Tennessee Tech set to launch a new Master of Science in Child Life this fall, becoming the only public university in Tennessee to offer the graduate program.
School of Human Ecology Director Dr. Melinda Anderson said this fully-online Masters program equips students to advocate on behalf of children’s mental and physical well-being. She said the addition shows Tennessee Tech’s commitment to the profession.
“We are already blessed in Tennessee to have several pediatric hospitals, we have St. Jude in Memphis, we have Vanderbilt in Nashville, we have East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in the eastern part of the state,” Anderson said, “So we are already a state that places a high priority on pediatric care, and so it’s just a natural, you know, thing for Tennessee to also be a leader in the education of those healthcare professionals.”
Anderson said these Child Life experts can serve as liaisons between the medical procedures and the family.
“They’re going to provide a way for the child to understand the treatment that they’re undergoing and express their fears or concerns about what’s going on with them,” Anderson said.
With this degree, Anderson said, graduates can gain valuable skills to become contributing members of a healthcare team and work alongside doctors and nurses to provide psychosocial care to children.
The master’s degree also provides the training, knowledge and preparation to complete the national certification exam as well as earn internship opportunities in local hospitals.
“Trying to help the child verbalize fears or concerns through therapy is one of the techniques that they use,” Anderson said.
It is not uncommon for children to spend several weeks or even months in a hospital as they undergo treatment options. Anderson said certified Child Life Specialists are there to help normalize a suitable environment for growth and development during their stay.
Additionally, Anderson said this new program intends to give students a better chance at a foot in the door within the healthcare industry. Anderson and other experts in her field noticed that pediatric hospitals generally select students in graduate programs for internships compared to undergraduate students.
“We want our students to be as competitive as possible in that environment so we realized that they would be more competitive at the graduate level and that was one of the main things that prompted this change,” Anderson said.
TTU is currently accepting applications for its new graduate program, and those interested can apply online.