Child Life, Administration and Family Collaboration (M.S.)

Admission Requirements

• Application Deadline: Feb 15
• Bachelor's degree in Family Studies/Science, Health Science, Human Services, Human Development, Psychology, Sociology or other related discipline with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for full admission or a 2.50 for conditional admission.
• Complete and submit Form A: Course Work Verification Form (PDF)
• Completion of the following courses with a grade of "C" or higher
• Biological Sciences (1 course)
• English Composition - minimum of one upper-division course
• Human Development across the life span - (1 lower-division course)
• Infant and/or Child Development and Adolescent Development Coursework (2 courses- 6 upper-division credits)
• Research Methods (1 upper-division course)
• Four upper-level courses from the following content areas:
• Death and Dying
• Education
• Expressive Therapies
• Psychology
• Sociology
• CCLS students may request a competency in lieu of coursework review for any of the above courses by completing and submitting Form B: Competency in Lieu of Coursework Request Form (PDF). This review would include documentation that verifies the individual's mastery of the course content. Successful requests for competency in lieu of coursework should include a didactic (re: workshops, professional development and/or related undergraduate coursework) preparation and professional practice.
• Admission essay that should not exceed 3 typed pages, double spaced, 12 point font, 1 inch margins. The essay should answer the following questions:
• How did you become interested in the field of child life?
• What strengths do you bring to the field?
• What professional challenges will you face?
• Why would you like to attend Towson University as a graduate Student?
• How do your goals coincide with our department mission statement?
• Complete and submit Form C: Volunteer Experience Verification (PDF) , which verifies completion of a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer work or paid work experience with children with special health care needs.
  • All 40 hours of human service activity must have been completed within two years of the application deadline.
  • The 40 hours must have been completed in no more than two different settings.
  • The applicant must have been in each setting for a minimum of 10 hours.

Send all admission materials to the Graduate School Office, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252.

Acceptance will be limited to 14 students a year. The accepted pool will be split between CCLS and those seeking certification.