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Midwifery Education Program Courses
Quarter 1 | Quarter 2 | Quarter 3 | Quarter 4 | Quarter 5
Quarter 6 | Quarter 7 | Quarter 8 | Quarter 9 | Quarter 10
Quarter 11Quarter 1
Orientation (no credit): Orientation occurs before and during the first month of classes, with the intention of building group cohesion and introducing students to all aspects of the program. Primarily done online, the course includes orientation to the midwifery program infrastructure, staff and faculty, the curriculum and schedule, tools, and the skills needed to use online educational technologies.
Well Woman Health and Assessment (4.0 credits): This course includes onsite presentations, discussions, and skills practice with the objective of developing the skills for taking a thorough client medical and social history and performing and charting a complete physical exam, including breast and pelvic exams. Prerequisite: Enrollment in Midwifery Program.
Midwifery Care 1: Introduction to the Midwives Model of Care (3.0 credits): This course includes an introduction to the guiding principles, philosophy, and values of the Midwives Model of Care, an introduction to cultural competency, and an overview of the midwife’s role throughout the childbearing year. Basic principles of client education and health literacy will be covered. The course also includes an introduction to the professional roles, responsibilities, and legal issues of midwifery, as well as national and local midwifery organizations.
Introduction to Epidemiology for Midwives (3.5 credits): This course focuses on developing the skills needed to critically evaluate research relevant to midwifery care. Epidemiology for Midwives also introduces research methodologies and biostatistics and enables students to apply these concepts to evaluation of the efficacy and safety of midwifery and homebirth, the cost effectiveness of midwifery care, and the value of midwifery research. Additionally students will begin the process of identifying their Midwifery Research Project.
Perinatal Nutrition 1: Pre-conception and Prenatal (2.0. credits): This course addresses nutritional needs during pregnancy, emphasizing how nutrition can assist in the management of common pregnancy-related issues, as well as building maternal and fetal nutrient stores. Students will learn assessment, counseling, and nutrition-related problem solving for the pregnant woman and her family.
Quarter 2
Midwifery Care 2: Pregnancy and Prenatal Care (4.0 credits): Midwifery Care 2 includes the anatomy and physiology of normal pregnancy and an in-depth study of routine prenatal care procedures. It also includes assessment of each woman’s individual needs and treatments for common discomforts and problems in pregnancy. Throughout Midwifery Care courses 2-7, students use case management exercises to practice critical thinking and risk assessment skills, apply precepts of evidence-based practice, and work towards acquiring skills as culturally competent providers and understanding of the midwife as a community health worker. Prerequsite: Midwifery Care 1.
Counseling for the Childbearing Year 1 (1.0 credits): This introductory course consists of information, role-plays, and student presentations designed to develop basic skills needed for client counseling. Prerequisite: Well Woman Health and Assessment.
Genetics and Embryology (2.0 credits): This course provides an introduction to human genetics, genetic disorders, and embryological and fetal development, both normal and abnormal, with an emphasis on teaching and supporting clients.
Clinical Skills 1 (1.0 credit): The Clinical Skills course is presented as a series of on-site skills labs and workshops, coordinated with Midwifery Care and Clinical Seminar course content. The objective of this course is to develop many of the skills, both hands-on and teaching, necessary to practice midwifery. Clinical Skills 1 builds on and amplifies some of the key skills first introduced in Well Woman Health and Assessment and covers aseptic technique, medication administration, venipuncture, and further study and practice in charting and vital signs. Prerequisite: Well Woman Health and Assessment.
Pharmacology and Treatments 1 (1.0 credits): This course includes foundational information about allopathic medications and immunizations relevant to midwifery practice and the midwife’s professional and legal responsibilities around using medications.
Introduction to Practicum (.5 credit): This course includes an introduction to the documentation and requirements necessary for the midwifery program's clinical placements and an orientation designed to prepare students to work effectively in a midwifery clinical preceptorship. Prerequisite: Well Woman Health and Assessment.
Midwifery Research Project 1 (.5 credit) This course is part of a series designed to build on the foundations of Introduction to Epidemiology for Midwives and to further develop the student's Midwifery Research Project. Topics may include refining the research hypothesis, data collection plan, and application for human subjects review.
Gynecology (3.5 credits): This course covers female reproductive anatomy and physiology from menarche through menopause and provides an introduction to women’s health concerns including sexuality, fertility, infertility, contraception, unwanted pregnancy, and the diagnosis and treatment of common gynecologic problems and reproductive tract infections.
Quarter 3
Midwifery Care 3: Advanced Pregnancy and Prenatal Care (4.0 credits): This course includes information relevant to more complicated aspects of prenatal care: early pregnancy bleeding, management of the Rh-negative mother, anemia, infections, trauma, miscarriage, post-dates pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and hypertensive disorders. Prerequisite: Midwifery Care 2.
Counseling for the Childbearing Year 2 (1.0 credit): The course is a continuation of Counseling for the Childbearing Year 1, with discussion and skill building related to domestic violence, as well as resources and skills for counseling pregnant women dealing with substance abuse issues. Prerequisite: Counseling 1.
Clinical Skills 2 (1.0 credit): Continuation of the clinical skills series. Students will complete full-day neonatal resuscitation program (NRP) certification, practice client informed choice skills related to perinatal care, as well as learn principles and skills related to intravenous therapy during intrapartum care, and review and practice injections and venipuncture. Prerequisite: Clinical Skills 1.
Professional Issues Seminar: Cultural Competency for Midwives (2.0 credits): Students will learn about the relevance of culture to perinatal health care and investigate the impact and extent of health disparities as they affect maternal and infant outcomes in their own communities. Through the use of books, research articles, videos, interviews and guest speakers, students will raise their level of cultural competence and develop client education materials for a specific cultural group in their community.
Pharmacology and Treatments 2 (1.0 credit): This course continues with an overview of certain complementary medicines such as homeopathy, western herbs and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and their use and application in midwifery practice.
Clinical Seminar 1 (1.0 credit): Clinical Seminar is a 7 quarter series concurrent with practicum, focusing on the integration of theory and practice. As the course progresses quarter by quarter, both student expectations and complexity of case management skills increase. Clinical Seminar 1 learning activities focus on building basic skills in charting, phone triage, data collection, continuing education, basic management decisions, risk assessment and physician consultation and referral. Prerequisite: Intro to Practicum, MW Care 2.
Practicum 1 (2.5 credits): Theoretical coursework is complemented by clinical rotations with practitioners providing midwifery and related women’s health care.
Research Methods for Midwifery (3.0 credits): This course builds on the foundation and skills of Introduction to Epidemiology for Midwives and facilitates skills needed for the Midwifery Research Project series. Students will gain understanding in and apply appropriate research methods to their question of interest, including sklills in grant writing, IRB application and presentation of work.
Quarter 4
Practicum 2 (6.0 credits): Theoretical coursework is complemented by clinical rotations with practitioners providing midwifery and related women’s health care.
Quarter 5
Midwifery Care 4: Labor and Birth (6.0 credits): A continuation of the midwifery care courses, this course includes an in-depth study of midwifery management of the normal processes of all stages of labor, birth, and care of the mother and neonate in the immediate postpartum period, with an emphasis on preparing students for out-of hospital birth practice. Prerequsite: Midwifery Care 3.
Professional Issues Seminar: Modern Midwifery, History, Politics and Activism (2.0 credits): A review of the history of medicine and midwifery through the 19th and 20th centuries, focusing on the social movements of the 1960’s and 70’s that re-awakened the midwifery profession in North America. The course will also provide an interactive exploration of the current political climate in which direct-entry midwifery is practiced in the US and Canada, inter-professional relationships and challenges faced.
Counseling for the Childbearing Year 3 (1.5 credit): A continuation of the counseling courses, this course complements Midwifery Care 4 and includes information and skills for counseling, supporting, and effectively empowering woman through labor who have a history of reproductive loss, or who experienced reproductive loss and/or disappointment during pregnancy or birth. Prerequisite: Counseling 2.
Clinical Skills 3 (.5 credit): Continuation of the clinical skills series. Students learn skills need for intrapartum care: perineal suturing, simulation of cervical exam, rupture of membranes, hand maneuvers for receiving the baby, estimating blood loss and treating postpartum hemorrhage. Prerequisite: Clinical Skills 2.
Clinical Seminar 2 (1.0 credit): Continuation of Clinical Seminar series. This quarter further refines students' skills in charting, phone triage and risk assessment with emphasis on appropriate guidelines. Case questions and management problems increase in complexity to mirror student's clinical experience in practicum, continuation of case presentations, and use of "virtual client " with random phone triage exercises.
Midwifery Research Project 2 (.5 credit): This course is part of a series designed to build on the foundations of Introduction to Epidemiology for Midwives and to further develop the student's Midwifery Research Project. Topics may include refining the research hypothesis, data collection plan, and application for human subjects review.
Practicum 3 (4.5 credits): Theoretical coursework is complemented by clinical rotations with practitioners providing midwifery and related women’s health care.
Quarter 6
Midwifery Care 5: Postpartum and Newborn Care (4.0 credits): This course addresses the roles and responsibilities of the midwife during the postpartum period. It includes a review of breastfeeding, maternal physiological changes and psycho-social adjustments, common newborn procedures, and select newborn problems. Prerequisite: Midwifery Care 4.
Counseling for the Childbearing Year 4: Postpartum (1.5 credits): This section of the Counseling curriculum complements Midwifery Care 5 and includes information and skills needed to assess postpartum emotional adjustments and attachment difficulties and to provide early parenting support and intervention. Prerequisite: Counseling 3.
Professional Issues Seminar : Midwifery Legal, Ethical and Professional Frameworks (2.5 credits): This course covers state and provincial midwifery laws, processes for legislative change, quality assurance, professional liability, and ethics. The midwife’s role and responsibilities regarding current state, provincial, national and international midwifery are also addressed. Particular emphasis is placed on developing the knowledge and skills necessary to make difficult decisions in today’s complex professional and legal environment.
Clinical Skills 4: (.5 credit): Continuation of the clinical skills series. Students will learn newborn exam techniques, newborn screening technique, assessing and aiding with breastfeeding challenges, and informed choice and teaching appropriate to postpartum care. Prerequisite: Clinical Skills 3.
Perinatal Nutrition 2: Nutrition for Postpartum & Breastfeeding (1.0 credit): Part 2 of the Perinatal Nutrition course explores nutrition for the new mother and her infant, from a basic understanding of how nutrition can help the mother heal and recover physically from childbirth to helpful applications to encourage her to nourish herself. Infant nutrition (breastfeeding through introduction of solids) is also explored with the emphasis on making healthy food choices that best fit the mother’s and her family’s needs. Prerequisite: Perinatal Nutrition 1.
Clinical Seminar 3 (1.0 credit): Continuation of Clinical Seminar series. In this course students are expected to have refined skills in charting, phone triage and communication with other medical professionals, developing understanding of and skill with more complex management decisions. Case questions and "virtual client" exercises require the student to demonstrate higher level problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Prerequisite: Clinical Seminar 2.
Midwifery Research Project 3 (.5 credit): This course is part of a series designed to build on the foundations of Introduction to Epidemiology for Midwives and to further develop the student's Midwifery Research Project. Topics may include refining the research hypothesis, data collection plan, and application for human subjects review.
Breastfeeding and Lactation Education (2.0 credits): This course is designed to give student midwives the ability to educate women about the benefits of breastfeeding, to prepare clients to breastfeed, to understand the anatomy and physiology involved in breastfeeding, to assist clients with early breastfeeding, to help with common problems and to make appropriate referrals to other care providers for breastfeeding concerns beyond their expertise or scope of practice.
Practicum 4 (3.0 credits): Theoretical coursework is complemented by clinical rotations with practitioners providing midwifery and related women’s health care.
Quarter 7
Midwifery Care 6: Challenges in Practice (4.5 credits): This course will cover a variety of complications the midwife may encounter in clinical practice. Emphasis will be on recognition, current thinking about prevention/treatment modalities, including medical as well as complimentary and nutritional therapies. In addition to the role of physician consultation and referral, this course will also address controversies within the midwifery community regarding where and how these clinical challenges should be handled. Prerequisite: Midwifery Care 5.
Professional Issues Seminar : Health Care Systems and Health Policy (2.0 credits): This course addresses issues in health care organization and financing. Students will learn about formal health care systems in the US and Canada as they relate to midwifery practice. In addition, health care policy and health care reform will be explored with an emphasis on how midwives can function as effective advocates for improved maternity care policy.
Midwifery Research Project 4 (0.5 credit): This course is part of a series designed to build on the foundations of Introduction to Epidemiology for Midwives and to further develop the student's Midwifery Research Project. Topics may include refining the research hypothesis, data collection plan, and application for human subjects review.
Clinical Skills 5 (0.5 credits): Continuation of the clinical skills series. Using simulation models, students will learn and practice emergency delivery skills including breech delivery, shoulder dystocia, cord prolapse and unexpected twin delivery. Prerequisite: Clinical Skills 4.
Clinical Seminar 4 (1.0 credit): Continuation of Clinical Seminar series. Students participate in a variety of clinical practice skills including: a data collection project, "virtual client" exercises that continue to challenge students in making complex clinical management decisions, on-going practice in charting and phone triage with emphasis on valid management decisions consistent with safe practice and midwifery.
Practicum 5 (4.0 credits): Theoretical coursework is complemented by clinical rotations with practitioners providing midwifery and related women’s health care.
Quarter 8
Practicum 6 (4.5 credits): Theoretical coursework is complemented by clinical rotations with practitioners providing midwifery and related women’s health care.
Midwifery Research Project 5 (3.0 credits): This course is the first in a series of three designed to provide structure for the completion of the actual thesis project. Students will meet with their project review committee, refine the topic of their Midwifery Research Project and submit to their committee for approval a final version of their thesis proposal that includes feasibility, applicability and scope. Students will complete a project design, literature review and a timeline for their project's completion.
Quarter 9
Midwifery Care 7: Synthesis and Application (2.0 credits): This course includes discussions and assignments designed to integrate and apply to clinical care the concepts of informed choice, evidence-based practice, and ethical, professional and legal issues, including consultation and referral systems. Students hone critical thinking and risk assessment skills, cultural sensitivity and an understanding of the midwife as a community health worker through case management exercises and panel discussions. Prerequisite: Midwifery Care 6.
Clinical Seminar 5 (1.0 credit): Continuation of Clinical Seminar series. In this course students continue with "virtual client" exercise and more complex case questions and presentations, fine tuning management decisions and skills acquired in practicum focusing on the integration of theory and clinical practice. Prerequisite: Clinical Seminar 4.
Midwifery Research Project 6 (3.0 credits): In this course students will continue the implementation of their Midwifery Research Project including submission of first full draft of their final project paper to the review committee, meeting with the committee for a formal review of the project, and completion of revisions.
Practicum 7 (8 credits): Theoretical coursework is complemented by clinical rotations with practitioners providing midwifery and related women’s health care.
Quarter 10
Midwifery Research Project 7 (3.0 credits): Students will meet with their review committee to integrate final revisions, complete their Midwifery Research Project and submit it for approval and grading. Additionally students will prepare for and make an oral presentation to the midwifery community of the findings of their research.
Clinical Seminar 6 (1.0 credit): Continuation of Clinical Seminar series. In this course students will continue with "virtual client" exercises reflecting the level of primary midwife under supervision. Students make presentations of their data collection project and continuing education topics. Prerequisite: Clinical Seminar 5.
Practicum 8 (8.0 credits): Theoretical coursework is complemented by clinical rotations with practitioners providing midwifery and related women’s health care.
Quarter 11
Professional Issues Seminar: The Business of Midwifery (2.5 credits): This course includes topics related to establishing a private midwifery practice, including a business plan and budget, and seeking employment opportunities in midwifery or a related field. The course also includes an update on current issues facing the profession of midwifery to prepare students for post-graduation activities.
Clinical Seminar 7 (1.0 credit): Continuation of Clinical Seminar series. In this quarter students will be assessed for their readiness for entry-level practice which will take into consideration the progression of their clinical problem-solving skills while caring for the fictional "virtual clients." Continuation of student presentations of data collection projects and continuing education topics. Prerequisite: Clinical Seminar 6.
Practicum (9.0 credits): Theoretical coursework is complemented by clinical rotations with practitioners providing midwifery and related women’s health care.