Postgraduate: Course rule and topic information

Master of Midwifery

(MMid)

Program of Study

INTRODUCTION

The Master of Midwifery is a 54-unit course, comprising coursework and either a thesis or a project, which is offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences on a Commonwealth Supported basis.

COURSE AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with advanced studies in midwifery to prepare them with the ability to contribute to the present and future development of health care services and the midwifery profession.

Learning outcomes

Graduates of this course are expected to be able to:

• advance the discipline of midwifery through evolution of conceptual frameworks and the promotion of excellence in midwifery practice;
• participate in facets of the delivery of midwifery care, including the planning, implementation and dissemination of midwifery research;
• demonstrate expertise in the practice of midwifery by the dissemination of research and excellence in practice;
• apply ethical and theoretical concepts to the analysis and development of professional clinical judgement;
• enhance the quality of midwifery practice in particular practice settings through the use of critical analysis and reflective thought;
• analyse environment forces influencing the delivery of quality midwifery care within a multicultural society;
• develop and fulfil a range of leadership roles within the midwifery profession;
• contribute effectively to professional, political and socio-cultural debate related to midwifery within the health care system and the wider community; and
• demonstrate an understanding of, and an ability to fulfil the role of, a contemporary midwife.

COURSE RULE

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must hold a nursing or midwifery degree or an equivalent qualification approved by the Faculty Board, and must be registered as a midwife and hold a current practising certificate.

The Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

At the Board's discretion, credit may be granted for comparable prior studies.

PROGRAM OF STUDY [November, 2008]

To qualify for the Master of Midwifery, a student must complete 54 units with a grade of Pass or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.

Students must complete 18 units of core topics and 36 units according to one of the three pathways.

Not all elective topics are available in a given year.

Except with permission of the Faculty Board:

• no topic may be attempted more than twice;
• a student may not include a topic which repeats work previously undertaken;
• the program must be completed full-time within three consecutive semesters or part-time within eight consecutive semesters. A lesser period may be set for students granted credit for previous studies.

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion or in 12 units or more, or failure to complete the course within four consecutive years may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purpose of the University's Policy on Student Progress.

Core topics

Pathway 1

Pathway 2 [Not offered in 2009]

Pathway 3 [Not offered in 2009]

ELECTIVE TOPICS

Not all elective topics are available in any given year or semester.