Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

The curriculum of the MSAOM is fortified with rigorous didactic and clinical training.   Our students are trained in safe and effective care of patients and are skilled in both traditional Chinese medicine modalities AND Western health care disciplines.   Bastyr’s community of students, faculty and staff nurtures each students’ own passion for East Asian medicine and challenges them to think beyond the borders of their own discipline.   Students graduate as a highly qualified, broadly and deeply educated practitioners.

Licensure 

Acupuncture is legally recognized in 47 states plus the District of Columbia. Learn more about state licensure.

Accreditation

The Department of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine has established the following expected learning outcomes for the Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine program. Graduates are trained to be:

1. Safe and effective in the care of patients by demonstrating in-depth ability in the following areas:
   1. Knowledgeable of traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic strategies and their application to individual cases;
   2. Skilled in the traditional methods of assessing patients, including interviewing, palpation and observation;
   3. Competent in selecting the appropriate treatment modalities and plans for a patient utilizing acupuncture, tui na, Chinese herbs (relevant to the MSAOM), lifestyle and dietary counseling, and other modalities within the scope of practice;
   4. Skilled in the application of acupuncture techniques in an appropriate and safe fashion for each patient;
   5. Physical examination, orthopedic and neurological assessment, and pain management;
   6. Critical thinking using cognitive skills to increase the probability of desirable patient outcomes and the development of professional judgment.
2. Able to integrate Eastern and Western paradigms of medicine for the purposes of informing the practice of traditional Chinese medicine, communicating with other health care professionals and patients, and making appropriate medical referrals when necessary
3. Professional in their approach to setting up and maintaining a private practice, collaborating with other health care professionals, working in an integrated health care setting and providing leadership within the Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine field
4. Capable of accessing research information, critically assessing the value of published clinical research in the field
5. Able to 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
6. Qualified to pass national and state acupuncture and/or herbal exams

The attached PDF is the proposed curriculum for students starting in Fall 2018. Please note that changes to the curriculum may still occur before the start of the Fall 2018 academic year. For the 2018-2019 course catalog, click here.