Program Overview

A superior doctor is able to gather all techniques and use them either together or separately.” - The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine

The Master’s in Traditional Chinese Medicine (MS-TCM) offers comprehensive training in Chinese Herbal Medicine and acupuncture to prepare graduates to provide their patients the full range of the benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The program expands upon the curriculum offered in the Master's in Acupuncture by adding training in herb theory, dispensary practice and clinical herbal training.

Program Details

The Master’s in Traditional Chinese Medicine (MS-TCM) is a 4 year, 145.5 credit, 3395 hour program.

For those who pursue this program, in the first year you will study basic theory, acupuncture concepts and biomedicine.

In the second year you will gradually begin your herbal studies. You will begin a survey of the traditional Chinese Materia Medica, which encompasses over 300 individual herbs. This herbal training continues alongside your acupuncture training and acupuncture clinical internship in your third year. In this phase you will continue to explore individual herbs and 150 formulas.

You will finish your education with classes in clinical applications of Chinese medicine including dietetics, acupuncture/moxibustion and herbal formulae and a herbal clinic concentration in the fourth and final year.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Traditional Chinese Medicine M.S. program, the graduate will have the ability to:

• Demonstrate competency in utilizing the four examinations to identify Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnoses
• Formulate and skillfully implement the safe and effective clinical application of Chinese medicine modalities based upon a total assessment of the patient
• For the M.S.-TCM: 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 perspectives in order to understand the medical context in which patients present, make appropriate treatment and consultation decisions in various healthcare settings as part of a collaborative health care team, and make timely referrals when appropriate
• Value patients’ dignity and confidentiality
• Apply knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient-centered care in a variety of settings in order to optimize patient health and coordinate care with other healthcare practitioners