Master of Science in Child Life

Prepare for a rewarding career as a Certified Child Life Specialist. Gain the knowledge and skills to advocate for young patients and their families, helping them cope with the challenges of hospitalization, illness or disability.

The Child Life program offers a unique collaboration with the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital Department of Child Life. Our program follows the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) guidelines and provides a comprehensive curriculum.

  • Benefit from coursework at College of Charleston and practicum experience at MUSC, home to one of South Carolina's largest child-life departments.
  • Our graduates are well-prepared to pass the ACLP Professional Certification Examination and become Certified Child Life Specialists.

Why get your M.S. in Child Life at the College of Charleston?


Gain a competitive edge with our program's unique features. 

  • Collaborative Partnership: Benefit from the collaboration between College of Charleston and MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital Department of Child Life, combining academic excellence with practical experience in a renowned healthcare institution. 
  • Community Engagement: Work with local non-profit organizations to develop and execute quality child lifeprogramming for diverse populations of children and families. Gain valuable experiences and enhance your internship applications. 
  • Expert Faculty: Learn from experienced faculty who are dedicated to your success. Benefit from their mentorship, guidance and support throughout your journey. 
  • Integrated Practicum: Apply what you learn in real-time through integrated practicum experiences. Work alongside certified child life specialists at MUSC's Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, gaining over 100 hours of close mentorship and observation.
  • Internatiional Opportunities: Opportunity for completion of an additional international practicum during the summer semester.

Careers & Outcomes


Join a network of successful child life specialists who have graduated from our program. Our alumni have secured positions in prestigious hospitals nationwide and have a 100% pass rate on the ACLP certification examination. 

Some notable career outcomes and partner organizations include: 

  • AdventHealth for Children.
  • Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
  • The Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital.
  • MUSC Health Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital.
  • Seattle Children's Hospital.
  • Texas Children's Hospital.
The cohort model and integrated practicum experience at Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital have been invaluable. I couldn't imagine a better graduate school experience. - Olivia

How to Apply


The entire application process is online. The documents outlined below are required components of the application. A file is not complete until all documents have been submitted and processed, so read carefully and prepare your application materials in advance of applying. 
  • Dates & Deadlines
    • September 1: Application period begins. 
    • January 15: Application deadline. All application materials and support documents must be received by this date. 

    You should request recommendations from academic sources well before the application deadline. Notify recommenders to expect an email from the Graduate School with instructions for submitting references. 

    You should begin compiling volunteer experience forms and personal resume into a single PDF file before the application deadline. 

  • Application Process
    • Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts will be accepted for the application, but official transcripts are required upon admittance. Transcripts from all academic institutions you have attended should be submitted. 
    • GRE Scores: Official GRE scores are required. It is recommended to have a minimum score at or above the 50th percentile for Verbal and Quantitative sections and a score of 4 or above on the analytical writing section. The analytical writing section is considered the most relevant to the program. 
    • Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are required. At least two letters must be from academic sources who can speak to your academic performance, such as professors from college-level coursework. The online application portal will provide instructions for submitting the recommendations. 
    • Volunteer and Work Experience: A minimum of 100 hours of documented formal volunteer experience with children and adolescents is required. It is preferred that a portion of these hours are obtained in a hospital setting, but other settings such as camps or schools are also acceptable. A personal resume highlighting your background and experiences, along with completed volunteer experience forms, should be compiled into a single PDF document and uploaded to the application. 
    • Personal Statement: Write a personal statement explaining your interest in the field of child life, how you have prepared for graduate study in child life, and your career goals. 
    • TOEFL Scores: If your primary language is not English, you must submit TOEFL scores. Recommended minimum scores are 20 in writing, 23 in speaking, 17 in listening, and 21 in reading. 

    Application Review and Interviews 

    After the January 15 deadline, all completed applications are reviewed by the Graduate School Admissions Committee for the MSCL program. Select applicants will be invited for interviews. 

    If you have any questions during the application process, feel free to contact the program for assistance.

  • Admission Criteria

    Undergraduate Coursework

    Completion of at least one course in infant, child and adolescent development (0-18 years of age). Additionally, 15 credit hours related to specific areas such as multicultural child and family issues, childhood medical conditions, health communication, medical terminology, developmental psychology and health psychology and/or child life theory. Additional recommended coursework includes medical ethics and anatomy and physiology. 

    Bachelor's Degree

    A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 2.75 overall is required. It is recommended to have a GPA of at least 3.0 in the final 60 hours of undergraduate coursework or a GPA of 3.0 in a major related to child life (e.g., family studies, psychology, sociology, therapeutic recreation).