Choosing Your Route
The Master of Science in Midwifery program offers students a distinctive path to elevate their professional expertise and academic credentials. Students have the unique opportunity to tailor their learning experience by choosing between two enriching options: completing a master’s project, which can be either a research thesis or a capstone project or opting for an immersive journey through 6 courses in Botanical Medicine for Midwifery Care. This flexibility caters to a diverse range of interests and career goals, allowing students to either delve deeply into a research project that can contribute new knowledge to the field of midwifery, or to enhance their practical skills and understanding of herbal medicine's role in supporting perinatal, postpartum and infant health.
Botanical Medicine has deep roots in our traditional field. For centuries midwives have utilized plant medicine to help support pregnancies across time and location. At Bastyr, we weave traditional plant knowledge with rigorous botanical research to form a solid foundation of plant medicine for the childbearing year. We cover the foundations of botanical medicine, the ins and outs of how to make plant medicine, the local and federal rules under which we practice, as well as doing deep dives into each portion of the childbearing year: Pregnancy, Labor and the Immediate Postpartum, Later Postpartum, and Holistic Female Health. Our track is the most rigorous and detailed program in the nation and midwives graduate with the knowledge and experience to fully incorporate the safe use of plant medicine in their practices, open a midwifery-based apothecary, and more.
The Masters Project serves as the standard graduate-level route for those seeking to explore a specific area of midwifery in depth. Students embarking on this path will engage in an individualized project under the guidance of experienced faculty, culminating in a thesis or capstone project. A thesis involves the creation of a detailed research paper that offers new insights or discoveries within the field. Alternatively, a capstone project allows students to apply their knowledge to a practical challenge or initiative, often involving community engagement or quality improvement. Both routes aim to foster a strong foundation in research methodology and critical thinking, preparing graduates to contribute to the advancement of midwifery practice and education.