Doctor of Acupuncture Degree

The curriculum tables that follow list the tentative schedule of courses each quarter.

Year I

Fall

AM4100 Survey of Organic and Biochemistry (4 credits)

AM4104 Medical Chinese (1 credit)

AM4108 History of Medicine (2 credits)

AM4401 Qi Gong 1 (1 credit)

AM4801 AOM Clinic Entry (2 credits)

AM5100 Meridian and Points 1 Lecture/Lab (3 credits)

AM5101 TCM Fundamentals (4 credits)

AM5109 Case Discussions 1 (1 credit)

BC4102 Living Anatomy for AEAM (4 credits)

BC4107 Medical Terminology (1 credits)

Total Credits    23

Winter

AM4301 TCM Bodywork: Tui Na (1 credits)

AM5104 Meridians and Points 2 Lecture/Lab (3 credits)

AM5201 TCM Diagnosis 1 (3 credits)

AM5203 TCM Pathology 1 (3 credits)

AM5401 TCM Techniques 1 (2 credits)

BC4104 Microbiology (3 credits)

BC4123 Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lecture/Lab (AEAM)   (5 credits)

CH5100 Introduction to Chinese Herbs 1 (1.5 credits)

Spring

AM5106 Meridians and Points 3 Lecture/Lab (3 credits)

AM5202 TCM Diagnosis 2 (3 credits)

AM5204 TCM Pathology 2 (3 credits)

AM5403 TCM Techniques 2   (2 credits)

AM5801 Clinical Observation 1 (2 credits)

BC4105 Introduction to Western Pathology for AEAM (3 credits)

BC4124 Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lecture/Lab (AEAM)   (4 credits)

CH5101 Introduction to Chinese Herbs 2 (1.5 credits)

Summer

AM5300 Survey of Western Clinical Sciences 1 Lecture/Lab (3 credits)

AM5308 Clinical Theater - Acupuncture Lab (1 credit)

AM5802 Clinical Observation 2 (2 credits)

PS5205 Patient Communications (3 credits)

Year II

Pharmacology Overview for AOM (4 credits)

AM6109 Case Discussions 2 (1 credit)

AM6301 Survey of Western Clinical Sciences 2 Lecture/Lab (3 credits)

AM6400 TCM Techniques 3   (2 credits)

AM6411 Acupuncture Point Selection Strategies   (2 credits)

AM6412 Acupuncture Therapeutics 1 (2 credits)

AM6800 Clinical Observation Theater (2 credits)

*AM6800 may be taken in WI or year one or FA of year two.

Winter

AM6201 Clinical Case Preparation Lab (1 credit)

AM6302 Survey of Western Clinical Sciences 3 (3 credits)

AM6307 Auricular and Scalp Therapy (2 credits)

AM6402 TCM Advanced Techniques Lab  (1 credit)

AM6413 Acupuncture Therapeutics 2 (2 credits)

AM6414 Acupuncture Therapeutics 3 (2 credits)

AM6801 Clinical Observation Preceptorship (2 credits)

PS6100 Motivational Interviewing (2 credits)

*AM6801 may be taken any time after completion of AM5801 or AM6800.

Spring

AM6408 TCM Whole Foods Nutrition (1 credit)

AM6415  Acupuncture Therapeutics 4 (2 credits)

AM6416 Acupuncture Therapeutics 5 (2 credits)

AM6802 AOM Clinic 1 (2 credits)

AM6803 AOM Clinic 2 (2 credits)

AM6804 AOM Clinic 3 (2 credits)

TR6104 Nutrition and Dietary Systems (2 credits)

Total Credits    13

Summer

AM6311 Public Health Issues in AOM (3 credits)

AM6805 AOM Clinic 4 (2 credits)

AM6806 AOM Clinic 5 (2 credits)

AM6807 AOM Clinic 6 (2 credits)

Year III

AM7101 Business Fundamentals 1 - Finance and Accounting (1 credit)

AM7109 Case Discussions 3 (1 credit)

AM7804 AOM Clinic 7 (2 credits)

AM7805 AOM Clinic 8 (2 credits)

AM7806 AOM Clinic 9 (2 credits)

BC5140 Research Methods in AEAM (3 credits)

Winter

AM7104 Business Fundamentals 2 - Marketing and Advertising  (1 credit)

AM7110 Overview of Pain Management Therapies (2 credits)

AM7125 TCM Medical Classics (2 credits)

AM7320 Clinical Theater Lab (1 credit)

AM7808 AOM Clinic 10 (2 credits)

AM7840 AOM Clinic 11 (2 credits)

AM7841 AOM Clinic 12 (2 credits)

Spring

AM7106 Business Fundamentals 3 - Practice Management and Leadership (1 credit)

AM7126 Jurisprudence and Ethics   (1 credit)

AM7301 Trigger/Motor Point Therapy Lecture/Lab (1 credit)

AM7400 Acupuncture Review (2 credits)

AM7842 AOM Clinic 13 (2 credits)

AM7843 AOM Clinic 14 (2 credits)

AM7850 Interim Clinic (1.5 credits)

Year IV

Fall

AM8103 Survey of Integrative Medicine (3 credits)

AM6401 TCM Techniques 4   (2 credits)

AM7202 Clinical Diagnosis 1 – Imaging (2 credits)

AM8112 Case Analysis and Clinical Research (2 credits)

AM8806 Specialty Clinic 1 (2 credits)

AM8807 Specialty Clinic 2 (credits)

Total Credits    13

Winter

AM8113 Acupuncture Medical Classics (2 credits)

AM8115 Professional Development (2 credits)

AM8116 Integrated Case Discussions (2 credits)

AM8200 Clinical Diagnosis 2 Lab (1.5 credits)

AM8808 Specialty Clinic 3 (2 credits)

AM8809 Specialty Clinic 4 (2 credits)

See the tentative schedule for courses each quarter.

• Bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 135 quarter credits.

• Minimum GPA of 2.75

• Grade C or higher in prerequisite courses

Reference our curriculum table for full prerequisites. 

Undergraduate Entry Option

In addition to the prerequisites, applicants who plan to start the program without an awarded bachelor’s degree must also complete the following General education requirements:

• English Literature and Composition - 9 quarter credits

• Speech Communication or Public Speaking - 3 quarter credits

• Natural Sciences and Mathematics - 9 quarter credits

• Arts and Humanities - 15 quarter credits

• Social Sciences - 15 quarter credits

• Electives - 70 quarter credits

Recommended Elective Courses

For students entering the program without a bachelor's degree, the following are strongly recommended courses to take while completing your general education requirements:

• Anatomy

• Chinese Language (Mandarin)

• Physiology

• Chinese History/Culture/Philosophy

• Organic Chemistry

• Microbiology

• Biochemistry

• Business

• Cellular Biology

• Marketing

Want to know which classes fulfill these prerequisites? Check the General Education Requirements breakdown.

Bastyr accepts graduate and undergraduate transfer credits earned at accredited colleges and universities. Learn what you need to make this process go smoothly.

For more information, visit Financial Aid.

Graduates of Basytr’s DAc program are presented with a variety of opportunities to become a respected healer in both conventional and natural medicine circles. 

• Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc) in private practice
• Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc) with a collaborative patient care model with other private practice practitioners
• Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc) within an integrative clinic or collaborative clinic