Health Care Administration: Child Life
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.
Norton Healthcare Career-Ready: Child Life Program
In addition to merit-based scholarships, students may apply to the Norton Healthcare Career-Ready: Child Life Program, which offers financial assistance of up to $45,000 in exchange for a post-graduation work commitment.
Experiential Learning
Students in the Norton Healthcare Career-Ready: Child Life Program complete a 600-hour child life specialist internship at Norton Children’s Hospital or Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital. This immersive experience provides hands-on training supporting pediatric patients and families in real clinical settings.
600 hours
Internship Preparation
Top 15
NAB-accredited Programs Nationwide
13%
Increase in Healthcare-Related Support Roles
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.
Career Pathways
Graduates of this program are prepared for diverse career paths, including child life specialist roles (with additional certification requirements), pediatric patient and family support positions, child and family services coordination, health care support or administrative roles, and nonprofit or community health positions.
Graduates will also be prepared to pursue advanced study in child life, counseling, social work, public health, or health care administration.
What You Will Learn
- 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
Mission and Values
This program reflects Bellarmine University’s commitment to human dignity, compassionate service, and interdisciplinary learning rooted in the liberal arts. The curriculum integrates courses in the general education core with specialized child life and health care coursework, ensuring 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, the program demonstrates Bellarmine’s commitment to preparing graduates who can address real-world challenges and contribute to the common good in the local community and beyond.
Contact
Office of Admissions
admissions@bellarmine.edu
502.272.8000
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