This innovative program has been offering midwifery education since 1993 in partnership with McMaster and Laurentian universities.

The baccalaureate degree program prepares graduates to be eligible to apply for registration as midwives in Ontario, and meets recognized national and international standards. Graduates work as registered health-care professionals who provide primary care to women with low-risk pregnancies, conduct births in home, birth centre and hospital settings, and provide care after birth for women and their babies up to six weeks of age.

Our program prepares graduates to engage in lifelong learning. Working as a midwife requires a keen intelligence combined with flexibility and compassion. Midwives need a thorough understanding of normal and complex conditions affecting pregnancy, birth and the postpartum care of women and the newborn.

Graduates must draw on a large body of knowledge and sometimes may need to make clinical judgments under stressful or emergency situations. Midwives collaborate with other healthcare providers such as physicians, nurses and social workers. Clinical skills are developed under the supervision of clinical midwifery and interprofessional preceptors.The program prepares students to develop good communication skills and an understanding of cross-cultural issues in health care. The Midwifery Education Program sees its role in education and in the midwifery profession as part of a broader commitment to social justice.

CURRICULUM INFORMATION

The curriculum includes courses from basic sciences, social sciences, health sciences, women's studies and electives in addition to clinical midwifery courses. A variety of course formats are used, most often small group tutorials.

Students enrolled in the non-clinical midwifery courses must attend classes at Ryerson.

Students in the part-time program may complete their studies in five or six years. The maximum length of time to complete the program is seven years. The sequence of courses and course load are arranged individually. All first, second and third semester non-clinical courses must be completed before students can proceed to the first clinical placement, MWF 120. Upon entering MWF 120, full-time participation will be necessary for all students in the five or six year streams for the duration of the program. 

GENERAL ACADEMIC INFORMATION

Transfer Credit

Applicants with previous university courses may be exempt from electives or other non-clinical courses in the first three semesters. The actual amount of transfer credit awarded to an applicant will not be determined until the conclusion of the overall admissions process; each application will be assessed on an individual basis. An Offer of Admission does not guarantee that transfer credits will be awarded. Generally, transfer credits will not reduce the time required to complete the program.

Academic Standing Variation

An Academic Standing Variation exists for this program. See Academic Standing Variation for details.

Graduation Requirement Variation

A Graduation Requirement Variation exists for this program. See Graduation Requirement Variation for details.

Minors

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Ryerson with exceptions. Please refer to the Minors Policy section of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and restrictions.

FULL-TIME DEGREE PROGRAM

The Midwifery Education Program also offers its four-year program on a full-time studies basis. Please visit our website: www.ryerson.ca/midwife or, call the Midwifery Education Program at (416) 979-5104 for further information.