A variety of electives courses are available. Electives may be offered as fully online courses, a hybrid of online and in-person workshops, or a hybrid of online and in-person placements/practicums.
Students in the Course plus Capstone stream are required to take 12.0 units of elective courses.
Students in the Thesis stream are required to to take 6.0 units of elective courses, with at least 3.0 units of electives coming from a research methods course.
Fully Online Electives
Online courses are delivered via McMaster University’s Avenue to Learn learning management system.
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Independent Study (MIDWIF 705 & 709)
Online. Optional course. MIDWIF 705: 3.0 units; MIDWIF 709: 1.5 units
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MIDWIF 713 Advanced Midwifery Management of Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia
Online. Optional course. 1.5 units.
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MIDWIF 714 Well-Infant Primary Care Beyond the Neonatal Period
Online. Optional course. 1.5 units.
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MIDWIF 715 Advanced Midwifery-Led Sexual and Reproductive Health Care
Online. Optional course. 3.0 units.
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MIDWIF 721 Advanced Topics in Mental Health, Substance Use, and Concurrent Disorders
Online. Optional course. 3.0 units.
Online and In-Person Workshop Electives
The hybrid online/in-person workshop elective courses involve completing asynchronous online modules and attending an in-person workshop.
Workshops occur at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and students will be required to complete both the online and in-person components to complete the course successfully. Dates for the in-person workshops are planned such that a student can participate in both courses in a single term and complete both workshops in a single trip to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
![A female instructor guiding a female student in using a point of care ultrasound simultor](https://midwiferymasters.mcmaster.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/POCUS_1800x1013-1024x576.jpg)
![A group of students and instructors stand around two women practicing surgical procedures on a simulated abdomen.](https://midwiferymasters.mcmaster.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Surgical_Assist_1800x1016-1024x578.jpg)
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MIDWIF 711 Point of Care Ultrasound in Maternity Care
Hybrid (online/in-person workshop.) Optional course. 1.5 units.
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MIDWIF 712 Surgical Assistant in Obstetrics: C-Section
Hybris (Online/in-person workshop.) Optional course. 1.5 units.
Online and In-Person Placement/Practicum Electives
All placement/practicum courses will include online coursework and in-person placement/practicum activities and can be arranged across Canada.
![Tree women dressed in business attire looking at a laptop screen.](https://midwiferymasters.mcmaster.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Student_w_Colleagues_1400x1119-1024x818.jpg)
![Woman wearing a hospital gown laying in a hospital bed speaking to a woman standing next to the bed.](https://midwiferymasters.mcmaster.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Student_w_Patient_1400x1118-1024x818.jpg)
![Female health care provider listening to an infants heart beat with a stethoscope. The infant is being held in the arms of their mother.](https://midwiferymasters.mcmaster.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Midwife_w_Parent_and_Infant_1400x1120-1024x819.jpg)
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Advanced Midwifery Clinical Practicum (120-hours) MIDWIF 730 & 731
Hybrid (Online/in-person practicum.) Optional courses. 3.0 units.
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Advanced Midwifery Clinical Practicum (60-hours) MIDWIF 732 & 733
Hybrid (Online/in-person practicum.) Optional courses. 1.5 units.
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Leadership Placements (MIDWIF 706 & 710)
Hybrid (Online/in-person practicum.) Optional courses. MIDWIF 706: 3.0 units; MIDWIF 710: 1.5 units.
Research Methods Elective Courses
Research Methods Courses are available from the Midwifery Graduate Program and other graduate programs at McMaster University.
Students in the Thesis program stream must have at least 3.0 units of their electives come from research methods courses, unless they receive an exemption based on previous academic coursework. Students in the Course plus Capstone program stream can also take research methods courses as electives. Students must get permission from the Midwifery Graduate Program and the other department before enrolling in a course in another department, including research methods courses.
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Independent Study (MIDWIF 705 & 709)
Online. Optional course. MIDWIF 705: 3.0 units; MIDWIF 709: 1.5 units
Electives from Other Departments at McMaster University
Students may be able to take elective courses from other graduate programs at McMaster University based on availability and approval of the Midwifery Graduate Program and the other department. See the School of Graduate Studies Academic Calendar for a complete list of graduate courses available by graduate program.
Next step: Learn more about our program
Program Overview Learn More About Our Program
Two program streams are available, a course plus capstone-based program stream and a thesis-based program stream.
In-person Residencies Learn More About Our In-person Residencies
Over the course of your degree, you will complete two in-person residencies at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Core (Required) Courses Learn More About Our Core Courses
All students in the Master of Science in Midwifery program are required to take five core courses and complete a consolidation activity/course.
More Information & Resources
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Program Guide Click Here to Download (PDF)
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn More
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