Child Life, BS

Program Co-Coordinators:

Priti Desai (124 Rivers West; 252-328-2866; desaip@ecu.edu)
Natalia Sira (322 Rivers West; 252-328-5544; siran@ecu.edu)

Acceptance into this major is on a competitive, space-available basis with admission each year prior to fall semester. To be admitted into the child life program, an application packet must be submitted to the child life program coordinator after the student has completed a minimum of 45 semester hours (45 s.h.), including the following courses with a minimum grade of B (3.0) or better: HDFS 2000 , HDFS 2001 , HDFS 2021 , HDFS 3002 , HDFS 3150 ; NUTR 1000 ; and an overall GPA of at least B (3.0). To remain in the program, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA with a minimum grade of B (3.0) in the following courses prior to internship (HDFS 4415 ): HDFS 3022 , HDFS 3321 , HDFS 3413 , HDFS 3600 , HDFS 4000 , HDFS 4201 , HDFS 4210 , HDFS 4303 , HDFS 4993 . Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to enroll in the child life internship (HDFS 4415 ) and earn a minimum grade of B (3.0) in the internship to graduate as a child life major. Internships are competitive, require formal application to the desired hospital or health care setting and typically need to be arranged one semester before enrollment. Students are responsible for interviewing and securing their own internship. (Note: Completion of a BS degree with a major in child life does not include certification as a certified child life specialist (CCLS). The Child Life Certification Commission, a subsidiary of the Association of Child Life Professionals oversees the administration of the certification examination. The Department of Human Development and Family Science will verify completion of degree requirements, but meeting other requirements for certification is the responsibility of each candidate. In addition, child life internships are only available to ECU students enrolled in our degree completion program.

Application Process

An application packet with the following items must be submitted to the child life program coordinator no later than the last Friday of March each academic year.

completed application
typed one-page (double-spaced) statement of purpose regarding why you would like to be admitted to ECU’s child life program
two to three letters of recommendation from faculty outside the child life program
curriculum vitae or resume
transcript of undergraduate work
two or three selected examples of writing assignments
documentation of a minimum of 50 volunteer hours and/or practicum hours working with children in a health care or special needs setting (ex. hospital, camp, clinic, etc.).

The faculty review committee will evaluate student applications on the basis of academic achievement and the standards published by the Association of Child Life Professionals, the governing board for the profession.

Minimum degree requirement is 120 s.h. of credit as follows:

1. General education requirements including those listed below - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

2. Core - 56 s.h.

3. Cognates - 15 s.h.

4. Restricted electives - 9 s.h.

(Choose from the following.)

Licensure/Certification Requirements in North Carolina

The curriculum for all ECU Certificates, Degrees, and Minors have been designed to meet the licensure/certification requirements in North Carolina and prepare students to sit for licensure/certification exams in North Carolina. The various licensure boards in each state are responsible for setting requirements for licensure/certification in their state. Other states have their own requirements, and you’ll want to make sure your program meets criteria in your home state (or state where you intend to work) before you apply. Search our state Licensure Dashboard to see if the program you’re interested in meets the educational requirements for licensing/certification in your home state (or state where you intend to work).