Curriculum
The Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine degree program is four years in length (45 months) and is scheduled on a semester basis. The curriculum of this major consists of eight (8) distinct areas:
1. Acupuncture Practice and Techniques (APT)
The nine (9) acupuncture courses introduce students to the theoretical and practical information of acupuncture therapy. The student becomes proficient in the clinical applications of acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, electrical stimulation, and bleeding techniques. The student learns to identify acupuncture points by anatomical location, palpation, and proportional measurement. The classification, function and indications for each acupuncture point are discussed and demonstrated. In addition to the twelve bilateral channels, two midline vessels and six other extra meridians, forbidden and contraindication of points are discussed. In addition, extra points, auricular points and other categories of acupuncture points are demonstrated and treatment techniques based on these extra meridians and points are discussed and practiced.
2. Asian Medicine Theory, Diagnosis and Application (ATD)
The twelve (12) TCM medicine theory and diagnosis courses are designed to provide the student with an understanding of the scope, philosophy, theory and conceptual frame work of TCM medicine and how acupuncture specifically affects the body within the Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment paradigms. Emphasis is placed on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnoses and effective treatment strategies.
3. Western Biomedicine (AWB)
The twelve (12) western biomedical courses are designed to train the student fully about western medical terms, history taking, physical exam and diagnostic skills. The student learns how to make the appropriate referral and consultation, as well as the clinical relevance of laboratory and diagnostic tests and procedures.
4. Herbal Medicine Survey (AHM)
The five (5) courses in herbal medicine and dietetics give the student a basic introduction to Chinese pharmacy and dispensary practices, common OTC North American botanicals, the ethical consideration of utilizing sparse resources, and TCM clinical diet therapies. Information in the western botanical and pharmacy classes provides clear information regarding indications, contraindications and drug-herb interactions. The ethical and ecological impacts of TCM materia medica on the health of the individual and the world are explored. In addition, the two courses in dietetics and nutrition help the student understand the role of nutrition in patients’ health. (Note that the course in western nutrition is listed under Western Biomedicine: ANT 521 Western Nutrition .)
5. Asian/Chinese Herbology (ACH)
The ten (10) courses in Chinese Herbology offer the student a thorough understanding of Chinese Materia Medica, Classical and Patent formulas and modifications, and the clinical application of Chinese herbs and formulae. The student becomes proficient in the theories pertinent to Chinese Herbal Medicine and the clinical applications of Chinese materia medica for a wide variety of clinical situations and patient populations. At the completion of the 10 course survey, students will have learned over 300 individual herbs and over 150 different classical and patent formulae.
6. Movement and Respiration Studies
The seven (7) movement and respiration courses are designed to enhance the student’s personal and energetic development. The student will be exposed to a wide variety of Asian movement practices that can be used to maintain their own and their patients’ health care needs. In addition to the movement studies, three courses in soft tissue treatment techniques are offered.
7. Counseling, Communications and Practice Management
The four (4) specific courses in this area enhance the students’ clinical skills, both in terms of diagnosing addressing patients’ psychological health and in the area of best business practices. These courses help students learn the fundamental skills needed for private practice, ethical and legal considerations in health care and special considerations for practice in integrated care settings.
8. Clinical Services
The five (5) acupuncture clinical services courses and four (4) Chinese Herbology clinical services (for a total of nine - 9 - clinical experience courses) are designed to allow the student to develop clinical, interpersonal communication and decision- making skills. In addition, students learn professional conduct, efficiency and confidence in dealing with patients on a regular basis. From inception through the end of clinical training, the student has the opportunity to observe and work with advanced TCM practitioners as well as other health care professionals. This allows the student to understand how and when to make appropriate referrals. Clinical service rotations are available in the UBAI on-campus clinic as well as in community and hospital outreach clinical sites. By the end of clinical training, each student will have seen a minimum of 575 patient visits and will have completed 1190 hours of clinical training (830 hours in the acupuncture/general clinical care; 360 in the herbology clinic).
Learning Outcomes
The Educational Objectives of the MS-Acupuncture w/Chinese herbology are to train and educate TCM students who prior to graduation:
- Demonstrate competency in utilizing the four examinations to identify Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnoses.
- Have the ability to formulate and skillfully implement safe and effective acupuncture, moxibustion, Chinese herbal medicine, qi cultivation, tui na and other adjunctive techniques.
- Adapt diagnosis and treatment strategies as needed for diverse patient populations.
- Evaluate patient care from biomedical, pharmacological and Asian perspective in order to understand the medical context in which patients present, make appropriate treatment, and consultation decisions in various healthcare settings including as part of a collaborative health care team; and make timely referrals when appropriate.
- Value patients’ dignity and confidentiality.
