Child Life Professionals are experts in the field of child development. They promote effective coping through evidence-based, developmentally appropriate intervention through therapeutic play, preparation, education, and self-expression activities. Child Life Specialists provide emotional support for families, and encourage optimum development of children facing a broad range of challenging experiences, particularly those related to health care and hospitalization. Understanding that a child's well-being depends on the support of the family; child life specialists provide information, support and guidance to parents, siblings and other family members. They also play a vital role in educating caregivers, administrators and the general public about the needs of children under stress. (www.childlife.org)
Child life is a growing but competitive field. Although child life has its traditional foundations in hospitals, an increasing number of child life specialists are applying their unique expertise to help children in other environments, including outpatient healthcare facilities, doctor offices, hospice care, specialized camps, schools, court systems, and funeral homes.
Qualified graduates of the School of Behavioral Health are given priority interviewing for behavioral health positions with Loma Linda University Health.
Application Deadlines
Quarter
Application Open
Priority Deadline
Final Deadline
Autumn of 2021
Sep 22, 2020
Jan 15, 2021
Mar 12, 2021
Admissions Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in the Social Sciences or equivalent
Minimum grade point average 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) in bachelor’s coursework for at least the final 45 units prior to graduation
GRE is not required
Health clearance
Prior to matriculation students must pass a background check
Official transcripts on file
Three letters of recommendation as specified
Written statement of purpose for applying to the Child Life program
Volunteer experience under the direction of a Certified Child Life Specialist is highly recommended
Interview with department faculty as scheduled (on-campus group interviews are scheduled for mid-January through late March; other on-campus and phone interviews are scheduled individually)
Those for which English is not their first language must present a minimum score of 80 for the computer test and 550 for the pencil test on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Prerequisites
Please reference Admissions Requirements.
Integrating faith and health
Loma Linda University educates and encourages a balanced life by living our values of humility, compassion, justice, integrity, excellence, freedom and self- control. You will be surrounded by faculty who are committed to healthcare innovation and research while engaging your spirituality.
Expected Cost of Attendance
Academic Year 2020-2021
Year of Program:
Year 1
Year 2
Tuition
$38,025
$26,605
Fees
$2,700
$3,600
Books & Supplies
$2,000
$700
Instruments
—
—
Misc (e.g., Boards, Licensing exam, Uniforms)
—
—
Total
$42,725
$30,905
Notes
Expected costs for the 2020-2021 academic year are based on full time attendance. From year to year, increases are anticipated consistent with inflation in the professional education sector.
Estimated Living Expenses
Academic Year 2020-2021, off campus, with a roommate
Year of Program:
Year 1
Year 2
Months enrolled
9
12
Room & Board
$12,645
$16,860
Transportation
$2,880
$3,840
Personal Expenses
$2,070
$2,760
Notes
Amounts are what a student can apply to borrow for the number of months shown in each academic year based on living off campus with a roommate and not with a relative.
International students need to calculate 12 months of living expenses based on the numbers listed here.
In general, to qualify for financial aid a student must be enrolled at least half time taking degree requirements. Half time is 6 units in a quarter for undergraduate programs and 4 units in a quarter for graduate programs.