Program Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Health Care: Child Life prepares students to support the developmental, emotional, and psychosocial needs of children and families during times of illness, trauma, or grief. Grounded in the liberal arts and built in partnership with Norton Healthcare, the program combines a strong foundation in health sciences, psychology, ethics, and communication with specialized courses in child development, family systems, therapeutic play, and child life practice. Graduates are prepared for diverse career paths, including child and family services, pediatric health care, nonprofit work, and graduate study in related fields.
Students gain hands-on experience, foundational health care knowledge, and specialized training through classroom learning and clinical exposure in leading pediatric hospitals. Courses
are delivered in a hybrid format, with select online options for added flexibility. Students in the Child Life program will complete experiential learning through internships and course work.
All students are eligible for merit-based scholarships that first-time Bellarmine students receive. In addition, students have the opportunity to apply to the Norton Healthcare Career-Ready: Child Life Program. This program offers Norton Scholar financial assistance of up to $45,000 in exchange for a post-graduation work commitment, as well as dedicated education units taught by Norton Children’s child life specialists. Students in this program will complete a 600-hour child life specialist internship at Norton Children’s Hospital or Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital, providing real-world experience in pediatric care.
These options provide a debt-reducing pathway into one of the region’s most in-demand health care professions.
Why This Program
The demand for professionals trained to address the psychosocial needs of children and families in health care settings continues to grow nationally and regionally. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in child life and related health care support roles is projected to increase by 13% between 2020 and 2030, reflecting heightened recognition of the importance of psychosocial care for pediatric patients.
Undergraduate child life programs are limited. Our program is differentiated through a dedicated, healthcare-aligned curriculum. Bellarmine stands out by offering:
- A formal partnership with Norton Healthcare for clinical alignment and internship opportunities
- A hybrid delivery format that increases access for working students and commuters
- A clear pathway to child life certification, graduate study, or entry level health care roles
What You Will Learn
Students in this program will build competencies in:
- Pediatric development and psychosocial care
- Family systems and trauma-informed practice
- Medical environments and health care communication
- Play, coping, and support strategies for hospitalized children
- Ethical, culturally responsive care
- Foundations of health care administration and interprofessional collaboration
Career Pathways
Graduates of this program are prepared for diverse career paths, such as:
- Child life specialist (with additional certification requirements)
- Pediatric patient and family support roles
- Child and family services coordinator
- Health care support or administrative roles
- Nonprofit and community health positions
Graduates will also be prepared to pursue advanced study in child life, counseling, social work, public health, or health care administration.
Mission and Values
This program reflects Bellarmine University’s commitment to human dignity, compassionate service, and interdisciplinary learning rooted in the liberal arts. The program integrates courses in the general education core curriculum with specialized child life and health care coursework, an interdisciplinary approach that ensures graduates are not only technically skilled but also critically reflective, ethically grounded, and prepared to serve diverse populations.
By engaging with community partners like Norton Healthcare and addressing workforce needs in growing fields, this program demonstrates Bellarmine's commitment to preparing graduates who can address real-world challenges and contribute to the common good in our local community and beyond.