CHILD-CENTERED, COMPASSION-DRIVEN

Child life professionals strive to reduce the negative impact of stressful or traumatic life events and situations that affect the development, health, and well-being of infants, children, youth, and families. This certificate helps prepare students for careers supporting children, often in hospital settings. Students completing the certificate, and a child life internship following graduation, are eligible to sit for the Child Life Professional Certification exam. Admission to the certificate is competitive.

Program Requirements

Prior to admission into the Child Life certificate program, students must complete the following prerequisites with a B grade or better: HDF 252 Introduction to Relationships, Marriages, and Families; HDF 357 Adolescent Development; and HDF 390 Introduction to Research Methods. To satisfy the requirements of the Child Life certificate, students must successfully complete the required coursework, with a B or better in each course. All certificate students must take IEC 255, HDF 301, HDF 302, HDF 500, and PHI 380.

IEC 255 Child Development
An overview of the various aspects of development in the social context for children prenatally through adolescence. Course will emphasize techniques of directed observation. (3 credits) Prereq: None

HDF 301 Supporting Hospitalized Children
This course uses Child Life theory to address providing developmentally appropriate psychosocial and emotional support to hospitalized children and their families. Topics will include assessment, common stressors, therapeutic interventions, parent and sibling support, procedural preparation, pain management, and bereavement support. (3 credits) Prereq: None

HDF 302 Learning and Healing Through Play
This course uses child development as the foundation to discuss the importance of play throughout childhood to understand, educate, and support healing. Students will learn about various forms of play for each developmental stage, the value of various play environments, and be introduced to effectively integrating play into therapeutic, medical, and educational settings. (3 credits) Prereq: Primary registration access limited to majors.

HDF 500 Child Life Practicum
This course supports students who are completing their Child Life practicum by providing focused assignments, discussion, and presentations on themes central to understanding and applying Child Life Theory to working with pediatric patients and families. (4 credits) Prereq: Offered position with Certified Child Life Specialist, HDF 301, HDF 302 (concurrently)

PHI 380 Death, Dying and the Quality of Life
A philosophical and interdisciplinary investigation of a cluster of prominent issues about the meaning of life and death, caring for dying persons, and the quality of life of the terminally ill. Among topics included are: death definitions and criteria; allowing to die vs. killing; euthanasia and suicide; life prolongation, ethics of care of the terminally ill; and rights of the dying. (3 credits) Prereq: None

  • HDF 254 Life Course Human Development
  • HDF 354 Contemporary Family Diversity
  • HDF/FFC 360 Introduction to Family Intervention
  • HDF 473 Family Life Education
Child Life Specialist Emily Bollinger for a story on the pediatric vaccine clinic on December 3, 2021. Photo by Pete Comparoni | UKphoto

Admission Instructions

  • Navigate to the Department of Family Sciences website
  • Complete the Child Life Certificate Application
  • Once submitted, your application will be reviewed for admission into the certificate program. Admission to this certificate is competitive.
  • You will be notified after the application review process has been completed. If admitted, the Child Life Certificate will be added to your record.
  • Navigate to the Department of Family Sciences website
  • Complete the Child Life Certificate Application
  • Once submitted, your application will be reviewed for admission into the certificate program. Admission to this certificate is competitive.
  • You will be notified after the application review process has been completed. If admitted into the certificate, you will then need to apply to UK as a Non-Degree student.
  • Navigate to UK’s Undergraduate Application Portal.
  • Apply to UK with a “Non-Degree Application”.
  • On the “Applicant Information” page under Applicant Type, select “Non-Degree”.
  • Under Program of Study, select “Agriculture, Food and Environment – Non-Degree”.
  • Your program of study will be updated to the Child Life Certificate AFTER your admission to UK has been completed.
  • Navigate to the Department of Family Sciences website
  • Complete the Child Life Certificate Application
  • Once submitted, your application will be reviewed for admission into the certificate program. Admission to this certificate is competitive.
  • You will be notified after the application review process has been completed. If admitted into the certificate, you will then need to apply to UK as a visiting student.
  • Navigate to UK’s Undergraduate Application Portal.
  • Apply to UK with a “Non-Degree Application”.
  • On the “Applicant Information” page under Applicant Type, select “Visiting Student”.
  • Under Program of Study, select “Agriculture, Food and Environment – Non-Degree”.
  • Your program of study will be updated to the Child Life Certificate AFTER your admission to UK has been completed.

Living Learning Program

The Living Learning Program (LLP) supports student success by placing students with similar interests into smaller communities in particular residence halls.

Academic Enrichment

Our college believes in learning by doing. Our students are required to complete at least one type of experiential or hands-on learning opportunity, such as undergraduate research, an internship or an education abroad experience.

Scholarships

Thanks to generous alumni, donors and community partners, we have one of the largest scholarship programs at UK. Only one application is required for our college’s scholarships, but there are hundreds of potential awards.

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Director of Undergraduate Certificate
Patricia Dyk, PhD

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