Online Nurse-Midwife Program

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nurse Midwife

The Nurse-Midwife Program advances BSN prepared Registered Nurses (RN) to become advanced practice nurses to provide comprehensive, evidence-based care to individuals throughout the reproductive continuum—from preconception through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and newborn care. The curriculum integrates online didactic coursework, scheduled on-campus simulation-based learning intensives, and supervised clinical experiences that emphasize physiologic birth, primary care, gynecologic health, family planning, newborn care and emergency recognition, collaboration and management.

** Full Time applicants are only admitted in the Fall at this time. Priority is given to Delaware residents. Seats are limited! 

Number of credit hours: 55

Number of practicum hours: 816

Core Competencies of Midwifery Practice

The core competencies guide the nurse-midwifery program curriculum. The standard setting document can be found on the ACNM website.

Post-Master's Certificate Plan of Study

A targeted gap analysis will be performed to develop an individualized plan of study that meets program objectives and eligibility for board certification.

Prior to commencing midwifery specific practicum courses, students are REQUIRED to attend on-campus skills intensives. These immersive on-campus workshops provide nurse-midwife students with hands-on training in intrapartum, birth, postpartum, immediate newborn, and gynecologic care. 

Through task trainers, high-fidelity simulation, case-based learning, and supervised practice, participants refine clinical judgment, diagnostic reasoning, and procedural skills for both physiologic and complex scenarios. 

Emphasis is placed on evidence-based, family-centered, and trauma-informed care, including pelvic examination, specimen collection, contraception procedures, management of common gynecologic conditions, facilitation of normal and emergent birth scenarios, perineal suturing and immediate newborn care.

The School of Nursing is committed to providing students with comprehensive clinical experiences across a diverse range of settings including:

• Hospitals

• Birthing Centers

• Outpatient clinics 

• Primary Care Offices

• Federally Qualified Health Centers

• Community- based practices

• Specialty care sites

Clinical placements are intentionally structured to ensure exposure to varied patient populations, geographic locations, and models of care, supporting the development of competencies aligned with national midwifery standards. 

Each site offers students the opportunity to participate in the full continuum of midwifery care—from antepartum through postpartum—as well as in well-person and gynecologic health visits. Patient populations range from adolescence through menopause, allowing experience across the lifespan. 

The clinical sites affiliated with the midwifery program provide essential experiences in:

• Comprehensive reproductive care

• Gynecologic Care

• Primary Care 

• Antepartum care 

• Labor and delivery management, including births

• Postpartum Care

• Newborn Care

Clinical placements are coordinated by the clinical coordination department, with opportunities for students to express preferences or identify potential sites; however, all placements are subject to approval by faculty and the Program Director to ensure appropriate learning experiences and compliance with accreditation and institutional requirements.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The University of Delaware is required to comply with state and federal laws regarding the delivery of distance education.  Please see the University’s State Authorization page for more information.

Satisfactory completion of the entire program of study qualifies a student to take the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) national certification exam.  Students must complete all midwifery specialty program requirements for graduation before they will be cleared to take the AMCB exam.  At present, the examination fee is $500.00. The examination requirements and application information are available from AMCB at http://www.amcbmidwife.org/ .  

Due to a College of Health Sciences Dean’s Scholarship, the student tuition rate is lower than the published UD graduate tuition rate. The final tuition rate for all students in the MSN and Post Master's certificate programs is $886/credit. There are no additional university fees beyond tuition, as the program is online. Please contact the department for more information.

The University of Delaware Nurse-Midwife program prepares safe, competent, and evidence-informed Certified Nurse-Midwives who promote physiologic processes of maturation, reproduction, childbearing, and well newborn development through clinical excellence, innovation, family-centered and preventative primary care. Through interprofessional education, appropriate technologic intervention, strategic partnerships and responsive population health initiatives, we support maternal-child health workforce development to improve local, regional and national outcomes.

The philosophy of the Nurse-Midwife program at the University of Delaware is rooted in a deep belief that the midwifery model of care has the power to transform maternal-child health delivery systems and outcomes. We view midwifery not only as a clinical discipline but as a relationship-centered practice grounded in science, compassion, and responsive community service. 

We draw inspiration from the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), which affirms the strength and wisdom of every individual seeking midwifery care. We believe that health is a human right and a cornerstone of community and societal wellbeing… we center human dignity, bodily autonomy, and the right of every person to participate fully in their health care decisions. We recognize that people’s experiences of health and care are shaped by systemic factors that affect access, utilization and opportunities in the healthcare environments. As midwives, we are called not only to provide exceptional clinical care but also to mitigate the factors that disproportionately harm at-risk communities. We teach our students to provide care that is equitable, accessible, and responsive—care that sees the whole person, honors their lived experience, and protects their right to self-determination.

Grounded in the principles of family-centered care, our program emphasizes support for normal physiologic processes throughout maturation, reproduction, childbirth, well newborn care and early family development. We champion a holistic approach that respects the uniqueness of every individual and family.  Our students learn that the best health care happens in partnership. Midwifery care, at its core, is built on relationships—on trust, respect, and presence. It is rooted in evidence and guided by the values and choices of the person receiving care. It balances the support of physiologic processes with the thoughtful use of technology and intervention. It is delivered in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams and communities that share a vision of justice and health for all.

This philosophy is lived out through our program’s commitment to our three core values: Excellence, Inclusivity, and Engagement.

We pursue excellence through high standards in education, clinical practice, and community involvement—preparing graduates to lead, innovate, and improve outcomes across a myriad of settings. We uphold inclusivity by fostering a learning environment rooted in representation, fairness, and belonging, equipping students to address health access and utilization challenges. We value engagement through collaboration across disciplines and communities, encouraging students to build meaningful partnerships, listen deeply and respond to the real-world needs of those they serve locally and globally.

As leaders in maternal-child health, our graduates serve as the face of a responsive and collaborative effort to strengthen the maternal-child workforce and improve health outcomes across Delaware, the region, and the nation. They leave with a sense of purpose, the clinical skills to practice safely and confidently, and the courage to be advocates, healers, and leaders. Graduates enter the world ready to support primary care of women across the lifespan, newborn care to 28 days, childbearing and reproductive health with wisdom, respect, and a clear vision for a more sustainable future.