Master of Science, Nurse-Midwifery
In Boston College’s M.S. in Nurse-Midwifery program, you will learn advanced practice skills in both outpatient and inpatient care. With your degree, you will join a profession that provides the full scope of midwifery care over the course of patients’ lifetimes, ensuring respect, improving outcomes, and addressing the urgent crisis of maternal mortality.
At a Glance
How many courses?
16 courses (48 credits)
How long will it take?
24 months of full-time study
How much clinical practice?
750 hours (minimum)
What is Nurse-Midwifery?
As a certified nurse-midwife, you will be an expert of care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. You will provide the full scope of care for your patients, from adolescence throughout the lifespan, as well as care for newborns during the first month of life. You will also support vulnerable communities through education, health promotion, and risk assessment and management, with a commitment to just care.
What is the difference between a certified nurse-midwife (CNM), women’s health nurse practitioner (WHNP), and a certified doula?
| Responsibilities | CNM | WHNP | DOULA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is an advanced practice nurse | X | X | |
| Provides primary care | X | X | |
| Cares for patients starting with their first period | X | X | |
| Cares for pregnant patients | X | X | |
| Cares for patients struggling to become pregnant | X | X | |
| Specializes in pregnancy | X | X | |
| Specializes in childbirth | X | X | |
| Delivers the baby | X | ||
| Manages emergencies during labor and birth | X | ||
| Cares for newborn (1st month) | X | ||
| Educates patients and families | X | X | X |
| Cares for menopausal patients | X | X | |
| Writes prescriptions | X | X | |
| Certified by | ACMB | NCC | Many options |
Nurse-Midwifery Program Webinars
Curriculum
The 16-course, 24-month M.S. in Nurse-Midwifery program is designed to prepare clinically competent nurse-midwives who provide family-centered health care at the full scope of practice.
Select courses include: |
|---|
Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology across the Lifespan |
Obstetric and Gynecologic Ambulatory Care I + II |
Ethics and Quality Care |
Intrapartum, Postpartum and Newborn Care + Clinical |
Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice |
Midwifery Integration Seminar |
The Boston College Nurse-Midwifery program is pre-accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education
2000 Duke Street, Suite 300
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Applicant Rights and Responsibilities
- The applicant has the right to be treated with respect and to expect that their application will be reviewed fairly and without bias
- The applicant has the right to receive accurate information regarding the program, the college, and the clinical sites
- The applicant has the right to speak with faculty and/or current students in the program if they so desire
- The applicant has the right to know the collective success of program graduates on the National Certification Examination
- The applicant has the right to receive a letter from the Dean regarding the admission decision
- The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application and all supporting materials have been received by the graduate office
- The applicant is responsible for accurate completion of the application
- The applicant is responsible for any necessary arrangements related to the interview process
- The applicant is responsible for notifying the graduate office if they wish to withdraw their application
- The applicant is responsible for assessing and exploring any required financial aid
Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
- The faculty have the right to be treated with respect by students and program administration
- The faculty have the right to know the objectives for each course for which they are responsible
- The faculty have the right to remove a student from the classroom or the clinical area if the integrity of the class or the safety of the patient may be compromised
- The faculty have the right to see course evaluations and have the opportunity to discuss the evaluations with program administration
- The faculty have the right and responsibility to provide feedback regarding the program, curriculum, and students and make suggestions for improvement
- The faculty have the responsibility to be available during office hours for student questions
- The faculty have the responsibility to demonstrate respect for the student and the learning process
- The faculty have the responsibility to be prepared for each lecture with a good understanding of their subject matter
- The faculty have the responsibility to evaluate the success of teaching strategies and the effectiveness of evaluation methods
Student Rights and Responsibilities
- The student has the right to be treated with respect and as a member of the nurse-midwife team
- The student has the right to have the educational process viewed as an interactive exchange between student and teacher
- The student has the right to meet with faculty during mutually agreed upon office hours
- The student has the right to expect the faculty to be prepared for class
- The student has the right to fair and timely evaluation of his/her progress and receive constructive suggestions for improvement
- The student has the right and responsibility to provide feedback regarding the program, curriculum, and faculty and make suggestions for improvement
- The student has the responsibility to be present and prepared for class and clinical
- The student has the responsibility to know the objectives of the course or clinical experience and to make every effort to attain the objective
- The student has the responsibility to complete all projects and assignments on time
- The student has the responsibility to seek learning experiences and be available when these experiences can only be attained outside of scheduled hours
- The student has the responsibility to respect faculty and other members of the nurse-midwife team
- The student has the responsibility to place patient safety ahead of all other considerations
Clinical Placements Lead to Careers
Clinical Placements
Gain firsthand experience at providers such as:
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Mattapan Community Health Center
- Mt. Auburn Hospital
- South Shore Hospital
Careers
Nurse-midwives work in locations such as:
- Hospitals
- Birth centers
- Community health centers
In-Demand Skills
Median annual wage for nurse-midwives:
$129,650
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Why Learn Midwifery at Boston College?
Our master’s program is led by renowned faculty whose clinical experience bridges theory and practice, creating a dynamic learning environment that fosters student success.
Our program will set you up in clinical placements that are right for you in top Boston-area hospitals and community health centers.
The Connell School of Nursing has received a grant from the Commonwealth to support the birth workforce and address perinatal health disparities in Massachusetts.
Our professors are practicing nurse-midwives and supportive mentors. They will teach you to provide evidence-based health care that improves patient outcomes and strengthens communities.
Katharine Hutchinson, Dr.P.H., CNM
Nurse-Midwifery Program Director
Prof. Hutchinson focuses her teaching and clinical experience on the care of vulnerable populations in Boston and around the world.
Dr.P.H., Boston University
M.S.N., Yale University
B.A., Swarthmore College
Thamarah Crevecoeur, Dr.P.H., CNM
Associate Professor of the Practice
In addition to her teaching, Prof. Crevecoeur maintains her clinical practice at community health centers where she cares for patients from Haiti and other parts of the Caribbean.
Dr.P.H., Boston University
M.S.N., University of Pennsylvania
B.S., Boston College
The Connell School received a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to support health care workers who specialize in perinatal and neonatal care to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes by:
- Providing midwifery student mentoring and evidence-based coursework focused on uniformly excellence care during pregnancy and birth
- Strengthening clinical skills and promoting midwifery growth across the Commonwealth
- Creating a clinical education site at Mattapan Community Health Center for group prenatal and postpartum care
Financial Aid
Boston College offers multiple opportunities to fund a graduate education. CSON graduate students receive financial assistance through internal and external sources—including scholarships, fellowships, grants, teaching and research assistantships, and tuition remission.
Opportunities at the Connell School
Graduate Nurses’ Association
The GNA facilitates professional development opportunities and sponsors social events, connecting students to each other while serving as a voice for the graduate community at CSON.
Veterans Services
Boston College proudly welcomes all veterans of the United States Armed Forces and is committed to helping them find the resources they require to thrive here.
Global Trips
Participation in one of CSON's international programs can count toward supervised hours for graduate students.
Connect with Us
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How Can We Assist You?
The CSON admissions team will support you throughout the application process. Join us for a virtual information session or chat with us one-on-one.
Apply
PrintApplication & Deadlines
Résumé or CV
To be uploaded to your online Application Form.
Goal Statement
Please submit a goal statement which will be used as a source of information about your educational objectives and as a sample of your writing ability. The goal statement should be typewritten (double-spaced) and no more than four pages in length.
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation:
- Your letter writers should be able to speak to your abilities in classroom settings, unless you have been out of school for 2+ years. In that case, you may submit one academic letter and one letter from a person who has known you in a professional capacity.
- Letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically. When you register your reference writers through the application system, they will immediately receive an email with the link to the electronic reference form. For this reason, we suggest that you contact your references prior to registering them through the online application.
- References will have the option to upload a supporting letter in Word or PDF format.
- If you would like your references to receive the electronic form before you have completed the online application, you may go directly to the “Recommendations” link on the application and register your references before filling out the rest of the form.
- You can log back into your application to check which letters have been received, as well as to send reminder emails to your references.
Transcripts
Official transcripts are preferred but not required upon application. If admitted, official transcripts will be required.
Official digital transcripts can be sent to csongrad@bc.edu.
All hard copy transcripts may be sent to the following mailing address:
Boston College
Graduate Nursing Office
Maloney Hall - 2nd Floor
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
*If the last name on your transcript does not match the application name, please contact csongrad@bc.edu after submitting the application.
Standardized Tests
GRE is preferred, but not required for application
Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores* (current within five years of application deadline). Institutional code 3062
* Please allow 2-4 weeks for test scores to be received in order to meet application deadline
Supplemental Forms
Based on the answers you provide in your application, you may need one or more of the following forms to complete your application:
- Suspended or Revoked Nursing License Explanation Form (if you indicated a suspended or revoked license on your application)
- Learning Disability Documentation Form (if you indicated a learning disability on your application)
- Supplementary Information Form (if you wish to submit any supplementary information in addition to the standard application)
International Students
- Official transcript(s) evaluation (by the Commission on Graduate Foreign Nursing Schools or World Education Services) from all post-secondary institutions at which you have studied
- TOEFL - Evidence of English Proficiency (TOEFL). Official TOEFL scores are required for students whose native language is other than English. The following scores indicate minimum score requirements: 100 on the TOEFL iBT (internet-based test); 7.5 on the IELTS Band (academic); 600 or greater on the paper-based test; or 250 on the CBT test (computer-based test). Please request that your scores be sent to the William F. Connell Graduate School of Nursing by using our institutional code 3062 in the designated areas. Student copies or photocopies of TOEFL are not accepted.
- You can get application forms and information about testing dates for the TOEFL from many U.S. consolates, USIA centers, and TOEFL centers overseas by writing to: TOEFL Registration, CN 6152, Princeton, New Jersey 08541 USA, or www.toefl.org.
- The TOEFL score is not required if you meet both of the following criteria: You are a citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Guyana, an anglophone country of Africa, or an English-speaking country of the Caribbean AND your native language is English.
For the full cost of graduate attendance, please visit the Graduate Cost of Attendance page. Fees include an annual premium for student malpractice insurance, a one-time fee for the CastleBranch immunization tracker package, CPR certification, and an annual fee for a national background check.