In some ways, I don't see that it matters. I have one degree that has a science attached to it and I did fewer science and research and stats courses for that degree than I did for another that does not have (but easily could) science attached to the name of the degree.
Often it is up to the university what constitutes a science or arts degree and from there it is up to the programme to decide whether you believe that your programme is best served by the particular weighting of courses defined by arts or sciences. Which do you think best prepares your graduates for practice?
Perhaps you want to look at what benefits might come to your graduates by virtue of the name of their degree. If graduates primarily use their professional title e.g., RM here in Ontario, rather than their academic qualifications (BHScM), there are probably few advantages to having BS... or BA.... behind your name. IF there is preferential treatment within the context of the normal work of a professional for one kind of degree or another - e.g., more likely to get a job with BS than BA, then why not give your students a leg-up if you do have a choice that isn't particularly related to the combination of courses that you offer. Or if the kinds of graduate work that appeal most to your graduates require a BA rather than a BS, then maybe that is the route to go.
Personally, I see midwifery as both science and art. Practitioners need both. I actually tried to lobby to get a midwifery programme housed under the women's studies programme - I see midwifery as a practice specialty of woman's studies. That didn't go down too well at the university - the women's studies faculty thought it was a great idea, but the dean of arts was horrified. It was pretty clear to her that midwifery was a health science and belonged somewhere in that domain. That university still has no midwifery programme...
Susan
***************************************************
Susan James
Programme de formation des sages-femmes
Université Laurentienne
Sudbury, ON
>>> [log in to unmask] 11/27/00 12:30PM >>>
I wonder if anyone has any thoughts about whether a degree in midwifery
(leading to license to practice) should be defined as a science or art
degree.
----------------------
Carol Dawn Patricia Hillier
[log in to unmask]
|