QUICK FACTS
Family and Child Major
Students in child life typically have room to declare two concentrations (like a double major) within the Family and Child Major. Students with a double major will complete two internships:
Also, students in child life may choose to add a minor. A minor may be declared if the student will be completing at least nine (9) unique credits in the minor (not already required in the major). Minors within the Family and Child Major include:
The Major in Family and Child with a concentration in child life prepares you to pursue a career assisting pediatric youth and their families in health care and community settings. Child life students learn to apply child development and family practices to meet the needs of children from infancy through adolescence. Our coursework aligns with the curricular requirements of the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP), the certifying organization for the profession. Thus, completion of program curricular requirements, ACLP recommended pre-internship experiences, ACLP's required 600 hour internship under a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS), and successful completion and passing of the Child Life Certification Commissions' Exam leads to becoming certified by the ACLP. Students in the child life concentration are mentored by a Certified Child Life Specialist faculty member.
During course study, you will get to practice skills in labs that simulate a hospital room. Simulation labs provide in-depth experience to prepare for pre-internship and internship experiences. Once certified by ACLP, you will be qualified to attend to the psychosocial needs of youth and families in stressful situations, such as hospital stays, emergency rooms, outpatient clinics, medical offices, hospice, schools, funeral homes, and palliative care. A CCLS engages the person with distraction and calming techniques during medical treatment, immunizations, and more. A CCLS also provides developmentally appropriate medical education for children, youth, and families.
Program Benefits
- Quality Faculty: Our instructors have real-world experience in family and child. Read their bios.
- Hands-on Experience: Our coursework includes hands-on experience in the Mitchell Early Childhood and Family Center and hospital room simulation labs.
- Real-World Applications: Our programs offer real-world applications and immersive learning projects that make finding a job after graduation much easier.
- Living Learning Community (Education): As a freshman, you’ll live in North West Hall with other Early Childhood, Youth, and Family Studies students. Our Living-Learning Community will allow you to get to know your classmates and connect with our campus through team-building activities that promote higher academic achievement. Learn more.
Student Objectives align with the appropriate ACLP Competencies
- Assess the developmental and psychosocial needs of infants, children, youth, and families
- Describe meaningful and therapeutic relationships with infants, children, youth, and families
- Demonstrate the ability to provide opportunities for play for infants, children, youth, and families
- Articulate the knowledge to provide a safe, therapeutic and healing environment for infants, children, youth, and families
- Explain importance of supporting infants, children, youth, and families who are coping with stressful events
- Demonstrate the ability to provide teaching, specific to the population served, including psychological preparation for potentially stressful experiences, with infants, children, youth, and families
- Integrate importance of clinical evidence and fundamental child life knowledge into professional decision making
- Explain competencies required to practice within the scope of professional and personal knowledge and skill base
- Describe skills required to continuously engage in self-reflective professional child life practice
- Assess skills required to function as a member of the service team
- Illustrate knowledge to represent and communicate child life practice and psychosocial issues of infants, children, youth, and families to others
Take the Next Step
If you’d like to learn more about our Child Life concentration, complete our online form. Or one of the best ways to get a true feel for Ball State is to see it for yourself, so schedule a visit today! And if you’re ready to apply, review our admission requirements and complete our online application.
Have Questions?
Contact the Department of Early Childhood, Youth, and Family Studies so we can help.
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