Program Info
Program Description
Provides students with an experiential approach to learning about the child life field. Students in this program learn about child life services from an integrated client- and family-centered model of support care. Students in this program are part of the team responsible for supporting children and families through health care experiences and helping them cope by using developmental play and normalized activities in their environment. Evidence-based decision-making is explored as an integration of clinical experience, the best available research, and patient/family preference/needs. Each student in the program will complete an internship in a social services agency or medical facility. Students in this program are able to work in the medical field, social service agencies, companies supplying families with positive behavior support, and schools.
Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Engage with people from cultures, ethnic groups, and socioeconomic status (SES) different from their own.
- Explain the impact socioeconomic status (SES), disability and other human factors have on family life.
- Describe individual and family case studies.
- Explain the different types of early childhood exceptionalities.
- Compare and contrast different special education laws and policies.
- Compare and contrast the different types of behavior modification.
- Use different behavior modification techniques for different types of childhood disorders.
- Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in a professional health care and school setting.
- Reflect on their child life specialist assistant co-op experience.
Students will be able to work as a Registered Behavior Technician, child life specialist assistant, behavioral specialist assistant, peer support specialist, senior youth specialist, psychiatric care support specialist.
Applicants who consider a career as a child life specialist assistant should be aware that during the course of their education and subsequent employment they are likely to work in situations where exposure to infectious diseases is possible. This is an occupational risk in all health care areas. Proper education and strict adherence to well established infection-control guidelines can reduce the risk to a minimum.
Admission Requirements
Pass a criminal background check (CBC) completed through HFC. Must be 18 years or older. Must have completed a high school diploma or GED.
Program Requirements
| Course name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| ENG-131: Introduction to College Writing | 3.00 |
| PSY-131: Introductory Psychology | 3.00 |
| PSY-152: Child Psychology | 3.00 |