The International Confederation of Midwives (ICCM) defines a midwife as “a responsible and trustworthy professional who provides the support, care and counseling needed by women in cooperation with women during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum period, delivers the baby under her own responsibility, and cares for the newborn and infant”. In addition, midwife is a lifelong health counselor and educator for women, family and society. According to this definition, midwifery care includes preventive measures, promotion of normal birth, screening and prevention of risks to mother and child, ensuring access to medical care or other appropriate assistance and intervention in emergencies.
Midwifery is a professional profession that has gained a respected place in societies throughout the ages and includes science and art. The aim of the midwifery undergraduate program is to train modern midwives who are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to serve in all areas of the midwifery profession, provide evidence-based care, contribute to the development of the midwifery profession by conducting scientific research, think critically, have developed problem-solving skills, adopt ethical values, respect human rights and freedoms, and adopt the importance of lifelong learning.
Female students who have graduated from high school or equivalent school and who are successful in the student selection exam conducted by the Higher Education Council and who enroll with a numerical score (MF3) are accepted to the midwifery department. In addition, students who have started their education in an equivalent program at home or abroad can also apply to the program by horizontal transfer. The program includes basic medical, behavioral and social sciences courses as well as basic vocational courses specific to the field of midwifery. These courses are carried out theoretically, laboratory practice and clinical practice according to their content. In order to graduate from the midwifery undergraduate program, the student must have taken and succeeded in all compulsory and elective courses, have a GPA of at least 2.00 and have completed a total of 240 ECTS. In addition, according to the Regulation on the Determination of Minimum Education Requirements for Doctor, Nursing, Midwifery, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy and Architecture Education Programs (2008) published in the Official Gazette; a) At least 100 prenatal examinations, at least 40 pregnant pregnancies, at least 40 deliveries, actively participating in breech birth; monitoring and caring for 40 women at risk during pregnancy, birth or postpartum period, and monitoring and caring for at least 100 puerperant and healthy newborn babies (including examination).
Our students graduate in accordance with the criteria specified in the regulation numbered 26775, which entered into force on February 2, 2008 by the Presidency of the Council of Higher Education, which was prepared in parallel with the Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Union. Those who successfully complete their undergraduate education and training graduate with the title of “midwife”.
Graduates of the midwifery department can work in the relevant units of public and private hospitals, community health centers, family health centers, maternal and child health and reproductive health centers, delivery room, neonatal units, high-risk pregnancy areas and public health within the scope of their rights and priorities within their professional boundaries. They can also work freelance, follow up pregnant women and give birth. They can work in Birth Preparation Centers or open their own private centers. They can work as a lecturer in related fields by doing academic work. After graduation, after fulfilling the necessary criteria for postgraduate education, they can progress academically by studying at the master's and doctoral level. In addition, our midwifery graduate students can also receive postgraduate education in the Midwifery master's degree, Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing master's degree and Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing doctorate programs opened within the Health Sciences Institute of our University.
