New directions in midwifery education: the master's of science in midwifery degree.

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.