Offered by: Eastern Medicine Department
Dean: Jenny Yu, DACM, LAc
The Eastern Medicine Department offers the Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAcCHM), a 193-credit program consisting of a mix of lecture, lab, and clinical instruction. Students may opt for one of three program schedules:
10-Term Schedule (day): Students in the 10-Term Schedule are expected to enroll full time for 10 consecutive terms including summer. Courses are offered on-ground, blended, and in an online format. Classes are generally held Monday through Friday during the day, although classes may be scheduled at any time including evenings and weekends.
12-Term Schedule (evening/weekend): Students in the 12-Term Schedule are expected to enroll full time for 12 consecutive terms including summer. Courses are offered on-ground, blended, and in an online format. Classes are generally held Monday through Friday evenings and on the weekends during the day, although classes may be scheduled at any time.
Flex Schedule: Students in the Flex Schedule may complete the program at their own pace in as few as 12 terms or as many as 20 terms. Courses are offered on-ground, blended, and in an online format. Classes are offered days, evenings, and weekends, and students register for courses that best suit their schedules and availability.
Clinical Clerkship are offered during Monday through Saturday during the day and may require students to travel throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM) and approved by the California Acupuncture Board (CAB). Graduates are eligible to sit for licensing examinations administered by the California Acupuncture Board (California Acupuncture Licensing Examination - CALE) and the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
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The following programs offered by Southern California University of Health Sciences are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM):
(1) Master of Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine
(2) Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine
• including a Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine degree completion track
The programs listed above may offer courses via distance education.
ACAHM does not accredit any programs at the undergraduate/bachelor level.
Accreditation status and notes may be viewed on the ACAHM Directory.
ACAHM is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the specialized accreditation agency for institutions/programs preparing acupuncture practitioners. ACAHM is located at 500 Lake Street, Suite 204, Excelsior, Minnesota 55331; phone 952/212-2434; https://acahm.org
(Updated 18 September 2023)
- Oriental Medicine Diagnosis: Graduates will synthesize etiology and clinical manifestations to construct Oriental Medicine differential diagnoses.
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapies: Graduates will prescribe and formulate acupuncture, moxibustion, and related Oriental Medicine therapies.
- Herbal Therapy: Graduates will plan and prescribe herbal formulas and modifications.
- Biomedical Diagnosis: Graduates will synthesize pathogenesis and clinical manifestations to construct Western Medicine differential diagnoses.
- Evidence-based Practice: Graduates will synthesize and apply historical and scientific evidence in clinical practice.
- Business and Clinical Practice: Graduates will assess business principles to develop a clinical practice.
- Communication: Graduates will effectively communicate verbally, non-verbally, and in written form.
- Professionalism: Graduates will demonstrate leadership, integrity, and respect for all, and actively engage in ethical, moral, and legal standards of the profession.
- Inter-professional Collaboration: Graduates will collaborate with appropriate professionals to plan and manage patient-centered care.
Applicants for the DAcCHM degree must submit the following:
- Completed application
- Official transcript from an accredited university or universities demonstrating successful completion of 90 semester credits (135 quarter credits)
- In some circumstances, applicants may be asked to submit a personal statement explaining reasons for pursuing the DAcCHM program (i.e., career plans, background, previous experience, interest, and/or values). Maximum of 250 words.
Applicants for the DAcCHM degree generally must meet the following admissions standards. Exceptions are made on an individual basis.
- A completed bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 90 semester hours (135 quarter units) of undergraduate-level coursework from an accredited institution (accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or an equivalent foreign agency).
- Successful interview with a member of the Eastern Medicine Department faculty or administration if requested by the program.
- A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Introductory Physics course that may be taken prior to matriculation or as a co-requisite while enrolled in the DAcCHM program.
- Meet the Technical Standards (physical and technical requirements) to successfully complete the program, with or without reasonable accommodations.
- Meet SCU’s English Language Proficiency standards as described in International Student Admission regardless of citizenship, in addition to at least one of the following:
- At least two-years (60 semester or 90 quarter credits) of undergraduate or graduate-level education in an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
- At least two-years (60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits) of undergraduate or graduate-level education delivered in English.
Southern California University of Health Sciences Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAOM) students and graduates who apply to the Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAcCHM) program may be accepted if they otherwise meet Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine and Southern California University admission requirements.
Upon acceptance, students must submit program-specific documentation through the University’s clinical documentation management system, EXXAT. Prematriculation requirements must be fulfilled no later than the end of the first term or the student’s account may be placed on a registration hold.
- Current and valid tuberculosis (TB) clearance completed within the prior two years. Evidence of current TB clearance must remain current with the program through graduation.
- Lab Participation Agreement.
The Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine may be conferred upon those who have fulfilled the following requirements:
- Completed 193 credits within required categories of coursework:
- 21 credits in foundational health sciences
- 17 credits in clinical sciences
- 92 credits in acupuncture and Chinese medicine health sciences
- 17 credits in interprofessional education
- 36 credits in clinical clerkship
- 10 credits in concentration
- Completed a minimum of 1080 clinic hours
- Passed three required comprehensive examinations
- Earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
- Met residency requirements
- Completed all degree requirements within 20 terms (6.7 years) of matriculation
- Submitted a Petition to Graduate
Concentration (Select One)
DAcCHM students are required to select from one of two concentrations: Healthy Aging or Orthopedics. Each concentration consists of at least 150 hours (10 credits) of coursework. Students must declare their choice of concentration through the Office of the Registrar no later than the end of their 6th term.
In addition to meeting the University’s policies related to transfer credit, the following transfer credit and residency requirements apply to students in the Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAcCHM) program:
- Students may receive transfer credit for up to 50% of the total program credit requirements. Of that 50%, no more than 25% of the program clinical training requirements may be accepted as transfer credit.
- Students must complete at least 50% of credits at SCU to qualify for degree completion (minimum 96 credits).
- All applicable Southern California University of Health Sciences Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAOM) courses may be transferred into the Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAcCHM) program. Southern California University of Health Sciences Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAOM) students must:
- Meet the Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAcCHM) admissions requirements, and
- Execute an enrollment agreement for the Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAcCHM) program.
Graduates are eligible to sit for licensing examinations administered by the California Acupuncture Board (California Acupuncture Licensing Examination - CALE) and National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (Acupuncture, Biomedicine, Foundations of Oriental Medicine, and Chinese Herbology). Students must successfully complete the program to be eligible for these examinations.
Jurisdictional requirements for licensure vary and may change; students are responsible for monitoring requirements where they wish to practice to ensure they meet local qualifications.
Clinical Clerkship is designed for students to develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary for professional practice. Clinical students participate in patient care and engage in other educational experiences under the supervision of a licensed acupuncturist. Students earn credit by completing a minimum of 1080 clinic hours, written and practical assignments, and clinical skills assessments through nine clinical clerkship courses taken in sequence beginning with clinical observation in the second term.
Additional information on Clinical Clerkship is available through the Office of the Dean.
Clinical Clerkship Sites
Clinical students have opportunities to rotate through different clinics within the University Health Center, other approved clinical sites, and within the community. Requirements for participation at clinical sites may vary (including background checks and immunizations).
- SCU Health’s University Health Center: SCU-owned-and-operated clinic on campus, under the supervision of SCU faculty; the campus facility is the University Heath Center (UHC).
- Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC): In a hospital setting, students engage in patient care under the supervision of SCU faculty/CHOC clinician. Students must apply and meet the requirements set forth by CHOC.
- Community Outreach Events: Occasional events organized by SCU to provide services and outreach to surrounding communities. Students participate in events under the supervision of SCU faculty.
- Private Practice Rotation (PPR): Managed through the Eastern Medicine Department and Community Based Clinical Education (CBCE) Office, clinical students complete training by working closely with approved private-licensed acupuncturists serving as affiliated faculty.
Clinical Clerkship Requirements
Clinical Clerkship is designed for students to develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary for professional practice. Clinical students participate in patient care and engage in other educational experiences under the supervision of a licensed acupuncturist. Students earn credit by completing 1080 clinic hours, written and practical assignments, and clinical skills assessments through nine clinical clerkship courses taken in sequence over nine terms. Students complete the required clinic hours at the University Health Center, the University’s owned and operated clinic on campus, as well as at other approved clinical sites. Students enter each clinical course as they complete course prerequisites.
|
Course
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10-Term Schedule Term
|
12-Term Schedule Term
|
Flex Schedule
Term
|
Credit
|
Hours
|
Shift Locations
|
|
ACL1210: Clinical Observation I
|
2
|
2
|
Varies
|
1
|
30 hours
|
University Health Center
|
|
ACL1310: Clinical Observation II
|
3
|
3
|
Varies
|
1
|
30 hours
|
University Health Center
|
|
ACL1410: Clinical Observation III
|
4
|
5
|
Varies
|
3
|
90 hours
|
University Health Center
|
|
ACL1511: Guided Clinical Practice A
|
5
|
6
|
Varies
|
4
|
120 hours
|
University Health Center
|
|
ACL1611: Guided Clinical Practice B
|
6
|
7
|
Varies
|
4
|
120 hours
|
University Health Center
|
|
ACL1711: Guided Clinical Practice C
|
7
|
8
|
Varies
|
7
|
210 hours
|
University Health Center
|
|
ACL1811: Advanced Clinical Practice A
|
–
|
9
|
Varies
|
6
|
180 hours
|
University Health Center/approved clinical sites
|
|
ACL 1812: Advanced Clinical Practice A2
|
8 |
– |
Varies |
4 |
120 hours |
University Health Center/approved clinical sites |
|
ACL 1813: Advanced Clinical Practice A3
|
9 |
– |
Varies |
2 |
60 hours |
University Health Center/approved clinical sites |
|
ACL1911: Advanced Clinical Practice B
|
10
|
11
|
Varies
|
8
|
240 hours
|
University Health Center/approved clinical sites
|
|
ACL1011: Independent Clinical Practice
|
10
|
12
|
Varies
|
2
|
60 hours
|
University Health Center/approved clinical sites
|
Clinic Hours Requirements
- Students are required to complete 1,080 total clinical hours and pass all clinical clerkship courses. The following conditions apply:
- Students must be engaged in activities that qualify for clinical credits or hours. Eligibility and availability of hours may vary based upon term of study.
- Students must follow clinical clerkship procedures including provision of patient care, record keeping, and billing.
- Students must complete the required documentation related to hours, patient care activities, and evaluations.
- Hours worked over academic breaks may not count toward clinical course requirements unless the student is completing hours to finish a course for which they have received an Incomplete grade.
- Hours worked in clinical courses that exceed each course’s minimum requirements do not “roll over” term to term.
- State/National board (licensure) examinations and review courses do not count towards clinical credits or hours.
- Students must maintain TB clearance throughout the entire clinical series.
- Students must meet site-specific immunization or criminal background check requirements to work at specific sites. Students will be informed in advance when this is the case, as well as of alternative work assignments when possible. Note: Students are responsible for the costs of this compliance.
- Students must meet minimum patient care requirements (encounters, procedures, and more) in actual patient care to achieve graduation requirements and meet licensure requirements.
- Students must utilize the University’s clinical management system Exxat to record hours, request approvals, request placement, submit documentation, etc.
Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences graduates are eligible for Advanced Standing in the Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAcCHM) program. Students must be admitted into the DAcCHM program and must successfully complete 12 credits in the Eastern Medicine concentration with a grade of B or better in all courses. With this concentration, these students can enter the DAcCHM program having completed 12 of the required credits.
Courses identified as *IPE are either taken with students from other programs, cover topics relevant to integrative healthcare, or are clinical courses offered in integrative healthcare settings.
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