Curriculum
The Master of Science in Acupuncture degree program is three years in length (34 months) and is scheduled on a semester basis. The curriculum of this major consists of seven (7) distinct areas:
1. Acupuncture Practice and Techniques:
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:
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 TCM treatment paradigms. Emphasis is placed on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnoses and effective treatment strategies.
3. Western Biomedicine:
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:
The four (4) courses in herbal medicine and dietetics give the student a basic introduction to western and Chinese botanical medicine and TCM treatment philosophies relevant to herbal medicine and clinical diet therapies. Training in botanical medicine is limited in the Acupuncture Institute to three survey courses: Botanical Medicine, Introduction to Chinese Herbal Remedies and Patent Remedies. Information is provided on indications, contraindications and drug-herb interactions. 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. 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, two courses in soft tissue treatment techniques are offered.
6. 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.
7. Clinical Services:
The five (5) clinical services 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 380 patient visits and will have completed 830 hours of clinical training.
Learning Outcomes
The Educational Objectives of the MS-Acupuncture are to train and educate acupuncture 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 the safe and effective clinical application of acupuncture, moxibustion, qi cultivation, tui na and 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.
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