Child Life Studies Graduate Program

MSU Child Life Studies coursework is pre-approved by the Association of Child Life Professionals to meet the 10 course requirements required to sit for the Child Life Professional Certification Exam administered by the Child Life Certification Commission.

Course Categories for Certification	Grad Course(s)
Family Systems	CFD 761	Advanced Family Studies
Research	CFD 680	Research Methods in CFD
Research	SFR 780	Educational Research Methodology
Play	CLS 715	Play and Therapeutic Intervention
Loss/Bereavement	CLS 710	Childhood Death and Bereavement
Child Development (includes 2 courses)	CFD 705	Growth and Development: Infancy through Early Childhood
Child Development (includes 2 courses)	CFD 657	Growth and Development: Middle Childhood to Adolescence
Child Life course	CFD 610	Child Life Theory and Practice
Additional course options (must choose 3)	ECE 675	Working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Children and Families in Early Childhood
	CLS 705	Aspects of Childhood Illness and Disease
	CLS 720	Trends and Issues in Child Life
	CLS 730	Cultivating a Trauma-Informed Lens

Track options

Select a track option for your customized path to success. Standard and Advanced tracks are offered entirely online.

Student working with kids at child development center

Track

Standard

For students seeking to become Certified Child Life Specialists with no previous child life background or training.

Child life specialists helping patient in hospital

Track

Advanced

For students who are either A) a Certified Child Life Specialist seeking to advance their career and training through a graduate degree, or B) students with significant child life coursework in previous studies (e.g., undergraduate child life emphasis or concentration).

Child life majors doing art project with kids

Track

Accelerated

For Missouri State undergraduate students who would like to start their master’s degree coursework as they finish their bachelor’s degree.

Why earn a master’s degree in child life studies at Missouri State?

Enjoy a nice balance between work and school. You can complete all graduate coursework entirely online.
Be a key part of the psychosocial team. Help kids and families cope with trauma and stress.
We offer an affordable degree. Cover your costs with financial aid and scholarships.

Careers and outcomes