The Doctorate in Acupuncture Medicine (DAcM) is designed to train acupuncturists to the highest level of competency that this growing field is demanding. This is replacing the previously offered Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine program.

The DAcM program is approved and accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Bastyr’s Master’s programs and curriculum in acupuncture and Oriental medicine are accredited by the Accreditation Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) - 8941 Aztec Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55347, phone: (952) 212-2434, acaom.org. ACAOM has placed all Bastyr University ACAOM-accredited programs under a Warning sanction effective February 25, 2017 until February 2018 for non-compliance with Commission Standards / Criteria. The institution retains accredited status during this period.

Bastyr University is submitting a substantive change application to upgrade this programmatic accreditation to the doctoral level by incorporating the 82 competencies required by ACAOM.

The DAcM program also provides the classroom and clinical training necessary for eligibility for the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture an Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) board exam, which is the basis for licensing in most states.

Expected Learning Outcomes

The Doctorate in Acupuncture Medicine (DAcM) trains graduates to do the following:

• Provide safe and effective care to patients, demonstrating in-depth ability in the following areas:
  • Knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic strategies and their application to individual cases;
  • Traditional methods of assessing patients, including interviewing, palpation and observations;
  • Selecting the appropriate treatment modalities and plans for a patient using acupuncture, tui na, Chinese herbs, lifestyle and dietary counseling, and other modalities within the scope of practice;
  • Application of acupuncture techniques in an appropriate and safe fashion for each patient;
  • Physical examination, orthopedic and neurological assessment and pain management; and
  • Critical thinking using cognitive skills to increase the probability of desirable patient outcomes and development of professional judgment
• Integrate Eastern and Western paradigms of medicine for the purposes of informing the practice of traditional Chinese medicine, communicating with other healthcare professionals and patients, and making appropriate medical referrals.
• Establish and maintain a professional, private practice with other healthcare professionals, working in an integrated healthcare setting and providing leadership in the Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine field.
• Assess the value of published clinical research in the field and evidence-based and evidence-informed medicine.
• Provide health promotion and disease prevention measures based on traditional Chinese medicine theory (such as tai chi, qigong, and therapeutic nutrition) to support the well-being of their patients and themselves.
• Possess a comprehensive knowledge of ethics and practice management to succeed in professional practice.
• Qualified to pass national and state acupuncture and/or herbal exams.

The curriculum for students starting in the Doctor of Acupuncture Medicine program in Fall 2017 is currently being finalized. Please check back for updates.