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Human Development and Family Science (Child Life Specialist), BS

USA

19

1

What will I learn?

The Child Life Specialist emphasis prepares students to support child development and family coping within the context of pediatric illness, injury, medical treatment, and grief in a variety of health care and community settings. Child life specialists use therapeutic play, psychological preparation, and coping skills interventions to help reduce the anxiety and stress related to illness, disability, hospitalization and medical procedures. Through a family-centered care approach, they provide parents and other family members reassurance and emotional support, help them understand psychosocial needs, and provide tools to help them prevent or minimize psychological trauma. Courses focus on understanding normal and exceptional child and family development, effective methods of working with children and families, as well as integration of theory and research into hands-on clinical practice experiences. In addition to a 100-hour practicum experience (selection is on a competitive, space-available basis) at MU’s Children’s Hospital, the student’s last semester is spent off-campus completing a 600-hour, unpaid clinical internship in a pediatric hospital setting. Students who successfully complete the degree program are eligible to take the Child Life Professional Certification Exam presented by the Child Life Certification Commission (CLCC) after graduation.

Common Career Paths

You can do nearly anything with a Mizzou degree, but here are some common career paths taken by graduates of this major:

  • Child, Family, and School Social Workers
  • Health Education Specialists
  • Family and Consumer Science Teacher, Postsecondary
  • Social and Community Service Managers
  • Social and Human Service Assistants

Which department am I in?

College of Education and Human Development

Study options

Full Time (4 years)

Tuition fees
US$34,322.00 per year
Tuition and fees are based on full-time enrollment, defined as 12–18 credits each fall and spring term.

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

19 August 2024

Venue

College of Human Environmental Sciences

106 Gwynn Hall,

COLUMBIA,

Missouri,

65211, United States

Entry requirements

For international students

Students must complete High School Coursework with 13 units (one unit = one year in class) of the following core coursework: Mathematics - Four units (algebra or higher), Science - Three units, Social Studies - Three units, Languages - Two units, Fine Arts - One unit.

High School grades

Your core coursework grades must meet one of the following requirements:

  • GPA of 2.5 or higher on a U.S. 4.0 scale
  • GPA of 3.5 or higher on a U.S. 5.0 scale
  • Average grades of 80 or higher on a 100-point scale
  • Average grades of 8 or higher on a 10-point scale
  • IGCSE scores of C or higher in five or more subjects AND three A-level certificates with a C or higher

If your high school does not use one of the scales listed above, your grades will be converted to a U.S. 4.0 scale. Scores are determined by the AACRAO International Education Services.

English Language Requirements:

Duolingo English Test (DET): minimum DET score of 130 on the test with 3 of the 4 section scores at or above a 100.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): minimum TOEFL score of 100 on the online test with no section score below 17.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS): minimum IELTS score of 7.0 with no section score below a 6.

Cambridge English C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: a minimum overall Cambridge English C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency score of 190.

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE): a minimum overall PTE score of 65.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

ADD TO MY FAVOURITES

About University of Missouri

The University of Missouri’s beautiful 1,262-acre site offers a pleasant place to enjoy top- class study at a well-renowned American institution.

  • Outstanding facilities across a beautiful campus
  • Dedicated international center
  • Focus on experiential learning
  • Diverse and active student body

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