Child Life, Administration & Family Collaboration M.S.
Degree: Master of Science
https://www.towson.edu/cla/departments/family-science/grad/childlife/
Program Director: Lisa A. Martinelli Beasley
Phone: 410-704-3766
Email: lmartinelli@towson.edu
The Master of Science program in Child Life, Administration and Family Collaboration provides advanced education for those seeking the Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) credential. This program has a broad scope of curriculum that engages students from the lens of a child life specialist through applied research and clinical practice.
The program is 32 units. Upon completion of this program, students will have earned a graduate degree that includes course work related to Child Life, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Family-Professional Collaboration. The curriculum design of this graduate program is intended for students who are interested in pursuing graduate study in Child Life leading to certification eligibility.
Accelerated Bachelor’s-Master’s Program
Students may also earn the M.S. in Child Life, Administration and Family Collaboration through the bachelor’s to master’s degree program in child life. The B.S./M.S. program is designed to allow students to complete accelerated undergraduate and graduate degrees in a shorter time frame. This program is open only to undergraduates pursuing the Introduction to Child Life Track in the Department of Family Science.
Admission Requirements
Application deadlines and a full listing of materials required for admission can be found on the website.
Prerequisites for Admission
Applicants must have completed the following courses with a grade of "C" or higher:
- Human development across the lifespan (one lower-level course)
- Infant and/or child development and adolescent development course work (two courses - 6 upper-level units)
- Research methods (one upper-level course)
Applicants must have a minimum of 100 hours of volunteer, child life practicum or paid work experience (example, child life assistant) with children with special health care needs in a child life department under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist. Applicants with volunteer hours beyond the minimum will be viewed more favorably.
Applicants must submit a completed Volunteer/Work Experience Verification Form for each institution at which volunteer, practicum or work hours in the child life department under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist have been collected.
Degree Requirements
Students Who Are Not Certified Child Life Specialists
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Child Life Specific Courses | ||
| FMST 540 | THE HOSPITALIZED CHILD AND FAMILY | 3 |
| FMST 545 | INTRODUCTION TO ART THERAPY | 3 |
| FMST 602 | CHILD LIFE PROFESSIONAL SEMINAR | 1 |
| FMST 603 | THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF PLAY | 3 |
| FMST 604 | BEREAVEMENT, GRIEF AND LOSS: A CHILD LIFE PROSPECTIVE | 3 |
| FMST 640 | MEDICAL ASPECTS OF ILLNESS: A CHILD LIFE PERSPECTIVE | 3 |
| FMST 697 | GRADUATE INTERNSHIP IN FAMILY SCIENCE | 4 |
| Family-Professional Collaboration Courses | ||
| FMST 601 | APPLIED FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS | 3 |
| FMST 610 | FAMILY-PROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION | 3 |
| FMST 615 | APPLIED RESEARCH METHODS IN FAMILY SCIENCE | 3 |
| FMST 620 | PROJECT IN FAMILY FOCUSED PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| Total Units | 32 | |
Degree Requirements
Students Who Are Child Life Specialists
Entering students who are already Certified Child Life Specialists are required to complete 6 units of child life course work, 12 units of Family-Professional Collaboration course work, 6 units of Graduate Project/Thesis, and 6 units of Electives. Elective courses must meet the approval of the program director.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Child Life Specific Courses | ||
| FMST 545 | INTRODUCTION TO ART THERAPY | 3 |
| FMST 640 | MEDICAL ASPECTS OF ILLNESS: A CHILD LIFE PERSPECTIVE | 3 |
| Family-Professional Collaboration Courses | ||
| FMST 601 | APPLIED FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS | 3 |
| FMST 610 | FAMILY-PROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION | 3 |
| FMST 615 | APPLIED RESEARCH METHODS IN FAMILY SCIENCE | 3 |
| FMST 620 | PROJECT IN FAMILY FOCUSED PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| Graduate Project or Thesis | 6 | |
| Select one of the following options: | ||
| Graduate Project | ||
| GRADUATE PROJECT IN FAMILY SCIENCE | ||
Research Elective (3 units): may include additional research courses in fields such as child development, education, psychology, family science or FMST independent study (department approval required) | ||
| Graduate Thesis 1 | ||
| FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICE THESIS | ||
or FMST 898 | FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICE THESIS | |
| 6 units of graduate electives | 6 | |
| Total Units | 30 | |
- Students will demonstrate acquisition and application of knowledge in child life theory and practice, family professional collaboration and administration. Students will demonstrate literacy and technological competency in course work.
- Students will demonstrate critical thinking and clinical reasoning when providing direct or administrative services.
- Students will demonstrate professional skills necessary for practice as a child life specialist within the multidisciplinary team.