What if you could become a certified doula while earning college credit through the University of Cincinnati?
For aspiring doulas, nursing students, healthcare professionals, and anyone passionate about improving maternal and child health, an exciting educational opportunity is now available through the University of Cincinnati’s online Rural Population Health program.
And I’m incredibly excited to be part of it!
After nearly 25 years working in maternal health, supporting families through pregnancy and childbirth, and educating birth professionals, I’m honored to announce that I’ve joined the University of Cincinnati as adjunct faculty, teaching maternal and child health doula training through UC Clermont’s Associate of Applied Science in Rural Population Health program.
This opportunity represents something I’ve believed in throughout my career: Doula education belongs in the larger conversation about healthcare, public health, and improving maternal outcomes.
And now, students have an opportunity to pursue professional doula certification while earning college credit.
Doula Training at the University of Cincinnati: A New Opportunity for Aspiring Birth Professionals
Traditionally, individuals interested in becoming certified birth doulas have pursued training through independent professional organizations and certification programs.
These programs remain important pathways into the profession. However, incorporating doula education into a university curriculum creates additional opportunities for students who want to explore maternal health as part of a broader academic and professional journey.
Through the University of Cincinnati’s Rural Population Health program, students can pursue comprehensive doula training and certification while earning college credit.
This opportunity may be especially valuable for:
Aspiring birth doulas seeking professional certification
Nursing students interested in obstetrics, labor and delivery, or maternal health
Registered nurses who want to expand their understanding of continuous labor support
Public health and community health students
Social work students and other helping professionals
Individuals interested in maternal and infant health advocacy
Career changers who feel called to support women and families
Whether your goal is to become a practicing birth doula, pursue a career in public health, or strengthen your knowledge of maternal and child health, this educational pathway offers an exciting place to begin.
100% Online Doula Education Through the University of Cincinnati
One of the most appealing aspects of UC’s Rural Population Health program is its flexibility.
The program is fully online and asynchronous, meaning students do not have to attend scheduled live classes or travel to campus.
Students can complete their coursework around employment, family responsibilities, and other commitments.
The Associate of Applied Science in Rural Population Health also offers both full-time and part-time enrollment options.
For working adults, parents, nursing students, and individuals considering a career change, this flexibility can make pursuing higher education significantly more accessible.
And although the University of Cincinnati is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, students do not need to live in Cincinnati to participate in the online degree program.
This creates opportunities for aspiring doulas throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and beyond.
Do You Need to Enroll in the Full Degree to Take the Doula Training Course?
No. Students may have the opportunity to take the doula training course independently without completing the entire associate degree.
This is an especially important option for individuals who already have a degree, are enrolled in another academic program, or simply want to pursue professional doula education for college credit.
For example, a nursing student interested in labor and delivery may want to explore doula training as a complement to their nursing education.
A practicing nurse may be interested in expanding their understanding of physiologic birth, emotional support, and the nonclinical aspects of maternity care.
Someone considering a career in maternal health may want to begin with doula education before deciding whether to pursue additional academic credentials.
Students interested in taking the doula course independently should contact the University of Cincinnati directly to discuss eligibility, enrollment, and available options.
More Than Doula Training: Explore Careers in Public Health and Maternal and Child Health
While doula certification is an exciting component of this opportunity, the University of Cincinnati’s Rural Population Health program extends far beyond childbirth education.
The online Associate of Applied Science in Rural Population Health is designed to prepare students to understand and address healthcare challenges facing rural and underserved communities.
Students explore subjects such as:
Maternal and child health
Community health and disease prevention
Health education and health literacy
Rural healthcare access
Nutrition and population health
Public health policy and advocacy
Community engagement and outreach
Graduates may pursue opportunities in community health organizations, public health departments, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and other healthcare and social service settings.
Potential career pathways include community health work, health education assistance, rural health outreach, public health program support, and community resource navigation.
For students interested in nursing, social work, healthcare administration, or public health, the program can also provide a foundation for continued education.
Why Maternal Health Belongs in Public Health Education
Birth is not simply a medical event. It is a significant life transition with implications for maternal health, infant health, family well-being, and entire communities.
Access to education, supportive care, healthcare resources, and informed decision-making can influence how families experience pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery.
In rural communities, challenges involving healthcare access, transportation, provider availability, and community resources can make comprehensive maternal health support especially important.
Doulas can play a meaningful role within this larger system by providing continuous nonclinical support, education, advocacy, and connection to resources.
Preparing doulas within a public health framework helps students understand not only how to support an individual giving birth, but also how maternal health connects to families, communities, and healthcare systems.
This is one of the reasons I’m particularly excited to bring doula education into the university setting.
Doula Certification for Nursing Students and Healthcare Professionals
If you’re currently enrolled in nursing school or already working as a registered nurse, you may be wondering whether doula training would be valuable to your professional development.
Although nurses and doulas have different responsibilities, their work frequently intersects during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum care.
Nursing education prepares students for clinical assessment, medical care, and patient safety. Doula education emphasizes continuous emotional and physical support, communication, comfort techniques, and the experience of the birthing person.
Understanding both perspectives can offer valuable insight into maternity care.
For nursing students interested in obstetrics, labor and delivery, postpartum nursing, or maternal-child health, doula education may provide an additional opportunity to explore the human experience of childbirth.
And because UC offers the possibility of taking the doula course independently, students pursuing other healthcare degrees may be able to incorporate this education into their academic journey.
Meet Your University of Cincinnati Doula Training Instructor
My name is Erica Manto Paulson, and I’m the founder of Birth With Ease and the founding mother of Nurture, a Cincinnati-based maternal health and doula practice.
For nearly 25 years, I’ve dedicated my professional life to supporting women and families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, while educating the next generation of birth professionals.
My background includes work as a certified labor doula, childbirth educator, midwife assistant, clinical hypnotherapist, and professional doula trainer.
I’ve spent more than a decade training doulas and have worked extensively with families navigating hospital births, unmedicated births, inductions, cesareans, VBACs, and other birth experiences.
My approach to education brings together evidence-based information, physiology, communication, and the somatic experience of birth.
At Birth With Ease, we call this science and somatics.
I believe effective doula education must go beyond memorizing information about labor and delivery.
Students need to understand the physiology of childbirth, the emotional and psychological experiences of birthing families, and the importance of providing compassionate, individualized support.
I’m excited to bring that philosophy into my teaching at the University of Cincinnati.
University of Cincinnati Rural Population Health Scholarships
For students interested in pursuing the full Associate of Applied Science in Rural Population Health, scholarship opportunities may be available through UC Clermont.
Eligible students may receive funding to help cover remaining tuition and fees after applicable grants and other gift aid.
Scholarship availability, eligibility, and award amounts are determined by the University of Cincinnati.
Prospective students should contact UC directly for current scholarship information and application requirements.
How to Apply for University of Cincinnati Doula Training
Students interested in the University of Cincinnati’s online doula training and Rural Population Health program have two potential pathways.
Option 1: Pursue the Associate of Applied Science in Rural Population Health
Students interested in a broader public health education can explore the full online associate degree, which includes coursework in maternal and child health and other areas of rural population health.
The program offers full-time and part-time options.
Option 2: Explore Taking the Doula Training Course Independently
Students who are not interested in completing the full degree may be eligible to enroll in the doula course for college credit.
This option may appeal to nursing students, healthcare professionals, students in other degree programs, and aspiring doulas who specifically want university-level doula education.
All applications and enrollment are handled directly through the University of Cincinnati.
For Spring 2027, UC currently lists an application deadline of November 15, 2026, with classes beginning January 11, 2027. Students should verify current deadlines and course availability with the university.
Learn more about the program:
University of Cincinnati — Online Associate of Applied Science in Rural Population Health
Birth With Ease — University Doula Certification Information
Frequently Asked Questions About University of Cincinnati Doula Training
Can I become a certified doula through the University of Cincinnati?
Yes. The University of Cincinnati offers a maternal and child health doula training and certification course through its Rural Population Health program.
Is the University of Cincinnati doula training online?
Yes. The Rural Population Health program is fully online and asynchronous, allowing students to complete coursework without attending scheduled live classes.
Can I take the doula certification course without earning a degree?
Students who are not pursuing the full associate degree may have the opportunity to enroll in the doula course independently for college credit. Contact UC to confirm eligibility and enrollment options.
Is the program available to students outside Cincinnati, Ohio?
Yes. The online degree program does not require campus attendance, making it accessible to students outside the Cincinnati area.
Can nursing students take the University of Cincinnati doula course?
Nursing students interested in maternal and child health may be able to enroll in the doula course independently. UC can provide information about eligibility and whether credits may apply toward a student’s degree.
Does UC offer part-time enrollment?
Yes. The Rural Population Health associate degree offers both full-time and part-time enrollment options.
Are scholarships available for the Rural Population Health program?
Scholarship opportunities may be available for eligible students pursuing the associate degree. Students should contact the University of Cincinnati for current details.
A New Chapter for Doula Education and Maternal Health
When I began working in birth nearly 25 years ago, I couldn’t have imagined all the ways this profession would grow and evolve.
Today, I’m encouraged to see doula education finding new pathways into higher education, public health, and the larger healthcare community.
Whether you’re a nursing student exploring maternal health, a future doula searching for certification in Cincinnati, or someone who simply feels called to work with mothers, babies, and families, I hope you’ll explore this opportunity.
Because improving birth experiences begins long before someone enters a labor room.
It begins with education.
And I’m incredibly honored to be part of educating the next generation of doulas and maternal health professionals through the University of Cincinnati.
By your side, Erica 💛
