Earn your joint BA or BS and MS in Child Life
Iowa U2G–undergrad to grad in 5 years
The combined program allows qualified students to begin work toward a master's degree while they complete their bachelor's degree. It permits students to count certain courses toward both degrees, completing them in less time than they would need to complete each degree separately.
The completion of the two degrees in five years is designed for students who wish to pursue a career providing services to children and their families, primarily in the health care field. Graduates are eligible to be credentialed professionals in child life (certified child life specialist). They fill positions such as child life specialist, activity director, or administrative positions.
Students follow the standard curriculum of their BA/BS degree the first two years and complete all the prerequisite courses for the MS degree in health and human physiology with a child life subprogram during the third year. Successful students receive a BA/BS at the end of the fourth year and a MS at the end of the fifth year.
U2G qualifications and application process
Program qualifications
Applicants to the combined program must:
- Be enrolled as a BA/BS student at the University of Iowa
- Have completed a minimum of 80 semester hours at the time of admission to the combined program, with at least 30 semester hours earned at the University of Iowa
- Have a cumulative University of Iowa GPA of at least 3.25
- Have completed all GE CLAS Core requirements and all prerequisites
- Human anatomy
- Medical terminology
- Two child development courses (focus on children 0-18)
- Strongly recommended—an introductory course in child life
U2G program application process
Applicants must submit a letter of application to the program that includes a statement of purpose, a résumé and three letters of recommendation.
Each application is reviewed by the program and requires support from the applicant's undergraduate advisor. Recommendations for approval will be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website.
COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FOR THE UI GRADUATE PROGRAM
Materials you will need to include:
- Your personal statement
- Your transcript (unofficial is fine at this stage)
- A current resume/curriculum vitae
- The names and contact information for three letters of recommendation (letter writers will submit their letters electronically through the Office of Admissions application, a process that you will be able to monitor)
- GRE Scores are NOT required
Questions?
Emily Mozena
Additional information
Learn more about the University of Iowa's Undergraduate-to-Graduate (U2G) programs by visiting the U2G page on the Graduate College site.