Master of Arts in Maternal-Child Health Systems

Transform the systems that cause reproductive health disparities.

Maternal-Child Health Program Overview

Unlock your advocacy, research and leadership skills and start creating change at the systems level. In order to transform improve maternal-child health care, much work is needed outside of the clinical setting. If you are passionate about eliminating health inequities and transforming perinatal care, this is the degree program for you.   

This program is primarily online, meaning you’ll be able to continue living and working in your home community. Students spend two weekends on campus, one at the beginning and one at end of the program and attend two synchronous classes virtually most weeks of the term. Students will complete a master’s thesis, capstone project or internship of their choice, in collaboration with an advisory committee.  

Next start date
Location
Seattle
Online
Program Length

1 year (4 quarters)

Maternal Health Program Highlights

Social Justice Lens

Mostly Online Learning Format

Mentorship by Expert Faculty

Maternal and Child Health Systems Program Details

  • Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent number of credits (180 quarter credits) from an accredited university or a MEAC accredited midwifery program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants without a bachelor’s degree who have a midwifery certificate or other professional training will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Applicants must also have appropriate training (with appropriate certification when available) and documentation of a minimum of two (2) full-time years of practical experience as a midwife, doula, childbirth educator, or lactation specialist. Other credentialed MCH professionals such as perinatal nurses, public health specialists, social workers, health care financial experts, psychologists, and physicians seeking leadership training consistent with humanistic, rights-based maternal-infant care will also be eligible.
  • Admitted students must have access to a laptop computer with high-speed Internet, a webcam, and a headset.

Course Prerequisites

  • Prerequisite courses (with grades of 3.0 or higher in each course) include:

  • a basic statistics or biostatistics course within the past five years.
  • English composition and writing.
  • a public speaking course or equivalent academic or professional experience with public speaking, as determined by the University’s admissions process.

Bastyr accepts graduate and undergraduate transfer credits earned at accredited colleges and universities. Learn what you need to make this process go smoothly.

This fund provides tuition reduction support for midwives in our Master of Arts in Maternal-Child Health Systems program.

Dorothea Lang, CNM, MPH, FACNM, a midwifery leader of national and international prominence who passed away in May 2017 at age 84, believed in a unified profession and the need to expand our capacity by growing the “academy” of educators, researchers and policy experts. Inspired by the launch of this innovative new program in 2015, Dorothea made a significant gift to create scholarships to support talented midwives committed to taking leadership in changing our maternity care system.

  • Education leadership, research, policy making and advocacy 
  • Program management and administration 
  • Research 
  • Consultant to maternal/infant health initiatives 
  • Educator in maternal-child health systems 
  • Local or national policy advocate