Distance Education

The Midwives College of Utah offers a unique distance education program that allows students to complete the academic portion of their degree at their own pace and schedule, and without having to travel to a campus location. Our exceptional online education model uses the resources of technology to build connections and communication between students, faculty, and staff regardless of the physical distance. Students are assigned an instructor for each course they are enrolled in and correspond with instructors via e-mail, phone, or online class discussion.

In addition, students complete the hands-on clinical portion of their program while working with an approved preceptor (midwife), preferably in their local area. These preceptors are MCU’s field faculty.

Students are most likely to be successful in the MCU distance program if they:

1. Are self-directed learners
2. Are able to work independently
3. Have access to local clinical opportunities
4. Can periodically travel to additional clinical sites both nationally and internationally

Designed for Success

The Midwives College of Utah is designed for the midwifery student that needs the freedom from location and time flexibility that distance education offers. As valuable as this freedom is to the needs of many women, many students find that they need certain elements of structure in order to be successful in their programs.

Freedom of Location

Students are able to complete their academic studies wherever they live in the world. Students must have access to the internet (high-speed options highly recommended), and have word processing and printing capabilities.

Clinical Training

Students complete their clinical training with an approved local preceptor. Students should identify appropriate clinical training options prior to entering the MCU program.

Using high-volume clinical sites to obtain all or a majority of clinical numbers is not appropriate for the MCU program. However, in some cases, students may have to leave their local area or country to receive a portion of their clinical training.

Time Flexibility

Students are able to complete academic and clinical work on their own time schedules. Students begin courses at the same time throughout the year; however, a student may find that they need extra time to complete a course. Students are encouraged to finish their courses within a trimester but may extend a course if necessary. Instructors, preceptors, and house mentors are available to support each student’s success in reaching their goals and moving through the program.

Major Maps

Major Maps are course completion schedules that students develop with the MCU Registrar. Major Maps allow students to see what course work must be completed within each trimester to meet the student’s graduation goal date. Major Maps give structure to the flexibility of MCU course work.

Financial Options and Incentives

MCU students do not need to worry about gathering a large sum of tuition all at once in order to finance their education. MCU offers students reasonable monthly payments to pay their trimester Cost of Program.

A tuition discount is extended to all students who demonstrate after each year of active enrollment, that they have stayed on their Major Map (course completion schedule).

Trimester Enrollments

The MCU academic year is divided into three trimesters.
Winter—January through April
Summer—May through August
Fall—September through December

Students enroll in courses at the beginning of each trimester. This encourages students to complete course work by the end of the term so that they can enroll in additional courses for the next trimester. The trimester system also allows students to begin new courses with other students at the same time, making student study groups more effective.

Personal Coaching

Personal coaching is a unique service that MCU offers students enrolled in a degree program. Students have access to a personally assigned House Mentor throughout their program. House Mentors can help students identify and overcome progress challenges, suggest Major Map changes, and provide accountability and support through the student’s program.

Peer Groups

For some distance education students, isolation is a concern. MCU strives to mitigate isolation through healthy learning communities and peer-led support groups. An affinity group of peers creates relationships and a culture of accountability to each other.