Chapter 5 | Midwifery - Bastyr University's Master of Science in Midwifery

At Bastyr University, we’re committed to preparing the next generation of Certified Professional Midwives and training leaders in competent, compassionate healthcare for birthing people and their babies.

The Master of Science in Midwifery at Bastyr recognizes midwifery as a calling to guide families through the birthing process and childbearing years. In this program, you’ll train in all aspects of midwifery care, from preconception through pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period for parents and newborns.

Upon graduation, you will be prepared to serve families within your community and ensure they look back on their birth experiences feeling empowered and respected.

Midwives in our program learn how to care for clients with low-risk pregnancies, labors, births, and postpartum periods, as well as routine newborn care.

The hybrid program (some online and some in-person learning) is designed to allow you to complete the program in just 11 quarters, including two years of clinical training with experienced midwife preceptors. Upon graduation, you will be eligible to take the board exam to become a CPM. You may also be eligible to become licensed, depending on your state of residence.

Bastyr’s Master of Science in Midwifery is the only master’s program of its kind, accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC) and regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), making the degree widely recognized and transferable.

“With both traditional and evidence-based learning, this [program] prepared me to give excellent care upon graduation and licensure. I feel absolutely prepared to go into practice with this education. I have cultivated lifelong friends and a network of fellow midwives who support me as I support them in this difficult and captivating career path.”

Emilie Jenkins, Midwifery Alumna

What’s the Midwifery Curriculum Like?

The Midwifery program at Bastyr addresses both the art and science of midwifery by integrating theory with clinical experience. All courses build the skills necessary for midwifery through case questions, skills-practice labs, role-playing, discussion, student presentations, and research projects.

Studies in related fields such as epidemiology, nutrition, pharmacology, genetics, embryology, counseling, and education enhance the curriculum in this program. Students also receive training regarding midwifery history, racism, culture, law and ethics, advocacy and health policy, and tools for starting a practice.

Our Midwifery program is delivered in a hybrid format, where students come to campus for one week out of every month.

The other weeks are spent learning and completing assignments online. This format gives our students the flexibility to be in clinical practicum (including at a distance) – where babies come at any time of the day or night! – while also continuing their academic learning.

Students begin clinical practicum in the spring of their first year, layered on top of their academic coursework. Our students are matched with experienced midwives in real clinical practice and quickly become part of the care team. They begin by mostly observing prenatal visits, births, and postpartum visits, but then as their skills and knowledge continue to build, students take on more of the clinical care under the supervision of their preceptors.

In the second and third years of the MS Midwifery program, students have the choice of pursuing a Masters Project (which may include research or a capstone project) or taking a series of 6 courses in Botanical Medicine for Midwifery Care. Both approaches allow students to develop an expertise in their chosen path. Our Botanicals track offers a robust, deep dive into plant medicine for midwifery practice unlike any other program out there.