Sexual and Reproductive Health
Accessible reproductive healthcare is possible with UW.
Applications for the Graduate Certificate in Sexual and Reproductive Health (GCSRH) are now open for an Autumn 2024 start! This program is available for currently practicing Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) who provide clinical management to reproductive-aged individuals and students enrolled in a Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) degree program who are seeking comprehensive training in advanced sexual and reproductive health and abortion care.
About the certificate
Access to healthcare continues to be a highly politicized topic, and for many people seeking reproductive care, finding local, responsive practitioners who can provide the care they need has become increasingly difficult. Nurse Practitioners make up 42% of the Primary Care practitioners in the United States but have historically been unable to provide comprehensive reproductive care to their patients, leaving those who are already highly susceptible to inequitable healthcare experiences further unserved.
The University of Washington School of Nursing’s Graduate Certificate in Sexual and Reproductive Health was developed to provide currently practicing nurses across various fields with an opportunity to critically review historical social and medical reproductive practices while learning the practical skills and knowledge needed to be able to provide medication and procedural abortions to those seeking care, right now. Utilizing principles of anti-racism and Reproductive Justice, a term coined in 1994 by Sistersong, a group of Black women committed to addressing the tenets of reproductive health as both a human right and social justice issue, this certificate will enhance the ability for all people and communities to access the abortion care they want, when they want, by the providers they choose.
Applications for the 2024 Autumn start close May 1, 2024, at 12:59 pm PST. Join us at an upcoming information session to learn more or begin your application today.
Human rights and social justice
Black women and femmes coined the term Reproductive Justice to ensure that all people have the right to create, prevent, and support the families they desire.
Learn More
Expanding training for abortion providers
The Seattle Times feature on the University of Washington’s approach to accessible reproductive care.
Ready to apply?
Applications for the 2024 Autumn start are open now through May 1, 2024, at 12:59 pm PST.
Join us at an upcoming information session to learn more or begin your application today.
Curriculum
The Graduate Certificate in Sexual and Reproductive Health is intended to support the needs of working professionals and full-time students and includes 5 quarters of study including a clinical practicum and the completion of a capstone project. This project, negotiated between the student and a graduate certificate faculty advisor, provides clinicians an opportunity to develop an implementation plan for incorporating abortion care into their practice.
This certificate requires approximately 15 months to complete 15 credits of coursework.
- Fall quarter: NURS 568 History and Politics of Abortion and Family Planning (3 credits)
- Winter quarter: NURS 570 Systems Approach to Abortion Care (3 credits)
- Spring quarter: NURS 572 Advanced Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (3 credits)
- Summer quarter: NURS 577 Management of Abortion and Early Pregnancy Loss (4 credits)
- All quarters (following NURS 577): NCLIN 579 Clinical Practicum in Sexual and Reproductive Health (2 credits)
One class is held per quarter for the first 4 quarters, and clinical placements will be individualized upon completion of NURS 579 to meet student and faculty needs and availability. All classes will be asynchronous and held virtually, to provide the accessibility and flexibility needed for practicing clinicians to complete the certificate.
About Reproductive Justice
Reproductive Justice is defined by the National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda as “the belief that all women have the right to have children, the right to not have children, and the right to nurture the children they have in a safe and healthy environment.”
In 2022, the Roe Vs. Wade and Dobbs decisions from the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) overturned the constitutional right to abortion, while also upholding the right for employers to deny contraceptive coverage, and insurance companies to meet bare minimum standards for free or low-cost coverage for contraceptives. Though some states independently have chosen to protect the right to reproductive autonomy for women, access to medicinal and procedural abortion in those states is still significantly limited by the availability of practitioners who can provide the necessary services, leaving already vulnerable communities further underserved.
Black and Indigenous women and birthing people who exist within every social identity have historically been and continue to be disproportionately impacted by structural, systemic, and interpersonal racism, sexism, and bias, leaving them without the agency to express their human right to autonomously chose what happens to their bodies, children, communities, or careers. This severely impacts their physical and mental health and access to economic growth opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there funding available?
We are in the process of securing funding to support tuition and related expenses for all admitted students. While this is not confirmed, we hope to know by the time we notify applicants of admissions decisions.
Are international students eligible?
Yes, international students are eligible for the graduate certificate. All UW Graduate School rules apply to the graduate certificate. For more information, please visit our international applicants page.
Can I take classes in the graduate certificate without being admitted to the program?
The first three courses in the Graduate Certificate for Sexual and Reproductive Health can be taken as electives (if you meet the requirements for each course). To take the Management and Clinical Practicum courses, you have to be admitted into the Graduate Certificate. It is possible to take courses as a Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) student prior to being admitted into the program.
Is this program targeted to practicing advanced practice providers?
The program is open to currently licensed APRNs and to students who are in programs to become an APRN. We currently cannot admit applicants who are licensed as another type of advanced practice clinician, such as physician assistants. We hope to have this option available in the future.
How long does the certificate take?
The program timeline is flexible. However, most students will need at least five quarters, as the program includes core courses offered only once per year. If you are interested in the program but are concerned about finishing it in the five quarters, we encourage you to reach out to the program director.
Can students use state employee tuition exemption if they are eligible?
The program is funded through the Continuum College, so students will have to pay per credit and are not eligible for the state employee tuition exemption. However, we hope to have funding available for students who are committed to providing abortion care upon completion of the program.
What is the expected time commitment for this program?
The Graduate Certificate in Sexual and Reproductive Health is intended to support the needs of working professionals and full-time students and includes 5 quarters of study. Quarters 1-4 are virtual and asynchronous. Students will complete each module at their own pace and interact with fellow students through a virtual platform. During the 5th and final quarter, students complete their clinical training at a Seattle-based partner site.
Why was this program developed?
Reproductive autonomy is foundational to the quality of care that UW Nurses provide. Continuing to grow the capacity for current and future nurses to incorporate tangible implementation of reproductive justice in our work is critical to our mission and this certificate will directly increase access to abortion services for women who otherwise might remain unserved.