# 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*

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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](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=HDFS%20405 "HDFS 405") | Adolescent Development | 3 |
| [HDFS 408](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=HDFS%20408 "HDFS 408") | Hospitalized Children | 4 |
| [HDFS 425](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=HDFS%20425 "HDFS 425") | Family Stress and Change | 4 |
| [HDFS 508](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=HDFS%20508 "HDFS 508") | Ethics in the Helping Professions | 4 |
| [HDFS 518](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=HDFS%20518 "HDFS 518") | Therapeutic Play and Activities | 4 |
| [HDFS 558](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=HDFS%20558 "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*

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## Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will be able to assess the developmental and psycho-social needs of infants, children, youth, and families.
2. Students will be able to initiate and maintain meaningful and therapeutic relationships with infants, children, youth, and families.
3. Students will be able to provide opportunities for play for infants, children, youth, and families.
4. Students will be able to provide safe, therapeutic, and healing environments for infants, children, youth, and families.
5. Students will be able to support infants, children, youth, and families in coping with stressful events.
6. 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.
7. Students will be able to practice within the scope of their professional and personal knowledge and skill base.
8. Students will be able to continuously engage in self-reflective professional child life practice.
9. Students will be able to function as a member of the service team.
10. Students will be able to represent and communicate to others child life practice and psycho-social issues of infants, children, youth, and families.
11. Students will be able to integrate clinical evidence and fundamental child life knowledge into professional decision making.
12. Students will be able to implement child life services within the structure and culture of the work environment.
13. Learn HIPPA and other data privacy rules related to medical settings.

*for the Master of Science in Child Health*

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## **Department of Human Development & Family Studies**

Department Head: Dr. Ramona Faith Oswald ([roswald@illinois.edu](mailto:roswald@illinois.edu))

[Human Development & Family Studies website](https://hdfs.illinois.edu/)\
[Human Development & Family Studies faculty](https://hdfs.illinois.edu/directory/faculty)

222 Bevier Hall\
905 South Goodwin Avenue\
Urbana, IL 61801\
(217) 333-3790\
[hdfs@illinois.edu](mailto:hdfs@illinois.edu)

## **College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences**

[College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences](https://aces.illinois.edu/)

## **Admissions**

[Graduate College Admissions & Requirements](https://grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply)\
[ACES College Admissions & Requirements](https://hdfs.illinois.edu/graduate/admissions)