Focus on basic sciences establishing a wide-ranging and comprehensive foundation of the body’s organization on a cellular, tissue, and organ level, along with regional interrelationships. This learning is accomplished in an inter-professional educational environment in classes with students from a variety of healthcare professions. In addition, students learn TCM foundations, acupuncture needling technique, single herbs, meridian points, and begin clinical observation integrating classroom learning with clinical skills.

This year builds upon year one by focusing on the ways TCM principles and basic science knowledge related to structure and function translate into the clinical presentation of a patient in both health and disease. Learnings from the first year progress to an increased level of mastery – from single herbs to herbal formulas, meridian points to acupuncture prescriptions, TCM classics, and many other areas of advanced knowledge. Students begin guided clinical practice treating patients under the supervision of licensed doctors and with peers in other professions in SCU’s on-campus Health Center.

In year three, students experience a series of business courses such as insurance billing and coding, risk management, and practice management and present a capstone project of interest in academics, clinical practice, or research. Students continue to implement basic and clinical science knowledge through consultation, diagnosis, and treating more complex conditions in SCU’s on-campus Health Center. Clinical proficiency culminates with off-campus clinical rotations in a specialized setting within one of SCU’s affiliated partners such as Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), Oncology Institute, or California State University, Fullerton. The graduate is fully prepared to lead in today’s evolving healthcare environment.