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The Master of Arts in Child Life at Eastern Washington University is a fully online graduate program designed for aspiring Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) and current CCLSs who want to deepen their expertise and expand their professional impact.
The curriculum focuses on developing advanced professional skills, such as grant writing, research, leadership, advocacy, program development, and family systems. Graduates leave the program prepared for certification and equipped with the knowledge and leadership skills to make a meaningful impact across clinical, community, and systems-level child life roles.
What sets EWU’s Child Life master’s program apart is its combination of academic rigor, flexibility, and professional relevance. The 100% online format allows students to balance work, family, or relocation while preparing for careers supporting children and families in healthcare and related settings.
Whether you’re a practicing specialist looking to advance your skill set or taking your next step toward CCLS certification, EWU’s online Child Life master’s program gives you the tools, confidence, and community support to thrive in diverse clinical environments.
Request official transcriptsfrom every institution where college credit was earned. Transcripts should be sent electronically to Eastern Washington University.
Upload a current résumé outlining relevant academic, volunteer, and professional experiences.
Submit a cover letter (1–2 pages) describing:
Your interest in the EWU Child Life MA program
Your professional goals related to child life
How this advanced program aligns with your background and career trajectory
Provide contact information for two references: one Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) and one academic reference who can submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf.
Upload an essay (300–500 words) responding to the following prompt: “What is your child life philosophy? Provide an example of how your philosophy has influenced an interaction you have had with a child in a hospital or pediatric healthcare setting.”
Complete the ACLP Eligibility Assessment. This assessment is required to verify that you have completed (or are completing) the 10 academic courses required by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) before starting the graduate program. The ACLP Eligibility Assessment:
is completed directly through the ACLP website.
allows you to self-report completed coursework.
generates a summary confirming whether academic requirements have been met.
Upload completed eligibility assessment results to the application portal. If you have questions about the eligibility assessment or are unsure whether your coursework meets ACLP requirements, we encourage you to reach out before submitting your application.
Is this program approved to train veterans?
Yes
Program languages
English
Certification/license obtained as part of training program
N/A
Certification/license test preparation provided
N/A
Employment performance results
Data is unavailable for one of several reasons: In some cases, the institution has not provided the Workforce Board with data to independently evaluate program performance. We encourage all schools to provide this data on an annual basis. In other cases, the program joined Career Bridge recently and student data has not been reported yet. In other cases, the program is too small or too new to provide reliable results.
Top industries for graduates
Data is unavailable for one of several reasons: In some cases, the institution has not provided the Workforce Board with data to independently evaluate program performance. We encourage all schools to provide this data on an annual basis. In other cases, the program joined Career Bridge recently and student data has not been reported yet. In other cases, the program is too small or too new to provide reliable results.
Careers for graduates
Data is unavailable for one of several reasons: In some cases, the institution has not provided the Workforce Board with data to independently evaluate program performance. We encourage all schools to provide this data on an annual basis. In other cases, the program joined Career Bridge recently and student data has not been reported yet. In other cases, the program is too small or too new to provide reliable results.
Statewide earnings and employment trends for related jobs
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