 Childhood Illnesses, Diseases, & Disorders
Additional Courses (ACEE)	CFD 305 Multicultural Studies in Child and Family Development

Graduate:

Child Life Course	CFD 610 Child Life Theory and Practice
Child Development	CFD 705 Growth & Development: Infancy through Early Childhood
Child Development	CFD 657 Growth & Development Middle Childhood to Adolescence
Family Systems	CFD 761 Advanced Family Studies
Play	CLS 715 Play and Therapeutic Intervention
Loss/Bereavement or Death/Dying	CFD 710 Childhood Death & Bereavement
Research	CFD 680 Introduction to Research in Child & Family Development
Research	SFR 780 Educational Research Methodology
Additional Courses (ACEE)	CLS 705 Aspects of Childhood Illness and Disease
Additional Courses (ACEE)	CLS 730 Cultivating a Trauma-Informed Lens
Additional Courses (ACEE)	ECE 675 Working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Children and Families
Additional Courses (ACEE)	CLS 720 Trends & Issues in Child Life

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New Mexico

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New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire (2023-2025)

Durham, NH
Website: https://chhs.unh.edu/human-development-family-studies/program/minor/child-life
Department: Human Development and Family Studies
Contact: Trish Cox, M.S.Ed, MSW, CCLS, Assistant Clinical Faculty and Kerry Kazura, Ph.D., Department Chair & Associate Professor

Email: trish.cox@unh.edu, Kerry.kazura@unh.edu
Phone: (603) 862-1853, (603) 862-2135

Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Degree: Undergraduate minor - Child Life Minor offered by the Department of Family Studies, must be matriculated at UNH to do minor.
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes

Research: SW 601: Research Methods, HDFS 555: Research Method

Child Life Course: HDFS 565: Introduction to Child Life

Loss and Bereavement: NURS 535: Death and Dying

Play: HDFS 697: Special Topics: Learning Through Play
Child Development: HDFS 623: Developmental Perspectives on Infancy and Early Childhood, HDFS 624: Developmental Perspectives on Adolescence and Early Adulthood

Family Systems: HDFS: 641 Parenting Across the Lifespan

Additional 3 Courses: Child Life Design and Programming, HDFS 709 Child Development Internship, HDFS 734 Curriculum for Young Children

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New York

Molloy University (Jan 2024 - Dec 2025)
Website: https://www.molloy.edu/academics/schools/arts-sciences/undergraduate/psychology/#accordion1

Contact: Cheryl A. Camenzuli, PhD
Email: ccamenzuli@molloy.edu
Phone: (516)323-3841
Degree: Undergraduate BS Psychology, Child Life Minor
Date of Origin: 2023-2025

Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
- Child Life Course: PSY 3800 Introduction to Child Life
- Play Course: PSY 3810: Theories of Play and Creative Art Therapies
- Child Development Courses:
  - PSY 2050-01 Child Development I: Pre-natal through Middle Childhood;
  - PSY 2060-01 Child Development II: Middle Childhood Through Adolescence

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Ohio

Miami University (Spring 2022 - Summer 2024)
- Oxford, OH
- Website: https://miamioh.edu/ehs/academics/departments/fsw/academics/majors/family-science/child-life/index.html
- Contact: Elise Radina
- Email: childlife@miamioh.edu
- Phone: 513-529-2323
- Distance Learning Opportunities: Some core courses are available online.
- Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
- Programs: Child Life Specialist Certificate (Undergraduate), Graduate Child Life Specialist Certificate
- Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
  - Child Development: FSW 245: Children & Families Ages Conception-12, FSW: 481 Adolescent Development in Diverse Families
  - Research: FSW 295: Research and Evaluation Methods
  - Family Systems: FSW 475/575: Family Theories
  - Death and Dying: SOC/FSW: 435/535 Death Studies
  - Child Life Course: FSW 318 Child Life Theory & Practice
Bowling Green State University (2023-2025)

Bowling Green, Ohio
Website: https://www.bgsu.edu/catalog/colleges-and-programs/college-of-education-and-human-development/child-life-minor.html
Department: College of Education and Human Development
Contact: Brittany Mikuluk, M.Ed., CCLS Adjunct Instructor
Email: bmikulu@bgsu.edu
Phone: 419-372-7401
Degree: Undergraduate
Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes. HDFS 3150 & HDFS 4150 are offered by Remote Synchronous Online.
Courses Offered to Non-Matriculating Students: Yes
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Child Life Course: HDFS 3150: Introduction to Child Life
Play: HDFS 4150: Therapeutic Play
University of Dayton (2022-2024)

Dayton, OH
Website: https://catalog.udayton.edu/undergraduate/schoolofeducationandhealthsciences/programsofstudy/
Contact: Sabrina Neeley
Email: sneeley1@udayton.edu
Phone: (937) 229-3572
Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Programs: Education & Allied Studies
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Child Development (2 courses must be taken to meet the requirement): EDT 211 Child Development Birth to Age 8, EDT 222 Middle Childhood to Young Adult Development, PSY 351 Child Psychology
Research: HSS 428 Research in Sport & Health Sciences
Family Systems: SOC 331 Marriage and Family
Death and Dying: SWK 331 Death and Dying
Additional 3: HSS 201 Medical Terminology, HSS 206 Anatomy & Physiology, PHL 315 Medical Ethics Section 1

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Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg University (Fall 2023 - Fall 2025)
Website: https://www.bloomu.edu/academics/programs/child-life-specialist

Contact: Michael Patte, Ph.D.

Email: mpatte@bloomu.edu

Phone: 570-389-4026

Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
- Child Life Course: CHLS 340 Children and Families in Medical Settings
- Child Development Courses: ECED 110 Child Development: Birth to Early Adolescence; PSYC 210 Child Development; PSYC 211 Adolescent Development
- Family Systems Course: CLS 345 Child, Family, and Community Engagement
- Play Course: CLS 344 Play, Creativity, and Expressive Arts
- Loss/Bereavement or Death/Dying: CHLS 341 Death, Dying and Loss – Child and Family Perspectives
- Research: CHLS 342 Applied Research Methods
- Additional Courses: BIOL 180 Anatomy and Physiology 1; BIOL 181 Anatomy and Physiology 2; BIOL 108 Medical Terminology; COMM 315 Health Communication; COMM 411 Family Communication; COMM 495 Advanced Health Communication Seminar; PHI 205 Medical Ethics and PSYC 212 Lifespan Development
Holy Family University

Directory Link: https://online.childlife.org/clcssa/rflcustomdisplay.detail_page?p_search_serno=1047514&p_vendor_serno=102680&p_cust_id=

Child Life Course: PSYC 348 Child Life Theory and Practice

Child Development Courses: PSYC 204: Infant and Child Development; PSYC 213 Adolescence

Family Systems Course: SOCO 206: Marriage and Family

Play Course: PSYC 319: Psychology of Play

Loss/Bereavement or Death/Dying Course: PSYC 342: Loss and Grief

Research Course: PSYC 322: Research Methods in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Additional 3 Courses (Any 3): SOCO 212: Race, Class, and Gender; PHIL 205: Bioethics; BIOL 307: Medical Terminology; BIOL 334: Applied Neurodevelopment; PSYC 357-A Developmental Psychopathology; PSYC 354-A Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder; PSYC 355 Behavioral Applications in Autism Spectrum Disorder; PSYC 341: Family Violence

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Texas

Tarleton State University (2024-2026)

Stephenville, TX

Website: https://www.tarleton.edu/degrees/bachelors/bs-child-and-famliy-studies/index.html
Contact: Dr. Deborah Anne Banker
Email: banker@tarleton.edu
Phone: 254.968.9941
Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes, program is entirely online
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Research: CHFS 4356: Online Research Methods in Human Sciences
Child Life: CHFS 4345: Child Life Theory and Practice
Child Development: CHFS 3300: Child Development Theory, Research and Practice, CHFS 1304: Infant and Toddler Development-both courses must be taken in order to meet the requirement.
Family Systems: CHFS 4309 Parenting
Play: CHFS 4340: Play Theory and Research
Loss/Bereavement or Death/Dying: CHFS 4355 Grief, Loss, and Bereavement
Additional 3 Courses: TECA 1318 Wellness of the Young Child, CHFS 4320 Early Intervention Services, CHFS 4350 Policies and Ethical Standards
Texas Christian University (2022-2024)

Fort Worth, TX
Website: https://child.tcu.edu
Department: Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development, Psychology Department
Contact: Casey Call, Ph.D., Assistant Director
Email: c.d.call@tcu.edu
Phone: (817) 257-7415
Distance Learning Opportunities: No
Degree: Undergraduate – Child Development, BA or BS
Class available to non-matriculating students: No
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes

Child Life Course: CHDV 40223:Fundamentals of Child Life Practice (taught by a CCLS)
Child Development: PSYC 30323: Child Psychology & EDUC 30143: Child & Adolescent Development (both courses must be taken to meet the requirement)
Play: CHDV 30223: Fundamentals of Play (taught by a CCLS)
Research: PSYC 30533:Developmental Research & Evaluation
Family Systems: CHDV 40493: Family Systems
Loss and Bereavement: SOWO 40563: Grief and Loss
Additional 3: CHDV 20123: Trauma-Informed Interventions, CHDV 25053: Global Advocacy, CHDV 50533: Case Studies in Child Development
Abilene Christian University (2023-2025)

Abilene, TX
Website: www.acu.edu
Contact: Heidi Morris
Email: hwm97t@acu.edu
Phone: 325-674-2000
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
Child Life Course: FAM 325: Child Life
Child Development Courses: FAM 275: Child Development Ages 0-11, FAM 280: Child Development 12-18
Family Systems: Fam 362: Families in Society
Play: Fam 335: Therapeutic Play
Loss/Bereavement: FAM 443 Death and Bereavement
Research: FAM 365: Research Methods
Additional 3 Courses: BIOL 291: Anatomy and Physiology 1, BIBP Biomedical Ethics, KINE 302 Medical Terminology

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Virginia

George Mason University (Fall 2023 - Fall 2025)
Fairfax, VA
Website: www.gmu.edu
Contact: HDFS Program Coordinator
Email: HDFS@gmu.edu
Phone: (703) 993-5856
Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
- Child Life Course: HDFS 301/Psyc 461.DLA and INTS 375.DL1 - The Hospitalized Child and Family
- Play: HDFS 302, INTS 375, PSYC 461 - Therapeutic Benefits of Play
- Family Systems: HDFS 400 - Advanced Family Processes

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Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (Winter 2024 - Fall 2025)
- Stevens Point, WI
- Website:http://www.uwsp.edu/fcs
- Contact: Becky Konietzki, Academic and Career Advisor
- Email:Becky.Konietzki@uwsp.edu
- Phone: (715) 346-3233
- Distance Learning Opportunities: Yes
- Class available to non-matriculating students: Yes
- Degree: Undergraduate - Child Life and Family Studies
- Date of Origin: 2018
- Courses Pre-Approved: Yes
- Child Life Course: HD 350/550 Child Life Principles and Perspectives
- Child Development: HD 361/561 Development & Guidance of Children, HD 466/666 Development & Guidance of Adolescents
- Family Systems: HD 367/567 Intentional Intimacy and Family Systems
- Play: HD 455/655: Child Life and Therapeutic Play
- Research: HS 360 Evidence-Based Research Methods
- Additional 3 Courses: HS 295 Ethics & Professional Development in Human Services, HSW 104: Medical Terminology, BIOL 287 Essentials of Human Anatomy

Programs Offering Pre-Approved Courses

California

Colorado

Florida

Georgia

Minnesota

Missouri

New Mexico

New Hampshire

New York

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Texas

Virginia

Wisconsin

Certification