title: New directions in midwifery education: the master's of science in midwifery degree.
abstract: Midwifery is reclaiming its perspective as a discipline separate from, yet integrally related to nursing and medicine. Emerging trends in health care place increased demands on the knowledge base and clinical practice of midwifery, stimulating a need for new directions in midwifery education. The master's of science with a major in midwifery is a new degree option available to midwifery students in the United States. This article presents the argument that midwifery is a distinct discipline and describes the importance of a master's of science in midwifery degree toward furthering the work of the discipline of midwifery. Descriptions of the current master's of science in midwifery degree programs are included.
authors.affiliation: Greene Midwifery Care, Fairborn, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Farley
authors.forename: Kathy Camacho
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Carr
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D004510:Education, Nursing, Diploma Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education*; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000193:education*; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D014481:United States