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School of Behavioral Health
The Master of Science in Child Life Specialist is a 74 quarter-credit program, which includes a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship. Students are admitted into the program during the fall quarter.
As one of the few graduate programs in the nation that is endorsed by the Association of Child Life Professionals, students can expect a high level of both preparation and personal interaction as they embark on their career. Since inception, we have kept our commitment to maintaining small class sizes. Loma Linda University shares the same campus as the Loma Linda University Children's Hospital. This enables the program to provide in-class clinical training by utilizing the hospital staff and their facilities as a working lab. All of the core child life courses are taught by certified child life specialists that have ten or more years of experience working in a clinical setting. Additionally, we collaborate with our nursing department to teach within our program.
We pride ourselves on exposing our students to various clinical experiences within the community. Students are able to facilitate and actively participate in our Family Grief Support Group, Teddy Bear Clinic, Annual Child Life Symposium, Family Health Fair, Grief Camps and Teen Retreats. Students also have the opportunity to engage in research within our department. Additionally, students enrolled in the program engage in global community work in areas such as China, Belize, Bolivia, and Honduras, where they provide lectures on psychosocial care of children and their families and facilitate Teddy Bear Clinics.
Based on the program's alumni surveys, results indicate a high success rate of employment in the field and on the child life professional certification exam.
The field of Child Life is expanding and becoming more competitive. While its roots are traditionally in hospitals, an increasing number of Child Life Specialists are using their specialized skills to support children and families in a variety of settings, such as outpatient healthcare facilities, doctors' offices, hospice care, specialized camps, schools, court systems, and funeral homes.
Quarter | Application Open | Priority Deadline | Final Deadline |
---|---|---|---|
Autumn of 2024 | Nov 6, 2023 | Feb 26, 2024 | May 31, 2024 |
The following estimated cost of attendance is based on full-time attendance for the number of months enrolled per academic year. Estimated amounts may vary based on a number of factors. Students may use these estimates when applying for financial aid.
Year of Program Months Enrolled |
Year 1 9 |
Year 2 12 |
---|---|---|
Tuition & Fees | $44,640 | $30,879 |
Books, Materials, Supplies & Equipment Allowance (May or may not be purchased through the school) |
$4,500 | $2,500 |
Non-required costs that can be funded with scholarships/loans.
With your help, we can advance education and improve student success in our community.