New students may begin the program in the fall or spring term. Didactic classes meet on the Drexel Center City Campus once per week from 6 to 9:50 p.m. Supervised practice is completed in Philadelphia metro area facilities, typically Monday through Friday; some evening and weekend hours are available for hospital-based supervised practice, but most hours must be completed during the daytime. Online learning and distances clinicals are possible. Please speak to the program director for more information.

A minimum grade of C is required for didactic classes. Clinical internship is Pass/Fail; students must complete a minimum of 300 hours and fulfill all of the required competencies to pass the course.

Introduction to Human Lactation

This course will provide a foundation in breastfeeding and human lactation, including breastfeeding education and promotion during the prenatal period, successful initiation of breastfeeding, prevention of many common pitfalls, and ongoing breastfeeding support. This course covers the 15 specific areas required by Baby Friendly USA for all nurses working in prenatal and perinatal areas in Baby-Friendly Hospitals.

Clinical Lactation I

The focus of this course will be to understand clinical aspects of the lactating parent including in-depth maternal assessment and composition of human milk. Emphasis will be on first recognizing normal anatomy and physiology and then exploring presentations of the difficulties that lactating parent may encounter. The course will examine the effects of maternal characteristics as well as the effects of birth on breastfeeding outcomes. Strategies to improve breastfeeding success will be discussed.

Clinical Lactation II

The focus of this course will be to understand clinical aspects of the breastfeeding infant and the use of human milk, including in-depth infant and the changing composition of human milk as the infant’s needs change.  Emphasis will be on first recognizing normal anatomy and physiology and then exploring presentations of the difficulties that breastfeeding dyads encounter.  The course will examine the effects of infant anatomy and characteristics as well as the effects of birth on breastfeeding outcomes.  Strategies to improve breastfeeding success will be discussed.

Public Policy of Breastfeeding

This course will examine the barriers to optimal breastfeeding using a socioecologic framework. Participants will gain a better understanding of the different factors that influence breastfeeding behaviors. Strategies to more effectively protect, promote and support breastfeeding will be discussed.

Lactation Supervised Practice

Lactation Supervised Practice is designed to prepare competent, entry-level lactation consultants who will be eligible to sit the International Board Lactation Consultant Examination by completing Pathway 2. The course will provide appropriate experiences to practice the roles of lactation consultant under the supervision of a preceptor. Total required hours needed equal at least 300, which can be completed in 2 semesters but can be stretched out if needed.

Please click here to see the Human Lactation Consultant Certification Program page of the Drexel University Course Catalog.

Prerequisite Courses

Please see the How to Apply page for a list of prerequisite courses that must be completed before enrolling.