The optional Child Life Specialist concentration is designed for students who wish to work in hospital settings as Certified Child Life Specialists. Throughout this concentration, you’ll learn how to address the unique needs and challenges faced by children in healthcare settings and explore infant and toddler development, child psychology, play therapy, anatomy and physiology, and counseling. Prepare to become a Certified Child Life Specialist and make a difference in children's lives.
Maryville University Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies online
Explore the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of people and families across the lifespan.
About the program
- Broaden your skill set: Engage in a range of relevant course topics, from interpersonal relationships to medical terminology.
- Study human development: Learn how people develop physically, emotionally, and socially within the context of family and society.
- Unlock diverse careers: Pursue a career in various roles, including childcare director, patient advocate, and youth counselor.
About Maryville University
Experience a future-focused, personal approach to online learning with Maryville University. For more than 150 years, Maryville University has delivered high-quality education paired with comprehensive, personalized support. That means providing learners with the guidance they need from the moment they start their application to the day they celebrate their graduation.
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Curriculum
With Maryville University’s 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies, you’ll study the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social development of people and families throughout various stages in their lives. You’ll also examine human development across families, relationships and sexuality, and learn how individuals are shaped by relationships, community, and society at large.
This program offers a Child Life Specialist concentration and four track options:
- Early Childhood Development: Examine the cognitive, emotional, social, and language growth of young children within their family and community.
- Family Life Education: Learn to teach effective communication, parenting, and coping skills to individuals, couples, and caregivers.
- Youth Development: Develop the skills to foster positive growth in children and adolescents of all backgrounds, equipping them for a better future.
- Adult Development and Aging: Explore the social, emotional, and family dynamics shaping individuals as they enter adulthood.
Admissions
No GMAT/GRE scores are required to be considered for the online Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies, but you will need a high school diploma and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Please note, applicants with a cumulative GPA below 2.5 may be considered for provisional admission for certain programs. Maryville considers all transfer credits, no matter when you earned them, and will even request your transcripts for you.
The following materials are also required to apply:
Simplified, no-cost online application
Official high school transcript
English proficiency scores (international applicants may be required to submit scores that meet a certain threshold.)
Child Life Specialist concentration
