At SCU, studying to become an acupuncture and oriental medicine practitioner is an integrated step-by-step process. Each class, each lab, and each experience builds on one another, helping you to evolve into an alternative medicine healer, and preparing you for a fulfilling career in an integrated health care delivery system.

Becoming Knowledgeable, Terms 1 – 3

• Learn the fundamental philosophies of Oriental Medicine, a continuously practiced, two thousand year old natural healing system
• Become expert in the complexities of the human body in anatomy lab
• Differentiate normal and abnormal x-ray images to assess musculoskeletal findings
• Compare, contrast, and explore Western and Oriental medicines
• Learn to identify and locate more than 361 acupuncture points on 14 meridian pathways and understand their therapeutic uses
• Uncover the healing powers of 350 Chinese medicinal herbs
• Diagnose illnesses by examining a person’s tongue and dynamic changes in their pulse
• Balance yin and yang through Tai Ji / Qi Gong exercises and adjunctive therapy
• Begin to develop the knowledge, skills, and professional attitude necessary for clinical practice through the first of three phases of hands-on internships at the University Health Center

Becoming Confident, Terms 4 – 6

• Apply hands-on needling techniques to the human body
• Practice physical and neuromusculoskeletal examinations skills
• Discover the healing effects of Tui Na and acupressure techniques
• Learn to prescribe, modify, and prepare herbal formulas
• Practice your knowledge on real people through our standardized patient program
• Develop your clinical skills through internship at the University Health Center
• Learn to resolve ethical dilemmas by applying problem-solving techniques
• Continue to hone and practice clinical skills through the second of three phases of internship at the University Health Center
• Test your knowledge and skills with the Acupuncture Competency Exam I

Becoming Successful, Terms 7 – 9

• Polish your diagnosis, treatment, and patient management skills during the final, independent practice phase of the internship program at the University Health Center
• Apply your knowledge and skills to integrate Western and Oriental medicine diagnosis and case management
• Study the most commonly seen internal medicine diseases in an OM Internal Medicine class
• Deepen your knowledge and enhance your clinical skills through study of the Chinese medical classics
• Prescribe herbal recipes and oriental medicine nutrition for preventive healing
• Sharpen your entrepreneurial skills through courses and seminars in practice management
• Prepare for licensure or national certification examinations with the Acupuncture Competency Exams II and III