MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ACUPUNCTURE AND HERBAL MEDICINE (MAcHM)
Pursuing professional excellence.
The Master of Science in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (MAcHM) degree program is designed to provide a comprehensive professional education in acupuncture and Oriental medicine that prepares graduates to practice in clinical settings. This program is combined with instruction in biomedicine and emphasizes an integrative and holistic approach to healthcare. Graduates of the MAcHM program become eligible to take the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (NCCAOM) licensure examination and the California Acupuncture Board (CAB) licensure examination.
Passers of the national or state licensure examinations are expected to acquire the following job titles: acupuncturists, oriental medicine practitioners (CIP Code: 51.3301, USDOE CIP-to-SOC Crosswalk, Standard Occupational Classification).
MAcHM Academic Catalog
Program Outcomes
The program outcomes for the MAcHM degree program are listed as follows:
- Graduates apply the knowledge of conventional medicine in the practice of EAM(East Asian Medicine).
- Graduates will be able to understand the basic theories of biomedical science and apply the knowledge of conventional medicine in the practice of EAM.
- Graduates will be able to have diagnostic knowledge and awareness of treatment protocols of conventional medicine.
- Graduates demonstrate competency in the practice of Acupuncture and Herbal medicine.
- Graduates will be able to explain the major concepts and theories of Acupuncture and Herbal medicine.
- Graduates will be able to perform EAM diagnostic methods and assessment criteria, and formulate, implement, monitor, and adapt treatment plans.
- Graduates will be able to perform Acupuncture treatments.
- Graduates will be able to practice herbal medicine and provide advisement on nutritional and dietary supplements.
- Graduates demonstrate competencies in inpatient care in compliance with ethical, legal, and safety guidelines and communicate effectively in diverse settings.
- Graduates will be able to identify medical emergency situations and conduct standardized procedures, including referrals to other primary healthcare professionals, emergency actions, and compliance with legal regulations.
- Graduates will be able to adapt to multicultural environments and practice in diverse community contexts.
- Graduates can develop and implement effective treatment plans, maintain standardized medical records, conduct case reviews, and manage their clinical practice.
- Graduates will be able to develop treatment protocols for individual patients and record patient medical information and treatment according to standardized guidelines.
- Graduates will be able to present case reviews and communicate with other primary healthcare professionals, write medical/legal reports, as well as bill for services using appropriate codes.
- Graduates understand basic research concepts and utilize scientific methods related to the EAM clinical practice.
- Graduates will be able to critically review research data and studies, and relate findings to their clinical practice.
- Graduates will be able to interpret clinical research protocols
Graduation Requirements
The Master of Science in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (MAcHM) degree is awarded to those who have fulfilled the following requirements:
1. Complete didactic courses and internship hours in the curriculum (or their equivalent) and have completed a minimum of four (4) academic years (12 quarters) of full-time residency as a matriculated student at SBU. The thesis, dissertation, or project is not applicable to this degree program.
2. Achieve a minimum of 2.3 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) for all courses taken at SBU.
3. Pass all sections of the Comprehensive Competency Examination II (CCE II).
4. Clear all indebtedness and other obligations to the University.
5. Complete an exit interview conducted by the Finance Officer, if applicable.
Curriculum
| COURSE # / TITLE | Units | Hours | COURSE # / TITLE | Units | Hours | |
| Biomedic Sciences | Acupuncture | |||||
| BS 101 Biology | 3 | 30 | AC 301 Acupuncture Principles | 4 | 40 | |
| BS 102 Chemistry | 2 | 20 | AC 321 Acupuncture A | 4 | 40 | |
| BS 103 Organic/Biochemistry | 2 | 20 | AC 322 Acupuncture B | 4 | 40 | |
| BS 104 Physics | 3 | 30 | AC 323 Acupuncture C | 4 | 40 | |
| BS 105 Psychology | 3 | 30 | AC 344 Special Acupuncture Modalities | 3 | 30 | |
| BS 110 Research Methodology | 3 | 30 | AC 345 Acupressure / Tui Na* | 3 | 40 | |
| BS 301 Medical Terminology | 3 | 30 | AC 421 Acupuncture Techniques A* | 4 | 50 | |
| BS 302 History of Medicine | 1 | 10 | AC 422 Acupuncture Techniques B* | 4 | 50 | |
| BS 321 Anatomy/Physiology A | 4 | 40 | AC 521 Acupuncture Theory/Therapy A | 4 | 40 | |
| BS 322 Anatomy/Physiology B | 4 | 40 | AC 522 Acupuncture Theory/Therapy B | 4 | 40 | |
| BS 323 Neurosciences/Endocrinology | 4 | 40 | Clinical Medicine | |||
| BS 331 Acupuncture Anatomy* | 1 | 20 | CM 301 CPR & First Aid | 1 | 10 | |
| BS 341 Nutrition & Diets | 3 | 30 | CM 321 Physical Diagnosis* | 4 | 50 | |
| Oriental Medicine | CM 322 General Pathology | 4 | 40 | |||
| OM 301 OM Principles | 4 | 40 | CM 331 Pharmacology | 4 | 40 | |
| OM 321 OM Diagnosis A | 4 | 40 | CM 341 Systemic Pathology | 4 | 40 | |
| OM 322 OM Diagnosis B | 4 | 40 | CM 501 Practice Management | 3 | 30 | |
| OM 323 OM Diagnosis C | 4 | 40 | CM 502 Ethics | 2 | 20 | |
| OM 346 Tai Chi Chuan / Qi Gong* | 3 | 40 | CM 504 Public Health | 3 | 30 | |
| OM 511 OM Classical Theory A | 4 | 40 | CM 521 Clinical Medicine A | 4 | 40 | |
| OM 512 OM Classical Theory B | 4 | 40 | CM 522 Clinical Medicine B | 4 | 40 | |
| OM 521 Internal Medicine A | 4 | 40 | CM 523 Clinical Medicine C | 4 | 40 | |
| OM 522 Internal Medicine B | 4 | 40 | CM 531 Differential Diagnosis | 4 | 40 | |
| OM 523 Internal Medicine C | 4 | 40 | CM 601 Case Management A | 3 | 30 | |
| OM 524 Internal Medicine D | 4 | 40 | CM 602 Case Management B | 3 | 30 | |
| Herbal Medicine | CM 603 Case Management C | 3 | 30 | |||
| HM 301 Herbal Principles | 4 | 40 | Total didactic | 212 | 2180 | |
| HM 321 Herbology A | 4 | 40 | ||||
| HM 322 Herbology B | 4 | 40 |
Clinic Internship |
|||
| HM 323 Herbology C | 4 | 40 | CI 410 Observation(OB) | 8 | 160 | |
| HM 324 Herbology D | 4 | 40 | CI 510 Supervised Practice (SP) | 20 | 400 | |
| HM 431 Herbal Prescription A | 4 | 40 | CI 610 Independent Practice (IP) | 20 | 400 | |
| HM 432 Herbal Prescription B | 4 | 40 | Total clinic internship | 48 | 960 | |
| HM 433 Herbal Prescription C | 4 | 40 | ||||
| HM 434 Herbal Prescription D | 4 | 40 | ||||
| HM 531 Herbal Practice A | 3 | 30 | ||||
| HM 532 Herbal Practice B | 3 | 30 | ||||
| HM 533 Herbal Practice C | 3 | 30 | Master’s Degree Requirements Total: 260 Units or 3140 Hours | |||
Note:
- Clean Needle Techniques is required for Clinic Internship, the California Acupuncture Licensing Examination (CALE), and NCCAOM examinations.
- CPR & First-Aid certificate is required for all students. The iBT(Internet Based Test) is required for students in Chinese and Korean programs prior to entering clinic internship.
- Passing of CCE 1 is required for starting Observation Phase of Clinical Internship and passing of CCE 2 is required for graduation.
- One quarter unit is equal to ten (10) didactic hours of instruction and a minimum of twenty (20) hours of out-of class student work per quarter; or twenty (20) clinical internship hours per quarter.
- * – Course with laboratory hours
Residency Requirements
To receive the Master of Science in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine degree, at least sixty-five (65) quarter units of graduate-level courses with one (1) year residency are required for students who graduated from foreign EAM institutions with an overall GPA of 2.3 or higher.
More than 30% of quarter units at the graduate level earned by another institution may not be accepted as transfer credits toward the Master’s degree program.
Licensure Requirements
The Master of Science in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (MAcHM) program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM). South Baylo University School of Oriental Medicine prepares its students to meet the professional requirements for California Licensure. A graduate of this program is eligible to sit for the Licensure Examination conducted by the California Acupuncture Board (CAB), provided the graduate has met all requirements. For other states, a graduate is recommended to contact the appropriate state licensing agency for specific licensing requirements. MAcHM graduates of SBU are also qualified to sit for the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) examinations.
In California, a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) is a primary care practitioner who is able to practice independently acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, oriental massage, acupressure, and breathing techniques within the scope of this practice. Licensure is regulated by the California Acupuncture Board (CAB), 1747 N. Market Blvd., Suite 180, Sacramento, CA 95835, Tel: (916) 525-5200.
Students taking the California Acupuncture Licensing Exam must complete an Exam Application and evidence of completion of Adult/Child CPR and First Aid. Students wanting to obtain licensure must complete a Live Scan Fingerprints. If the student has a criminal history record, the California Department of Justice or the Federal Bureau of Investigation will send the information to the Board. The Board will review the documents on a case-by-case basis to determine if there is any cause to pursue administrative action against the license.
Students taking the California Acupuncture Licensing Exam must complete an Exam Application and evidence of completion of Adult/Child CPR and First Aid. Students wanting to obtain licensure must complete a Live Scan Fingerprints. If the student has a criminal history record, the California Department of Justice or the Federal Bureau of Investigation will send the information to the Board. The Board will review the documents on a case-by-case basis to determine if there is any cause to pursue administrative action against the license.
Other States
Laws regulating acupuncture vary from state to state and are constantly being revised. While the University does its best to keep current on licensure requirements, it does not guarantee that accurate current information is on file. Each student is responsible for obtaining licensure information and for the interpretation of such information.
Other Countries
The University continues to strive towards recognition by the licensing agencies of other countries. For this reason, students and faculty are kept informed as information becomes available.
National Certification Commission for the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)
The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) was organized to promote nationally recognized standards of excellence to ensure public safety. There are separate examination and certificate programs for acupuncture and herbology. The NCCAOM certificate testifies that an individual has been recognized by colleagues to have the knowledge and skills necessary for safe and effective acupuncture and herbology practice. The NCCAOM examinations are used by the majority of state agencies as a part of the licensing requirement.
Additional information is available from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine,
76 South Laura Street, Suite 1290, Jacksonville, Florida 32202. (904) 598-1005, Fax (904) 598-5001, email: info@nccaom.org.
Oriental Medicine Courses
The MAcHM program offers 126 quarter units in Acupuncture, Herbology, and Oriental Medicine principles, Theories and Treatment to prepare students for clinic internship and patient management.
Download Prerequisites Table for Oriental Medicine Courses
Biomedicine Courses
The MAcHM program offers 86 quarter units in Biomedicine and Clinical Medicine courses to prepare students for specialty practice, clinic internship, and patient management.