Courses
Doula Studies-2026/2027
| Level 1 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| HLTH-1230 | Historical Context-Reproductive Culture | 3 | ||
| This course introduces students to the historical milestones that have shaped the current reproductive healthcare landscape. Drawing on anthropology, sociology, and health policy, students will explore how cultural, political, and systemic factors influence reproductive experiences and outcomes. Through a framework of reproductive justice, the course considers pathways towards more equitable care. | ||||
| HLTH-1231 | Anatomy & Physiology of Reproduction | 3 | ||
| This course introduces the biology of reproduction. Students will explore biochemistry, basic medical terminology, and the anatomy and physiology of the human body's eleven systems. Additional topics include physiological adaptations to pregnancy, embryology, lactation, and labour. | ||||
| HLTH-1232 | Preparing for Birth 1 | 3 | ||
| This course introduces learners to foundational concepts within preconception, pregnancy and the process of labour and birth for the labouring person, partner, and doula. Students will learn to apply basic comfort and supportive measures aligned with a Doula's scope of practice. Students will learn how to accompany families throughout pregnancy, labour and birth across reproductive environments. | ||||
| HLTH-1233 | Postpartum 1 | 3 | ||
| This course focuses on identifying the needs of new families as they transition into the first six weeks of the postpartum period. The cultural context of newborn care and socio-environmental space of the family are examined. Emphasis is placed on learning the basics of parental adjustment, infant feeding, postpartum mental health, and the role of the doula within the postpartum space. Emerging skills, strategies, and the ability to identify appropriate community resources to become responsive to the dynamic needs of families in transition are developed. | ||||
| HLTH-1234 | Self & Others | 3 | ||
| This course focuses on understanding interpersonal relationships in order to effectively navigate the complex and multidimensional world of reproductive health. Students critically explore their personal beliefs, values and assumptions, about themselves as part of a family, culture, and different communities. This course enhances interpersonal communication as the learner becomes more self-reflective, learning to nurture supportive relationships while setting professional boundaries. | ||||
| WRIT-1048 | Reason & Writing 1 for Health Sciences | 3 | ||
| This course will introduce health sciences students to essential principles of reading, writing, and reasoning at the postsecondary level. Students will identify, summarize, analyze, and evaluate multiple short readings and write persuasive response essays to develop their vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking. | ||||
| HLTH-1236 | Practicum 1 | 3 | ||
| Practicum One enables students to develop an understanding of breadth and depth of the applied role of the doula. Students are assigned community placements that provide a variety of diverse observational and practical experiences. Students learn alongside a variety of practitioners who engage with families across a wide range of circumstances related to doula practice during the perinatal period. Students begin to apply the theoretical concepts learned in the classroom to practical environments that include in-home, institutional, community, classroom, and lab-based settings. Experiences are designed to expose students to a wide range of opportunities while allowing them to identify their strengths. | ||||
| Level 2 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| HLTH-5026 | Birth Topics-Adv | 3 | ||
| This advanced course builds students' capacity to provide evidence-informed, compassionate, and inclusive support through pregnancy, labour, and birth. Learners will explore common pregnancy, birth, and postpartum complications and guide clients in making informed decisions using credible, culturally relevant resources within the doula's scope of practice. | ||||
| HLTH-5021 | Postpartum Topics-Adv | 3 | ||
| This course focuses on advanced postpartum adjustment and the spectrum of postpartum outcomes from six weeks to one year. Students explore postpartum topics including advanced infant feeding challenges and options, post-abortion support, loss and grief, and advocacy related to mental wellness and nutrition. Students develop skills to accompany the diverse roads to parenthood, including adoption, surrogacy and 2SLGBTQ+ families. Students apply critical appraisal skills regarding information sourcing for client support and community referrals. | ||||
| BUSI-1242 | Intro to Business - Full Spectrum Doula | 3 | ||
| In this course, students and faculty collaborate to discuss the diverse knowledge and skills that will assist Doulas in starting and operating a full-spectrum doula business. The course will guide students to explore various topics, including business marketing, business logistics such as scheduling, developing social media content, inter/intra-professional collaboration, the role of a doula, professional behaviours, reflective practice, and cultural humility. Students will have the opportunity to decide how to construct a business plan and evaluate issues surrounding entrepreneurship and owning one's own business, such as legal matters, ethics, risk, and market space. Together students and faculty will critically examine the meaning of an online presence and how to create a welcoming space for all bodies and families. | ||||
| HLTH-1240 | Supporting Transitions | 3 | ||
| This course explores the emotional, social, and cultural transitions that occur during the journey to parenthood and across diverse reproductive experiences. Emphasis is placed on developing relational resilience, self-care, and compassionate communication skills when navigating complex care dynamics among clients, families, and interdisciplinary providers. Students will learn to support individuals and families through changing relationships, experiences of loss, and evolving identities while considering how information, culture, and emotional well-being shape these transitions. Through reflective practice, case studies, and guest speakers, learners will examine the complexities of compassion fatigue, ethical challenges, and vicarious trauma while cultivating a trauma-informed, inclusive, and sustainable approach to doula care. | ||||
| HLTH-1241 | Practicum 2 | 6.7 | ||
| Practicum Two builds upon the foundational knowledge and experiences developed in the first term. In this term, students transition from an observational role to being more actively engaged with individuals within a variety of community-based settings. Students apply their understanding of doula practice through more immersive, community-engaged, and independent learning. The integration of theory, self-reflection, and practice within diverse care environments is emphasized. Students deepen their comprehension of the doula's scope, ethical considerations, and relational competencies in providing person-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally safe care while supervised by doula clinical faculty. | ||||
| HLTH-1271 | Grief, Loss & Death | 3 | ||
| This course prepares students to accompany individuals, families, and communities experiencing loss, and the grief these events bring about. Students will have opportunities to critically reflect on theories of death, grief, and loss across various cultural contexts, and to apply their learning to the full range of reproduction options and outcomes. Students learn to identify their role as part of a larger care team, working with family members, healthcare providers, and community organizations supporting end-of-life care and transitions. In addition to topics such as stillbirth and miscarriage, this course engages with a broad range of overlapping loss topics, such as trauma and violence, maternal death, systemic injustice, and loss/denial of community as a result of oppression and exclusion. | ||||
| HLTH-1272 | Information & Evidence-Doula Practice | 3 | ||
| This course prepares students to become critical consumers of information and research. Students learn how different ways of knowing support a doula's thoughts and actions within a doula's scope of practice. The influences of social media and other sources of information upon doula practice are explored. Students are introduced to primary and secondary sources of evidence and learn that research is an important part of their ongoing commitment to developing the doula profession's knowledge base. | ||||
| Program Residency | ||||
| Students Must Complete a Minimum of 12 credits in this program at Fanshawe College to meet the Program Residency requirement and graduate from this program | ||||