EASTERN MEDICINE DEPARTMENT

Mission and Goals

The mission of the Eastern Medicine Department is to provide students with a quality education in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, emphasizing health promotion and integrative health care.

Goals:

• Provide outstanding education in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.
• Train students to become knowledgeable, competent, conscientious, and committed healthcare providers emphasizing holistic and integrative approaches.
• Promote and encourage Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine research activities among faculty and students.
• Foster evidence-based practices and life-long learning skills.

Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

The College of Eastern Medicine offers a 9 trimester (three years), full time Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (MACM) Program.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) granted accreditation to Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCUHS) MACM program in English under applicable ACAOM standards effective 18 May 2020. Accreditation status and notes may be viewed at: http://acaom.org/directory-menu/directory/

ACAOM is the recognized accrediting agency for programs preparing acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners. ACAOM is located at 8941 Aztec Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347; phone 952/212-2434; fax 952/657-7068; www.acaom.org

The Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine program is approved by the California Acupuncture Board.

Program Learning Outcomes

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.

Application Requirements

Applicants for admission must provide:

• Completed application for admission. The online form is available and submitted through www.scuhs.edu 
• Graduating high school transcript. Request from the high school to have it sent directly to SCU in a sealed envelope. Official digital transcripts can be provided through external or third party vendors such as:  Credential Solutions, eTranscriptCA, National Student Clearinghouse, Parchment, etc.   
• AP Exam Scores (if applicable). Order from the College Board and have them sent directly to SCU.  
• Official transcripts from each college and/or university previously attended, showing all course work completed or in progress. Request from each college and/or university to have it sent directly to SCU in a sealed envelope. Official digital transcripts can be provided through external or third party vendors such as: Credential Solutions, eTranscriptCA, National Student Clearinghouse, Parchment, etc.
• Personal statement of motivation, minimum of 300 words (include a personal history and indication why you are pursuing the acupuncture and Chinese medicine degree program, your understanding of  the field, and a summary of your academic background and strengths and how they have prepared you for the acupuncture and Chinese medicine degree). Include in the online application and/or email separately.

Please have transcripts and/or other print items mailed to:

SCU Office of Admissions 16200 Amber Valley Drive Whittier, CA 90604

Scans and other electronic items may be emailed to an admissions advisor or to admissions@scuhs.edu

 

Applicants must also complete a successful admissions interview:

• A personal interview with a member of the Faculty Admissions Committee will be required of applicants prior to final selection. This personal admissions interview will normally be scheduled on campus. Under certain circumstances, an off-campus or telephone admissions interview may be arranged.

Applicants with prerequisites in progress must complete them prior to the starting date of classes and official transcripts showing such course work must follow in a timely manner. Students who have not submitted final transcripts prior to the start of the first day of classes will receive a provisional acceptance into the Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Program. The student must have a completed admissions file within 30 days of the start of the trimester. If the student does not have a complete admissions file by the 30^th day, the student may be subject to Administrative Withdrawal from the program and will be responsible for any tuition due.

Application and enrollment fees shall be valid for a maximum period of twelve months; which corresponds to three enrollment periods.

 

Academic Requirements

Candidates for admission to the College of Eastern Medicine Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (MACM) Program must possess a high school diploma or equivalent and must have completed at least three years (90 semester units or 150 quarter units) of education from an accredited college or university, earning a minimum grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.0 grade scale. Specific courses in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology may be submitted prior to admission or taken as co-requisite while enrolled in the MACM program at SCU and must be successfully completed according to the completion schedules.

In addition to general SCU English-language requirements for international students, applicants for whom English is not a primary language must demonstrate competency by meeting one of the following:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based Test acceptable scores: TOEFL iBT acceptable score - 80 and TOEFL iBT speaking score - 26
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) acceptable scores: IELTS overall band score 6.5 (Academic Format) and IELTS spoken band score - 8.0
• Completed a two-year (60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits) baccalaureate or graduate level, English-based education in an institution:
  • accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education
  • in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, or Ireland

In all cases, English must have been both the language of instruction and the curriculum used.

Since the pre-professional requirements are subject to change, please consult the Office of Admissions at the time of application.

Physical Requirements

The primary goal of the College of Eastern Medicine is to prepare students to become competent, caring acupuncture and Chinese medicine practitioners. Contemporary acupuncture and Chinese medicine education requires that the acquisition and utilization of scientific and professional knowledge be accompanied by necessary sets of skills, professional attitudes, and behavior.

The College of Eastern Medicine maintains that prospective and enrolled students must meet certain technical standards, which are essential for successful completion of all phases of the educational program. Candidates for the doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine degree must meet the following technical standards with or without reasonable accommodations. Candidates for admission and students must demonstrate:

1. The strength, coordination, and ability to stand and use the torso and all limbs in the performance of common acupuncture and Chinese Medicine manual procedures and techniques.
2. The strength, manual dexterity, and tactile perceptiveness and ability to perform in all laboratory and clinical settings, to diagnose and treat human ailments, and to maintain the safety and wellbeing of fellow students and patients without posing a threat to themselves.
3. The visual, hearing and speech skills and personal hygiene requisite to professional performance including reading all forms of diagnostic imaging, using microscopes, eliciting and recording patient histories, performing all auscultatory exams, and performing any and all other diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
4. The ability to reason, learn, and perform independently demonstrating the conceptual, integrative, and quantitative skills that are necessary for critical thinking, problem solving, measurement, calculation, the ability to comprehend three-dimensional and spatial relationships, diagnosis, and therapeutic applications.
5. The emotional health required for the full use of intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, and the prompt and safe completion of all responsibilities; the ability to adapt to change, to display flexibility and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties and stressful situations; empathy, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation which will be assessed during the admissions process and throughout their education.

Degree Requirements

The master of acupuncture and Chinese medicine degree is conferred upon those who have fulfilled the following requirements:

1. Are 21 years of age and exhibit good moral character;
2. Successfully completed five (5) academic years, nine (9) semesters, fourteen (14) quarters, ten (10) trimesters or forty (40) months at an accredited or candidate program of which a minimum of 50% of the curriculum must be completed in residency at SCU;
3. Demonstrated at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average from courses at the Eastern Medicine Department;
4. Fulfilled the clinical clerkship requirements as stated in the Clinic Manual;
5. Are free of all indebtedness and other obligations to the University; and
6. Are recommended for graduation by the faculty and the president of the University.

Tuition and Fees

For current tuition and fees, refer to the published Tuition and Fees schedule. Tuition and Fees are approved by the Board of Regents annually. The University reserves the right to adjust tuition and/or fees.

Financial compliance must be met each term to maintain future registration status.

Refund Policy

Students are not entitled to a refund for units dropped after the close of the official “Add-Drop” period.

In the event a student must withdraw or take a program leave, a partial refund of term tuition may be available. The percentage of tuition student is responsible for is based on the number of calendar days elapsed between the first day of the term and the official withdrawal/leave date provided by Registrar department.

No attendance: 0% Tuition responsibility 1-10 days: 10% Tuition responsibility

11-26 days: 25% Tuition responsibility

27-52 days: 50% Tuition responsibility

+52 days: 100% Tuition responsibility (no refund)

 

*** Fees and reservation deposit are non-refundable