The child life specialization applies child development theory to the practice of helping children and families through traumatic events, specifically related to hospitalization. The curriculum meets the recommendations of the Association of Child Life Professionals and includes several courses taught by Certified Child Life Specialists. Graduates are well prepared for career opportunities that involve work with children, or to pursue a child life internship and child life graduate study required to become a certified child life specialist.
Admission Requirements
Students wishing to declare a major in family and child life with a specialization in child life must be incoming freshman or have a cumulative CWU GPA of 3.0. Students who meet the gpa requirement will be admitted upon recommendation of a family and child life advisor.
Graduation Requirements
Family and child life majors with a child life specialization must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to remain in the major and must earn a C or higher in all courses used to satisfy the family and child life major.
Program Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate strong critical thinking skills.
- Use excellent relationship and interpersonal skills and demonstrate collaboration in work with peers and faculty.
- Demonstrate strong written communication skills.
- Use effective oral communication and presentation skills.
- Demonstrate insight into their own biases and privilege and will demonstrate respect for diverse ways of being and thinking.
- Apply knowledge of the scientific process to critique existing research and conduct research projects.
- Summarize family systems and developmental theories and apply theories in practice with children and families.
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