Child Life prepares students to work with or for the benefit of children with specific medical needs and their families. Completion of this concentration meets the minimum course requirements for national certification as a Child Life Specialist through the Child Life Council (CLC).
Programs of Study
The Department of Human Development and Family Science offers two undergraduate degree options for its Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science: Child Life Option or Early Child Development Option.
Auburn's Child Life Undergraduate Program is endorsed by the Association of Child Life Professionals – 1 of only 8 in the country.
This program is focused on the creating students who are prepared to sit for certification with the Association of Child Life Professionals and practice in the field of Child Life. Through coursework and clinical work under the supervision of a Child Life Specialist, students will be prepared to support the socio-emotional needs of children and families in a healthcare setting.
Application Deadline:
- Fall 2026 admission: January 5
This program is focused on supporting Certified Child Life Specialists are who are already working in the field to get their masters degrees while continuing working. Through coursework and clinical work under the supervision of a Child Life Specialist, students will be prepared to support the socioemotional needs of children and families in a healthcare setting. Child Life Specialists who have already earned their certification are eligible to apply.
Application Deadline:
- Fall 2026 admission: January 5
Additional Information
- Articulate and apply HDFS-related theory to address the needs of individuals and families in the community;
- Students will demonstrate their critical thinking through writing
- Apply principles of professional practice in their HDFS-related field experience; and,
- Synthesize classroom and field learning to communicate preparation for accomplishing a specific HDFS-related professional goal.
The HDFS internship is the capstone course for our undergraduate majors. To best meet their personal interests and goals, students can select from a variety of internship tracks. The HDFS internship consists of an intensive semester-long field placement wherein students apply their academic training in a real-life setting. Through this “learning by doing” experience, students develop the knowledge and skills that are critical for successfully achieving their long-range career objectives. Our internship students also make valuable contributions to the well-being of individuals, families, and programs within the local, national, and international communities.
In order to achieve certification, students will have to complete pre‐internship practicum hours, an approved internship under a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) in a hospital‐setting and successfully pass the Child Life Professional Certification Examination after graduation. Practicum and internship placements are highly competitive and students must take initiative to be successful. More information on the Child Life profession and certification can be found on the Child Life Council’s website at www.childlife.org.
Since its inception in 2008, the annual Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) Internship and Professional Day has served over 4,000 of our HDFS undergraduate students, along with other undergraduates within the College of Human Sciences and across the University, and we have seen hundreds of university, local and regional program representatives. At this event, students are provided with an exclusive venue to learn about careers in Human Development and Family Science and to discover opportunities for practicum, service-learning and full-time internship positions. Through conversations with our community representatives, students also have occasion to practice their professional communication skills.
In Fall 2014, the HDFS department initiated the ePortfolio in the undergraduate curriculum. The ePortfolio is a 21st century method for communicating experience, demonstrating learning, and showcasing skills that support professional goals. The ePortfolio is a website directed to a professional audience and through reflective contextualization it presents a variety of artifacts that conveys the student’s preparedness for accomplishing their goals.
All HDFS undergraduate majors are expected to create an ePortfolio prior to graduation. Typically, students will begin their ePortfolio in HDFS 2030 and finalize it during the HDFS 4920 internship experience.
Information Sessions. Join us for 1 of our virtual information sessions this November. Attendees will be in breakout rooms based on their programmatic interests (HDFS, MFT, CL, MDP) and have an opportunity to talk with the director and faculty from that program. Questions are welcomed during these sessions.
Information Session 1: Nov 3, 2025 at 7pm CST. Register: https://aub.ie/openhouseNov3
Information Session 2: Nov 12, 2025 at 9am CST. Register: https://aub.ie/openhouseNov12
Application. More information about the application process is provided below. When you are ready to apply, visit the application portal on the Graduate School Admissions page.
Program Faculty
