Master of Arts in
Child Life

Children’s Studies
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Advance Your Career in Child Life

The Master of Arts in Child Life at Eastern Washington University is a fully online graduate program designed for aspiring Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) and current CCLSs who want to deepen their expertise and expand their professional impact.

This accelerated one-year program is for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and have completed the 10 required Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) prerequisite courses.

The curriculum focuses on developing advanced professional skills, such as grant writing, research, leadership, advocacy, program development, and family systems. Graduates leave the program prepared for certification and equipped with the knowledge and leadership skills to make a meaningful impact across clinical, community, and systems-level child life roles.

What sets EWU’s Child Life master’s program apart is its combination of academic rigor, flexibility, and professional relevance. The 100% online format allows students to balance work, family, or relocation while preparing for careers supporting children and families in healthcare and related settings.

Whether you’re a practicing specialist looking to advance your skill set or taking your next step toward CCLS certification, EWU’s online Child Life master’s program gives you the tools, confidence, and community support to thrive in diverse clinical environments.

Admission Requirements Curriculum Practicum

Why Earn a Master's in Child Life at EWU?

Get the advanced skills, professional experience, and faculty mentorship you need to grow your impact in the field.

Virtual Practicum

Complete a virtual child life community practicum to gain practical experience that helps you secure internships and job placements in a competitive field.

Skill Development

Develop research skills specific to the child life field, along with supervisory and managerial skills for administrative and leadership positions.

Preparation for Certification

Complete coursework that aligns with the standards set by the ACLP to help you progress on your journey to becoming a Certified Child Life Specialist.

Flexible Online Courses

Study anytime, anywhere while still receiving one-on-one guidance from faculty and building strong industry connections.

Accelerated 12-Month Program

Earn your Child Life master’s degree in just one year and advance your career in child life more quickly.

Faculty Mentorship

Learn from experienced faculty with professional backgrounds in child life, research, and family-centered care.

What Our Graduates Say

“What I loved most about the Children’s Studies program is the support I had from my surrounding peers and faculty members. I never once felt as though I was going through this journey alone. Everyone supports each other, and I think that is really special to find. This program is so unique, and the work we do is important to children in every aspect of their life.” — Kelsie Lee, MA, CLS

“The online Child Life master’s degree was exactly what I needed to reach my goals. Since graduating, I’ve developed a rural hospital practicum for students and serve as program director at a pediatric oncology camp. I credit my time in the EWU Children’s Studies program for helping me advance my career and find new ways to use my skills.” — Belinda Thayn ’22, MA, CCLS

Alum Spotlight

Blanca Lilia Hernandez, a 2024 alumna of EWU’s online child life graduate program, now serves as a Certified Child Life Specialist at Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center in California, where she utilizes a holistic approach to advocate for human dignity and offer compassionate, family-centered clinical care of the highest quality.

While searching for her ideal child life graduate program, Hernandez learned about EWU via an online information session. She was drawn to the child life program’s affordability, flexibility and practicality.

“I was able to work full-time, study from the comfort of my home [in California] and tend to my work and household responsibilities with the opportunity to continue my education,” Hernandez said.

Continue Reading

Headshot of Blanca Hernandez, a Child Life graduate

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Child Life, Master of Arts (MA)

Required Core Courses25
FAMILY SYSTEMS IN HEALTHCARE
CHILD LIFE RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
ADMINISTRATION IN CHILD LIFE PROGRAMS
CHILD LIFE GRANT WRITING
CHILD LIFE THESIS
CHILD LIFE RESEARCH PROJECT
Required Electives–All students are required to take four electives. Additional electives available with prior approval from Child Life Advisor.19-20
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN CHILDHOOD
TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
MINDFULNESS AND ALTERNATIVE PRACTICES FOR WORKING WITH CHILDREN
DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN
PEDIATRIC MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
CHILD LIFE PRACTICE ASSESSMENT AND PREPARATION
SCHOOL REINTEGRATION AND SUPPORT
PEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE
NON-TRADITIONAL CHILD LIFE
INTERNATIONAL CHILD LIFE
Required Clinical Experience–for students who need hospital affiliation for child life practicum or child life internship.0-6
CHILD LIFE PRACTICUM AND INTERNSHIP
Total Credits44-51

Child Life Community Virtual Practicum

Eastern Washington University offers a child life community practicum opportunity, giving students over 140 hours of hands-on experience. This practicum is available once a year for MA Child Life students, typically during the summer and fall quarters.

Students in the practicum are required to commit to 12-15 hours per week to complete the 120+ hours of practicum content.

There is also a 20+ hour in-person shadowing experience of a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS). Schedules are coordinated between the student and the hospital.

This practicum is designed for graduate students who have completed or are in the process of completing 10 ACLP-required courses. Before starting the practicum, students need to complete the CCLS-taught Theory & Practice course and at least one course focused on development.

EWU Child Life graduate students receive priority placement, and any remaining spots will be available to graduate students from other programs. Participating students must be eligible to complete the required COVID-19 vaccines to perform the 20+ hours of shadowing.

EWU was the first to offer a virtual child life community practicum experience, beginning in 2020. Unlike traditional practicums, which typically involve in-person shadowing in one or two hospital units, our virtual program encompasses both traditional hospital settings and community-based child life opportunities. This approach introduces many of our students to diverse career paths within the field of child life.

Our students actively participate in virtual medical camps and in-hospital studio programming, gaining hands-on experiences with pediatric patients and the application of technology in their interactions.

In-person shadowing experiences allow our practicum students to work closely with a child life team for over 20 hours. During this time, they have the opportunity to use technology for therapeutic interventions and gain exposure to various child life practice settings. These experiences give students unique skills and insights, helping them stand out as candidates for internships.

This practicum experience adheres to the standards recommended by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) and incorporates all the Internship Readiness Modules outlined by the ACLP.

Admission Requirements

Applications are open!

Criteria

To be eligible to apply for this program, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
  • Completed all academic coursework required by the Association for Child Life Professionals (ACLP) for certification eligibility. A full list of required courses is available on the ACLP website.

Provisional admission:
Applicants who have completed most, but not all, ACLP-required coursework may be considered for provisional admission.

Provisionally admitted students must complete any remaining ACLP academic requirements before progressing fully in the program.

Applicants who have not yet completed the required ACLP coursework should apply through EWU’s post-baccalaureate pathway to complete the necessary academic preparation before entering the MA program.

If you’re unsure whether your coursework meets ACLP requirements, we encourage you to complete the ACLP Eligibility Assessment or reach out to the Program Director for guidance.

Application Components

As part of the application process, applicants will be asked to complete the following:

  • Request official transcripts from every institution where college credit was earned. Transcripts should be sent electronically to Eastern Washington University.
  • Upload a current résumé outlining relevant academic, volunteer, and professional experiences.
  • Submit a cover letter (1–2 pages) describing:
    • Your interest in the EWU Child Life MA program
    • Your professional goals related to child life
    • How this advanced program aligns with your background and career trajectory
  • Provide contact information for two references: one Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) and one academic reference who can submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf.
  • Upload an essay (300–500 words) responding to the following prompt: “What is your child life philosophy? Provide an example of how your philosophy has influenced an interaction you have had with a child in a hospital or pediatric healthcare setting.”
  • Complete the ACLP Eligibility Assessment. This assessment is required to verify that you have completed (or are completing) the 10 academic courses required by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) before starting the graduate program. The ACLP Eligibility Assessment:
    • is completed directly through the ACLP website.
    • allows you to self-report completed coursework.
    • generates a summary confirming whether academic requirements have been met.
  • Upload completed eligibility assessment results to the application portal. If you have questions about the eligibility assessment or are unsure whether your coursework meets ACLP requirements, we encourage you to reach out before submitting your application.
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Children’s Studies

E: childrenstudies@ewu.edu
P: 509.359.6085

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