The Master’s Degree Programs in Oriental Medicine

The academic programs at Southwest Acupuncture College consists of training in the five branches of classical Oriental medicine: acupuncture, herbal medicine, physical therapy, nutrition, and exercise/breathing therapy. The greatest number of hours are devoted to the study and practice of acupuncture and herbal medicine, with the balance of the hours completing the students' education in graduate level studies in Oriental medicine and Western science. Upon graduation, the college confers the Master of Science in Oriental Medicine (M.S.O.M.) degree. The M.S.O.M. degree consists of 3092.5 hours. The college also offers the Master of Science in Acupuncture (M.S.Ac.) degree which consists of 2525.5 hours and does not include the herbal program. The identical programs are taught at all three campuses.

All campuses operate on a yearly schedule of three fifteen-week semesters. With the exception of electives, classes are held only in the daytime. Clinic is held both in the day and the evening. While course times are set, the college clinic runs many shifts from which the students may select so that reasonable flexibility is built into the program to accommodate individual student needs.

The professional degree program, which is the equivalent of four academic years, can be taken in one of three formats. The accelerated format, our most popular option, requires approximately twenty-two to twenty-four hours of coursework per week. It allows for completion in three calendar years. The full-time format takes four calendar years to finish and requires sixteen to nineteen hours of coursework per week. This option permits students to have a lighter schedule while still allowing for a reasonable completion time. The part-time format is an option the students can take advantage of if financial burdens or other responsibilities require the student’s attention, or if the student prefers to study at a more gradual pace. Part-time study necessitates a minimum of nine to ten hours per week of class attendance. In all cases, part-time study must be completed within seven years of entry to the program. Regardless of the pace selected by the student, the quality of the educational experience at Southwest Acupuncture College is always the aim of the education, not the acceleration of studies.