B.S. in Maternal Child Health: What It Is and How It Can Advance Your Career
The Bachelor of Science in Maternal Child Health (MCH) is a specialized undergraduate program. While many maternal and child health programs are graduate degrees, several undergraduate programs specialize in maternal and child health. The BS in MCH is particularly specialized because it focuses in detail on the health and well-being of birthing parents, infants, and families. In addition to learning about lactation support and health equity, students in this program learn about the social and structural factors that influence the health and well-being of maternal and infant populations. This focus is notably specialized for an undergraduate degree, as most education in maternal and child health occurs at the graduate level. National Louis University, for example, offers a BS in Maternal Child Health.
What Is a BS in Maternal Child Health?
This program also combines coursework in Maternal and Child Health with a specific focus on human lactation and infant feeding and care practices. The program will critically examine concepts and emerging trends in health disparities, such as how systems of power affect the health of birthing parents and babies. The impact of racism on the maternal health of birthing parents of color will also be a major component of the coursework.
National Louis University's BS in Maternal-Newborn Nursing degree program is the only CAAHEP-accredited Pathway 2 program leading to a bachelor's degree and the only EP-accredited university undergraduate program that leads to a degree in lactation. Students in the program analyze systems of power in relation to maternal child health from a social, economic, and political perspective, apply the principles of biomedical ethics and social justice to maternal and child health policies and practices, and apply the basic mechanics of language, oral expression, and scholarly writing to create written materials concerning maternal and child health topics. Upon completion of the degree, graduates can professionally counsel expectant parents and parents of infants on best practices in infant feeding and care. They can speak professionally with parents of infants, as well as with health care professionals and workers in community, governmental, and non-profit agencies that serve birthing parents and their babies.
Why Pursue a BS in Maternal Child Health?
The biggest draw of this program is that few programs offer undergraduate degrees in Maternal Child Health, especially with an emphasis on lactation support. Students who declare this major early in their education typically plan to pursue certification as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) or similar maternal and child health-related work. For bachelor's-levellactation, HEPP accreditation is relatively rare for Pathway 2 programs. This program offers students the opportunity to enter the field of lactation support/mom and baby health at the undergraduate level.
The BS in Maternal Child Health degree is also ideal for individuals who are passionate about Health Equity Work. The curriculum for the degree specifically explores how racism, structural inequity, and social determinants affect the health and well-being of birthing parents and their babies. This focus on understanding and addressing the health disparities in maternal and child health that exist for various populations of birthing parents and their babies, specifically in the US, is a key area of public health focus, and the MCH BS degree program is positioned to support students who are interested in working to address these disparities.
Key Questions About This Degree
What does CAAHEP Pathway 2 accreditation mean?
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is a recognized accreditor for allied health education, including human lactation education programs that lead to candidacy for the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) exam. CAAHEP has accredited a variety of human lactation programs designed to meet the requirements for candidacy for the IBCLC exam at different levels and for various purposes. The Pathway 2 programs are one of several ways to become eligible to sit for the IBCLC exam. A Pathway 2 human lactation program meets the requirements for a CAAHEP-accredited human lactation program and is designed to meet the requirements for IBCLC exam candidacy.
Does this degree lead directly to IBCLC certification?
You must complete additional requirements to become an IBCLC, as outlined by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE). Students in the BS in Maternal and Child Health Human Lactation program complete supervised clinical practice hours, in addition to the academic requirements of the program. Students become eligible to sit for the IBCLC exam upon completing the required coursework and clinical hours. Note that students should check with the IBLCE for the most current information regarding the eligibility requirements to sit for the IBCLC exam.
Do I need a background in healthcare to enroll?
Most students in this kind of program have no prior knowledge or experience in healthcare. The curriculum is structured so that, by the end of the program, students have a strong foundation in basic health sciences, as well as the lactation and maternal-child health content they were admitted to study.
What roles does this degree lead to beyond lactation consulting?
In addition to working as a Lactation Counselor, individuals with a degree in Maternal and Child Health can work as a Health Educator, a Community Health Worker in a Maternal and Child Health setting, or as an advocate/policy analyst within a non-profit or governmental agency.
Career Outcomes
Some of the major positions held by individuals who have completed a BS in Maternal Child Health program and have gone on to IBCLC certification would include work as a lactation consultant, maternal and child health educator, community health worker for maternal-infant health programs, and other positions in non-profits and in government that deal with programs and services for maternal and child health. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a good resource for current information on projected growth and wages for Health Education Specialists and Community Health Workers, two of the several health-related positions students and graduates of Maternal Child Health programs hold.
Occupational Outlook Handbook, Health Education Specialists.
Because maternal and infant health outcomes are in the spotlight, with special focus on racial disparities in maternal mortality, many hospitals, public health departments, and maternal health-focused non-profits are building dedicated programs and services for maternal and infant health and lactation support.
BS in Maternal Child Health at NationaBSuis University
The BS in Maternal Child Health is offered by the Undergraduate College at National Louis University. The BS in Maternal Child Health is the only CAAHEP-accredited Pathway 2 program leading to a bachelor's degree in Maternal Child Health. The curriculum combines core clinical maternal and infant health content with a strong health equity and social justice framework.
