Certificated Lactation Educator (CLE) for CSUN Students
Undergraduate Course (Available for Graduate Credit)
HSCI 434: Lactation Education: Prenatal and Perinatal Period (3)
Prerequisite: Junior Standing. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide families in the community with breastfeeding education and support during the prenatal and perinatal period. Available for graduate credit.
Topics covered in this course includes:
- The history of Infant Feeding
- Medical Advantages of Breastfeeding and Risks of Formula Feeding
- Understanding the Unique and Species-Specific Factors in Human Milk
- National and International Breastfeeding Promotion Initiatives
- Careers in Lactation
- Anatomy and Physiology of Lactation
- Application of Health Behavior Theory to Understanding
- Breastfeeding Behavior
- Common Breastfeeding Barriers and Strategies to Overcome those Barriers
- Lactation Myths and Misconceptions
- Counseling and Communication Skills for Lactation Professionals
- Nutrition During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
- Hospital Practices that Influence Breastfeeding
- Key Concepts for Getting Breastfeeding Off to a Good Start
Yes, HSCI 434-Lactation Education: Prenatal Perinatal Period is recognized by the Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Committee (LEAARC) as basic education (under 90 hours) for breastfeeding educators and counselors.
What is a LEAARC Recognized Breastfeeding Course?
Currently there is no international or national certification exam that enables individuals to become certified as a lactation educator. However, the International lactation accreditation agency, LEAARC has developed a process for recognizing courses whose stated mission is to prepare students as lactation educators.
LEAARC recognized breastfeeding courses “are among the leaders in the field of lactation and breastfeeding education. LEAARC endorsement assures students that these programs cover essential topics and skills, have a qualified faculty, and portray themselves honestly in their advertising. LEAARC endorsement provides a reliable indicator of educational quality to employers, insurers, counselors, educators, governmental officials, and the public, based on adherence to established criteria and standards of the profession. Students who seek guidance in the selection of a course look for one their profession endorses.”
Minor in Human Lactation program requirements
This course will satisfy one of the course requirements for the Minor in Human Lactation.
More information on the Minor in Human Lactation
B.S in Public Health degree requirements
This course will satisfy 3 units of the 12 units of required elective coursework that is part of the B.S. in Public Health degree requirements.
B.S. in Public Health Program Brochure
Master of Public Health Program
This course will satisfy 3 units of required elective coursework that is part of the Master of Public Health Program degree requirements.
Master of Science in Human Nutrition
This course will satisfy 3 units of required elective coursework that is part of the Master in Human Nutrition Program degree requirements.
All other Majors
Contact your department Advisor if you have specific questions on how the course will help you progress toward graduation.
After successful completion of this course, you may call yourself a “Certificated Lactation Educator (CLE)”.