Boston University campus

Health Sciences

MS in Child Life & Family-Centered Care at Boston University

Boston University, United States

Programme overview

Prepares students to work on interdisciplinary healthcare teams supporting the psychosocial and developmental needs of children and families. It is designed for entry-level child life specialist roles and is ACLP-endorsed, preparing students for the Association of Child Life Professionals certification exam.

Faculty: Wheelock College of Education & Human Development  |  Duration: 48 unit hours; three terms (cohort)  |  Intake: Fall  |  Study mode: full-time  |  Location: Boston, MA, United States

What you will study

48 units: required child life courses (28 units) including Child Development and Family in Healthcare, Methods and Materials in Child Life, Clinical Issues, Child Life Program Development and two clinical internships and seminars (a 400-hour and a 200-hour internship at different sites); additional required courses (16 units) in Bereavement Care, Working with Parents, Meaning and Development of Play and Introduction to Research; and a 4-unit elective.

Career pathways

Entry-level child life specialist positions; eligibility for the ACLP certification exam.

Official programme page

Application information

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences master's programmes admit for Fall 2027; Spring 2027 entry is offered for selected programmes (Economics MS programmes, History of Art & Architecture MA, Preservation Studies MA, Online MS in Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence).

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Fall 2027 master's deadlines are mostly priority January 15 and final March 15 (African American & Black Diaspora Studies priority February 15, final March 15; Preservation Studies February 15; Sociology and History of Art & Architecture January 15). Spring 2027 deadlines for selected programmes are priority October 15 and final November 15. Applications are submitted through the online application; the GRE is required only for the Economics MS/MA programmes and the MS in Psychological & Brain Sciences.

Explore more study programmes

Health Sciences

BS in Health Science

Boston University, United States

Degree
Bachelor's
Next intake
First-year entry is September (Fall); Early Decision is binding for September admission. Transfer en

Health Sciences

BS in Human Physiology

Boston University, United States

Degree
Bachelor's
Next intake
First-year entry is September (Fall); Early Decision is binding for September admission. Transfer en

View all study programmes →

Ready to start your study abroad journey?

Book a free consultation with our expert counsellors and take the first step towards your dream university.

Copyrights © 2026 StudyMapped. All rights reserved.