Course description
Programme Content
Core Units
Midwifery Praxis
Midwifery practice exists in a dynamic personal,
professional and health and social context. The aim of
this unit is to reflectively and analytically explore
the discourses of midwifery theory and practice
alongside others of influence in order to reflectively
enhance personal professional practice.
Women’s Issues
Explores the contemporary socio-political discourses
significant to women and to evaluate them with reference
to midwifery practice.
Principles of Enquiry and Research 1
This unit will introduce students to the debates
regarding approaches to enquiry and knowledge
production, and to demonstrate how different
philosophical assumptions shape the research process and
claims to knowledge.
Principles of Enquiry and Research 2
The unit aims to prepare students to develop a proposal
for a research study or a practice development project.
This will be achieved via exploration of range of
research designs/ approaches, methodologies, measurement
and techniques of analysis.
Dissertation / Practice Development Project
The dissertation is the keystone of the master’s. It
embraces both traditional and non-traditional forms of
intellectual inquiry and relevant practical management.
It demonstrates the student’s autonomous ability, within
a complex professional context, to create knowledge
which expands or redefines existing knowledge and/ or
develops new approaches to practice.
Option Units
Antenatal Screening Practice
This unit will enable health care professionals with
existing knowledge and experience to develop their
analytical depth, breath and skills in relation to
facilitation of informed decision making and providing
equal access to high quality antenatal screening
programmes for women and their families.
Assessing Examination of the Newborn Practitioners
To provide health professionals who are experienced
practitioners in newborn examination with a route to
become an assessor of other health professionals who are
undergoing education and training for this role.
Breast Feeding Praxis
The unit aims to enable students to develop their
creative problem solving abilities, skills and
strategies in breastfeeding practice and through this
examination explore opportunities for entrepreneurship.
Emotional Wellbeing and Childbirth
To explore the emotional transition to parenthood, acute
psychological ill health and a variety of personal,
professional collaborative amelioration strategies.
Environment of Birth in its Social Context
To explore the factors affecting the environment in
which birth takes place and to analytically evaluate
their effect on outcome. Integral to this will be
critical synthesis of the contemporary social and
political context of birth and motherhood in the United
Kingdom.
Examination of the Newborn Wellbeing
To provide health professionals with an environment
where examination of the newborn can be theoretical
analysed with reference to the skills required for
facilitating the initial health assessment. Along side
this the student will via experiential opportunity gain
experience and competence in the work place.
Preparation for Supervisors of Midwives
This unit is the preparatory route to becoming a
Supervisor of Midwives (SOM), it will illuminate the
statutory role of the SOM and how it is significant in
the advocacy, support, development and review of
midwifery practice and in the provision of safe woman-
centred care.
CPD Option Units - Interprofessional
Centre for Qualitative Research Masterclass
Ethical and Professional Issues
Evidencing Professional Learning
Facilitating Learning in Practice
Leadership for a Changing Health and Social Care
World
Writing for Publication
