Contact Us
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Graduate Admissions212-875-4404
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Program Director, Child Life
Child Life Advanced Standing (Online)
MS
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Program Overview
Our Child Life Advanced Standing Program is designed for Certified Child Life Specialists who are seeking a master’s degree and who want to strengthen their knowledge and practice.
You will deepen and grow your advocacy skills as you provide family-centered care in healthcare and community settings. Coursework will prepare you to:
- Strengthen your skills in leadership, supervision, and program development.
- Support your grant-writing skills.
- Develop your knowledge and use of research to support the field of pediatrics and child life.
- Strengthen your skills for teaching children, youth, and their families about illness, injury, and trauma.
- Strengthen strategies to minimize stress and anxiety for children, youth, and their families.
- Learn from classmates and from faculty, who are all Certified Child Life Specialists with years of experience working in the field.
We are a fully online program dedicated to the principle that learning occurs in the context of meaningful relationships. You will experience a range of interactions that support collaborative and hands-on learning.
Supervised fieldwork/advisement is not a requirement of this program and the advanced standing track does not lead to certification.
This program culminates in a Master of Science and requires 30 credits.
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Did you know we also offer a Child Life Online Program? This program is designed for those seeking a master’s degree while learning to be an advocate by providing family-centered care in a variety of settings through coursework and fieldwork.


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Admissions & Tuition
This program begins in the fall term.
The fall application is currently open.
Application Deadlines
- Applications are reviewed in rounds to ensure you receive a timely decision.
- You will have five business days after the application deadlines to finish providing any missing required materials. Incomplete applications will be moved to the next round for consideration.
- In some cases, applications submitted after the final deadline will be reviewed on a space available basis.
- We strongly encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. This guarantees the most timely admissions decision and the broadest consideration for scholarships and financial aid.
Round Application Deadline Materials Deadline Decision Release 1 February 1, 2026 February 6, 2026 March 2, 2026 2 March 1, 2026 March 6, 2026 April 2, 2026 3 April 1, 2026 April 6, 2026 May 4, 2026 Admissions Criteria
In addition to meeting other admissions requirements, to be eligible for admission to the Child Life program you must:
- Be certified as a Child Life Specialist.
- Supply two letters of recommendation. One must be from a professional reference who has directly observed your work with children. It is preferred (but not required) that one (1) of the two recommendations be from a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) who has supervised your work with children.
Please review How to Apply for full details on the application process, admissions criteria, and application requirements.
Tuition
At Bank Street, tuition is charged per credit. The Child Life Advanced Standing program requires 30 credits for completion. Read more on our Tuition page
Financial Aid
The majority of Bank Street students receive some type of financial aid. We strongly recommend applying early and submitting your FAFSA at the time you apply for the broadest consideration for scholarships and financial aid. Read more on our Financial Aid page
Technology Requirements
This program is fully online, and you must secure access to the following required technology for all online courses:
- A personal computer with:
- Broadband Internet access
- Speakers, microphone, and camera
- Headphones, if participating from a public or shared space
- An updated version of the Chrome or Firefox browser and a free Zoom account
- For Supervised Fieldwork: A recording device (such as a smartphone, laptop, iPad, or camcorder) suitable for use in classrooms
These are required components of your program. It is your responsibility to ensure you have access to each item on this list. Bank Street does not provide or lend access to these devices and platforms.
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Curriculum & Courses
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Certification & Careers
Certification
When you successfully complete the program, you will receive a master’s degree.
Careers
Graduates of the Child Life program who meet the requirements for licensure pursue a range of career opportunities. In healthcare settings positions include: Child Life Specialist, Pediatric Psychosocial Care Specialist, Family Support Specialist, Patient Experience Specialist, and Child Life Program Coordinator, Supervisor, or Manager. Graduates also pursue child advocacy and family support in child protective services or adoption agencies, work in community programs or in private practice.
Students at Bank Street have full access to our robust Career Services, including the CareerConnect job site, opportunities to attend job fairs and workshops, and connections to our alumni network nationwide.
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Faculty
Genevieve LowryCourse Instructor & Supervised Fieldwork Advisorglowry@bankstreet.edu
Troy PinkneyCourse Instructor & Supervised Fieldwork Advisortpinkney@bankstreet.edu 212-875-4473
Deborah B. VilasProgram Director, Child Lifedvilas@bankstreet.edu
Child Life Resources
- Association of Child Life Professionals
- Child Life of Greater New York
- 7 Facts about Child Life Specialists
- Prescription for Play: How Pediatric Play Promotes Health and Healing
- Child Life Faculty Member Deb Vilas Receives Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP)
Child Life Alumni in the News: