Special Notification
- No application fee required.
- Cost of attendance details are available on this page.
Program Description
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.
The program is dedicated to providing students with a comprehensive range of community-based and clinical training experiences. Students participate in structured skills days and a variety of community events, including support groups, Teddy Bear Clinics, the annual Children’s Day event, and grief camps. Opportunities to engage in departmental research are also available. Child Life students have had the opportunity to participate in global community outreach initiatives in countries such as China, Belize, Bolivia, Honduras, and Mexico where they engage with children and their families, participate in presentations on psychosocial care 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.
Program Length
2 yearsPossible Careers
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.
Application Deadlines
There are currently no published application deadlines.Admissions Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in the Social Sciences or equivalent
- Minimum grade point average 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) in bachelor’s coursework for at least the final 45 units prior to graduation
- GRE is not required
- Official transcripts on file
- Three letters of recommendation as specified
- Written statement of purpose for applying to the Child Life program
- Volunteer experience under the direction of a Certified Child Life Specialist is highly recommended
- Interview with department faculty as scheduled (on-campus group interviews are scheduled for mid-January through late March; other on-campus and phone interviews are scheduled individually)
- Those for which English is not their first language must present a minimum score of 80 for the computer test and 550 for the pencil test on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Prerequisites
Please reference Admissions Requirements.State Accrediting Agency
Loma Linda University is regionally accredited by the WSCUC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges [WASC] Senior College and University Commission).
Expected Cost of Attendance
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.
Required Program Costs
Academic Year 2026-2027
| Year of Program Months Enrolled |
Year 1 9 |
Year 2 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $46,581 | $33,518 |
|
Books, Materials, Supplies & Equipment Allowance (May or may not be purchased through the school) |
$4,500 | $2,500 |
Other Educational Costs
Non-required costs that can be funded with scholarships/loans.
Notes
- Estimated amounts are for the academic year specified only. Amounts are based on full-time attendance for the number of months enrolled per academic year. International students need to calculate 12 months of living expenses based on these amounts.
- Amounts are expected to increase each year consistent with inflation in the professional education sector.
- To qualify for financial aid, most students must be enrolled at least half time in an aid eligible program and be taking degree requirements. Half time is 6 units in a quarter for undergraduate programs and 4 units in a quarter for graduate programs.