Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care (MSc) is a master's degree in Medicine programme offered by McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. The programme runs for 2 years, delivered in a hybrid format.
At a glance
Degree:Master's Degree
Field:Medicine
Duration: 2 years
Delivery: Hybrid
We have no tuition fees or an application deadline on record for this programme yet — see the official programme page.
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The MSc in Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care prepares students to practice as entry-level child life specialists, members of pediatric interdisciplinary health care teams focused on the developmental and emotional needs of children and their families. The program builds knowledge, clinical skills and professional behaviours for child life practice and offers two streams: one for new practitioners, which includes clinical internships and has a nominal length of two years, and a second stream for experienced practitioners seeking advanced qualifications, completed over one to four years. Stream 1 is delivered through a blended combination of online real-time and asynchronous sessions with in-class formats, alongside clinical internships; Stream 2 combines online coursework with two mandatory in-person residency periods. The program is administered by McMaster University and reflects standards for professional child life practice in pediatric health care settings.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Applicants are expected to meet the School of Graduate Studies' general admission requirements (a four-year degree with at least a B+ average in the final year). Stream 1 applicants must also submit official transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended, a minimum of two undergraduate courses covering child development from birth to 18 years (required for Child Life Certification Commission eligibility), a current CV, a volunteer-work form documenting 100 hours in a child life setting, and three confidential reference forms (two academic, one from a supervisor familiar with the applicant's work with children). Shortlisted applicants complete multiple-mini interviews, and an offer is conditional on a clear police records check. Applicants whose native language is not English must provide a TOEFL iBT score of at least 92 (minimum 22 reading, 24 speaking, 24 listening, 22 writing) or an IELTS score of at least 7.0. Meeting these minimums does not guarantee admission; space is limited and the process is competitive.
