2026-2027 Course Catalog
Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/aces/child-health-ms/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/degree-programs/
for the Master of Science in Child Health
The M.S. in Child Health prepares students for certification as Child Life Specialists and is also relevant to other health-related careers.
for the Master of Science in Child Health
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | HDFS 405 | Adolescent Development | 3 | | HDFS 408 | Hospitalized Children | 4 | | HDFS 425 | Family Stress and Change | 4 | | HDFS 508 | Ethics in the Helping Professions | 4 | | HDFS 518 | Therapeutic Play and Activities | 4 | | HDFS 558 | Child Health Internship (enroll three semesters) | 15 | | Total Hours | | 34 |
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Other Requirements and Conditions (may overlap): | | | | Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall within unit | | 23 | | The minimum program GPA is 2.75 | | | | | | | | If any of the req courses were taken as a BS student, the student will select elective hours in consultation with their adviser to meet the 34-hour requirement | | |
for the Master of Science in Child Health
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to assess the developmental and psycho-social needs of infants, children, youth, and families.
- Students will be able to initiate and maintain meaningful and therapeutic relationships with infants, children, youth, and families.
- Students will be able to provide opportunities for play for infants, children, youth, and families.
- Students will be able to provide safe, therapeutic, and healing environments for infants, children, youth, and families.
- Students will be able to support infants, children, youth, and families in coping with stressful events.
- Students will be able to teach content, specific to the population served, including psychological preparation for potentially stressful experiences, with infants, children, youth, and families.
- Students will be able to practice within the scope of their professional and personal knowledge and skill base.
- Students will be able to continuously engage in self-reflective professional child life practice.
- Students will be able to function as a member of the service team.
- Students will be able to represent and communicate to others child life practice and psycho-social issues of infants, children, youth, and families.
- Students will be able to integrate clinical evidence and fundamental child life knowledge into professional decision making.
- Students will be able to implement child life services within the structure and culture of the work environment.
- Learn HIPPA and other data privacy rules related to medical settings.
for the Master of Science in Child Health
Department of Human Development & Family Studies
Department Head: Dr. Ramona Faith Oswald (roswald@illinois.edu)
Human Development & Family Studies website\ Human Development & Family Studies faculty
222 Bevier Hall\ 905 South Goodwin Avenue\ Urbana, IL 61801\ (217) 333-3790\ hdfs@illinois.edu
College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences
College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences
Admissions
Graduate College Admissions & Requirements\ ACES College Admissions & Requirements