• On-Campus Component
    No
  • Cost
    $1,773.50 per credit
  • Total Credits
    42
  • Credential
    Graduate Degree
  • Admission GPA
    3.0
  • Application Deadlines
    February 15
  • Campus
    Twin Cities
  • College
    College of Education and Human Development
  • Department
    Institute of Child Development

Our program prepares students to become skilled child life specialists and psychosocial leaders in the field. Whether you're just starting out or already a Certified Child Life Specialist, you’ll get advanced training to provide ethical, evidence-based care for children, teens, and families dealing with health challenges, stress, or traumatic events.

  • Build strong skills in research evaluation
  • Apply knowledge from developmental psychology to support diverse communities
  • Prepare to take on a leadership role in a variety of healthcare and community-based settings

Learn more about the Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care curriculum. 

To learn more about what child life specialists do and the professional standards for the field, visit the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) website. 

Internship

To graduate, you must complete a 600-hour clinical internship within two years of finishing coursework. The process of securing and completing an internship is integrated into our program as academic coursework, so you'll continue to receive support from our academic and student services team as you fulfill the internship requirements.

  • Students may apply for a clinical internship position at one of our regional partners: Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital, or Coping Copilots, a partner of the Institute of Child Development MA program.
  • Students can choose to identify and apply for internships outside our regional partners.

If you’re already a Certified Child Life Specialist, you won’t be required to complete an internship. You’ll work with your advisor to develop an individual academic focus and capstone project in a specialized area of child life, such as leadership, program development or a specific population relevant to your professional goals and interests.