Child Life Specialist

Cupola atop a building on the Molloy University campus

Are you pursuing Child Life Specialist Certification?  We can help!

 Molloy University’s Psychology department has partnered with the Center for Professional Studies and is now offering approved courses needed for Child Life Specialist certification.  The courses are offered at a discounted rate of tuition for students with a bachelor’s degree pursuing the certification.  The tuition is $945 per three credit course. 

 Child Life is a relatively new field of professionals serving children and families in hospital settings. The Certified Child Life Specialist supports children's health and wellness by helping them and their families cope with stress and understand and implement treatment protocols. Through play therapy and education, the Child Life Specialist serves to distract, alleviate stress, promote well-being, and minimize trauma by empowering families within the health care system. Child Life Specialists require a bachelor’s degree in any field and 10 courses specified by the Child Life Organization.

 The Child Life Organization requires training that includes Child Life Theory and Play Therapy, both taught by certified Child Life Specialists, as well as the following courses: Child and Adolescent Development; Death, Dying and Bereavement; Family Systems; Basic Research; and three related electives.

 The Psychology Department currently has 3 certified Child Life Specialists teaching part-time. The Molloy University Psychology department offers courses in Child Life Theory (PSY 3800),  Play Therapy (PSY 3810), and Child Development 1 (PSY 2050) and Child Development 2 (PSY 2060) are pre-approved by the Child Life Organization. We are currently seeking approval for 4 additional courses.  

Spring 2025 Schedule of Classes

PSY 2050-02 Child Development I (online asynchronous) 1/13/25-5/09/25, Jaime Vitrano

PSY 2620-02 Death, Dying and Bereavement (online asynchronous) 1/13/25-5/09/25, John Alberda

PSY 3810-02 Theories of Play and Creative Arts Therapies (online synchronous) 1/13/25-5/09/25  Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:00pm-6:25pm, Jedidah Thesatus

Registration:  Opens for Spring on October 28, 2024

Follow these steps to submit your PS application and register for your courses:

  • Go to the Lion's Den Portal for Professional Studies at https://lionsden.molloy.edu/ICS/Professional_Studies/
  • Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "Professional Studies Application Form"
  • Go to "Click here to start filling out his form" and click the link.
  • On the first line for Professional Studies Cohort, there will be a dropdown, select: Institute-Child Life Specialist
  • On the second line for Term there will be a dropdown, select: Fall Institute, Spring Institute, Summer I Institute (courses starting before July 1) or Summer II Institute (courses starting after July 1)
  • On the third line for Subject there will be a dropdown, select the subject (psychology)of the courses you want to enroll in.
  • On the fourth line for Courses there will be a list of courses, check the box for the course(s) you want to enroll in.  Please note when your application is submitted and processed you are registered for the courses you select.
  • Complete the rest of the application and click, Submit Form

Payment for Courses: 
You do not pay at the time of registration.  You will be billed.  Bills are generally sent out once a month. However, you may login to your account when set up to pay for your course(s). Visit Lion's Den (Molloy's registration system) at: https://lionsden.molloy.edu/ICS/Professional_Studies/  and use your Username and Password to login. Click on the 'My Finance' tab and then click on 'My Account Info' to view your statement and pay your bill online. Payment can be made using MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or ACH check.

Online Format: Canvas and Zoom
These courses are offered fully online asynchronous or synchronous format.  Molloy University uses a Learning Management System or online platform called Canvas.  Online course that you take at Molloy will be taught using Canvas. Synchronous courses will also use Zoom. Online synchronous courses are taught in "real time" using Zoom, meaning students will have to login at a specific day and time as outlined in the schedule.

Once you have registered for your first course, you will be emailed a Molloy email account.  Follow the instructions in the email to set up your permanent account. (If you do not receive the email within 3 business days of registering for your first course, check your spam folder or contact Krista Lombardo at klombardo@molloy.edu . You can log in at: www.molloy.edu/canvas using your permanent Username and Password. Once you log in to your Canvas account you can look up the any assignments that the instructor may have posted. It is strongly suggested that you become more familiar with using Canvas by reading the Canvas QuickStart page at: https://resources.instructure.com/courses/32/pages/canvas-student-quickstart.  

Please note that a course will not appear in your Canvas account until it is published by the faculty member. While some faculty may publish their courses days or even weeks prior to the start date, faculty have up until the first day of class to publish their course to Canvas.  

Additional Information and Questions:

Applying, Registering or Tuition Payment, contact Krista Lombardo at klombardo@molloy.edu  

Academic Questions, such as course content,  contact Dr. Kimberly Johnson  at: kjohnson4@molloy.edu