Master of Arts in Maternal-Child Health Systems

The Master of Arts in Maternal-Child Health Systems offers experienced midwives and other qualified maternal-child health professionals the opportunity to become influential leaders in education, research, policymaking, program management and advocacy to improve the health of birthing people and children.
Length of Program: One year (4 quarters) primarily online
Campus: Kenmore, Washington

Program Overview

Bastyr’s Master of Arts in Maternal-Child Health Systems equips health professionals to address the unique health systems needs during pregnancy and the first year after birth. The program emphasizes reproductive justice, interdisciplinary and community partnerships with a curriculum that promotes critical analysis. Graduates are prepared to enter the field as leaders that support innovative maternal-child health systems solutions to address the health needs of childbearing people and their infants through a social justice lens.

Program Highlights

Flexible online course format. Students experience the freedom to continue living and working in their home communities.
A degree program for leaders. Graduates are prepared for influential positions to create equitable and human-centered models to improve the health and lives of childbearing families in their region.
World-class education. Bastyr’s expert faculty delivers high-quality instruction with a focus on deepening knowledge and developing skills to promote critical analysis.
Choose your specialty. Students are given the option of completing a master’s thesis, a capstone project or an internship. The project is designed by the student in collaboration with an advisory committee, based on the student’s interest in research, education, organizational functioning or policy development.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of Bastyr’s Master of Arts in Maternal-Child Health Systems become respected colleagues in both conventional and natural medicine circles and have the tools they need to successfully advocate for change in the maternal child health 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

Campus Location

Primarily Online

The MCHS program is primarily online, enabling students to remain in their home communities. For a few days at the beginning and again at the end of the program, students will travel to Bastyr’s Seattle campus to enjoy in-person classes and activities with their cohort and instructors. Onsite accommodations are available.

General Requirements

Length of Program

4 quarters (one continuous year). Program runs through Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring quarters; full-time; part-time track available

Tuition and Financial Aid

Speak to an advisor today to learn more about tuition costs or to find out about our financial aid programs!

Curriculum

Gain a master’s-level understanding of Maternal-Child Health Systems through a curriculum delivered in a convenient online format. Reference our curriculum table for the full course schedule. This table reflects a full-time course of study, but part-time is also available.

The program prepares trained midwives, doulas, childbirth educators, lactation consultants and other maternal-child health care providers to confidently and effectively advocate for families throughout the childbearing years. Expected learning outcomes of graduates can be found in the course catalog.

Contact an advisor to learn more about the Master of Arts in Maternal-Child Health Systems.

Prerequisites

Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Contact the Admissions Advisor if you do not have a Bachelor’s degree but have a mix of relevant college and professional experience.
At least two full-time years of practical experience as a maternal healthcare professional, or in a related field, such as public health, medicine or psychology.

Reference our curriculum table for full prerequisites.

A full course outline can be found in the Master of Arts in Maternal-Child Health Systems program description of the Academic Catalog.