PhD-Doctor of Philosophy in Science of Midwifery
A midwife who already has a Master of Science Degree in another field may apply directly to the PhD in Science of Midwifery.
- FOR PRACTICING MIDWIVES:
Licensed or certified midwives apply directly to our research-based PhD Program. This program adds to the wealth of evidence-based midwifery knowledge. Achieve your professional goals without compromising your practice and family commitments. - Our self-paced, flexible, apprenticeship-based programs are adaptable to the needs of the individual student or preceptor.
- Students study in their own community or create a study plan that allows them to travel to other cities or countries.
PhD PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
Please see the NCM Handbook / Catalog for more details on program rules and requirements
Please see the NCM Orientation for explanation of program structure
Please see the COURSE MATERIALS on the menu on the left of this page
Student and Preceptor Enrollment:
Please see the Enrollment section of the NCM Handbook / Catalog.
In order for NCM to accept work done towards completion of any NCM program all of the following must be true when the work was done:
1. The student must be a Current Student with NCM.
2. The preceptor must be a Current Preceptor for NCM.
3. The student and preceptor must have a current approved and complete Contract between Student, Preceptor and the National College of Midwifery on file with NCM.
4. The student and preceptor must each have received notification from NCM acknowledging their relationship.
Credits:
60 Graduate semester credit hours
Timeframe:
The PhD is a three-year equivalent program, which can be completed from 1 to 5 years.
Prerequisites(all of the following):
- MA or MS degree in any area
- College-recognized state or national midwifery license or certification
- MW500 100 MANA Statistics Births (can be completed concurrently with PhD program)
Course Requirements:
PhD Candidates must complete 42 Semester Credits relevant to the areas of the candidate’s research, focused on some aspect of midwifery or maternal child health.
Before beginning, each student creates a comprehensive overview of their program including a syllabus for each of their courses to satisfy the required number of academic credits, including:
Applied Statistics
Protocol Design
Scientific Method
Current Issues in Midwifery Practice (choose 3):
Barriers to midwifery practice
Midwifery ethics
Accreditation in developing countries
Sociology of midwifery
Candidates either self-author courses using the NCM PhD Syllabus Outline, to be completed upon approval from NCM, or submit PhD-Level credits completed at another accredited college or university for review by NCM for transfer credit.
Example:
Doctorate of Philosophy in International Maternal Child Health Care |
Credits |
NCM 500: History of Health Care |
3 |
NCM 501: Statistics and Health Care |
3 |
NCM 502: Midwifery Anthropology & Cultures of the World |
3 |
NCM 503: Philosophy of Midwifery Ethics Through Mentorship |
3 |
NCM 504: Leadership in Critical Decision-Making |
6 |
NCM 505: Global Health Learning in Maternal Child Health |
6 |
NCM 506: Practical Project to Improve Maternal Child Health |
6 |
NCM 507: Focused Independent Study of Dissertation Topic |
6 |
NCM 508: Mentorship Development |
6 |
Research
Please see the Research Guidelines section of this handbook. The Doctoral Dissertation must be based on a research project pre-approved by the College Faculty Board and carried out under the supervision of an approved preceptor.
- Doctoral Dissertation based on a research project pre-approved by the College Faculty Board under the supervision of an approved preceptor…………………………18 credits
- Publication of the research results in a professional journal or as a book
- Presentation of the research to a major national or international midwifery conference (e.g. MANA, ACNM, ICM, etc.)
- Write an abstract of the research for the College
- Place a bound copy of the Dissertation in the College Library
Fees:
Application Fee: $100 (non-refundable)
Administrative Fee: $4,900
Preceptor Tuition: This is not paid to the College. Students hire their preceptors and are responsible for paying their preceptor directly. The College recommends $500 a month. It is possible to negotiate another arrangement with your preceptor.
Books: Students are responsible for purchasing their own books.
General Education Requirements: NCM highly recommend that students complete these courses prior to enrollment but it is not required. General education courses for 3 credits of Math and 4 credits of English are not offered through NCM. Students may take the courses at an accredited college or university, or online source.
Accreditation Fees: Students have 5 years to complete their program. The National College of Midwifery pays an annual accreditation fee for each student. Most students complete their program within 3 years so NCM covers these fees. If the student has not completed her/his program within 3 years, they will be responsible for the annual fee beyond 3 years.
Graduation:
Doctorate of Philosophy in Midwifery Awarded:
- When prerequisites are met
- When course requirements are complete
- When Doctoral Dissertation is accepted by Faculty Board
- When Doctoral Dissertation is published in a professional journal or as a book
- When Doctoral Dissertation is presented at a major midwifery conference
- When bound copy of the Doctoral Dissertation is placed in the College Library
- When the College has documentation of all of the above
Midwifery Licensure/Certification Post Graduation:
Graduation does not guarantee midwifery licensure. It is each student's responsibility to keep current with the laws of the state or country in which they are studying and to fulfill the licensure requirements in the jurisdiction in which they plan to apply for licensure and practice. The National College of Midwifery does NOT provide job placement.