Academics
Our four programs
Whether you’re earning your first degree in Chinese medicine or deepening decades of practice, there is a program built for where you are — every one of them accredited by ACAHM and steeped in classical training.
At a Glance
Compare the four programs
| Program | Credential | Length | Format | Designed for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Acupuncture & Herbal MedicineMAHM | Master’s degree | 4 years | In person, cohort track | Your first degree in Chinese medicine |
| Dual-Degree EnrollmentMAHM / DAHM | Master’s + Doctorate | 4 years | In person, cohort track | Doctoral-bound students starting fresh |
| Doctor of Acupuncture & Herbal MedicineDAHM · Professional track | Doctorate | Flexible, while you practice | Hybrid — 3–5 days on campus per semester | Licensed acupuncturists with an ACAHM master’s |
| Certificate in Chinese Herbal MedicineCCHM | Certificate | 24 months | Hybrid, modular | Practicing acupuncturists adding herbs |
All four programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the specialized accreditation agency for institutions and programs preparing acupuncture practitioners. Ask admissions for the current college catalog and program comparison chart.
Master’s Degree
Master of Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine
Comprehensive training in the ancient traditions of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine — a four-year degree steeped in classical training and practice, and centered on each student’s cultivation and growth.
The curriculum integrates the teachings of both Classical Chinese Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, along with the biomedicine you’ll need to practice confidently in contemporary healthcare.
Highlights of the MAHM
- A true cohort. Our track system means you begin and complete the program with the same classmates — four years of deep community.
- Immersive, in-person learning. The best way to learn this patient-centered medicine is face to face with your instructors — building rapport and practicing hands-on skills.
- Faculty who practice. Instructors bring years of clinical experience into the classroom, teaching beyond what textbooks convey.
- Real clinical training. You’ll treat patients in our downtown teaching clinic under the direct supervision of licensed clinical faculty.
Master’s + Doctorate
Dual-Degree Enrollment (MAHM / DAHM)
Two degrees, four years. The dual-degree track expands the master’s program with advanced competencies in the specialty areas you’ll actually meet in clinical practice — orthopedics, neurology, endocrinology, obstetrics, and cardiology.
You’ll move through the program with the same cohort as the master’s track, developing a deep sense of community — and graduate holding both a master’s and a doctorate.
Good to know
- Most doctoral-bound students start here. All applicants who meet the doctoral admissions requirements are encouraged to enroll in the dual-degree program from day one.
- A second window. Students who begin in the master’s program have a limited window to apply into the doctoral track between years one and two.
- Same rhythm, richer scope. In-person cohort learning with added doctoral coursework woven through.
Doctorate · Professional Track
Doctor of Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine
A doctoral completion track built for working practitioners: continue your clinical practice while you earn your degree.
Coursework runs online through the semester in both asynchronous and synchronous formats, with in-person sessions on campus just 3 to 5 days per semester. The curriculum expands your clinical reach into orthopedics, neurology, endocrinology, obstetrics, and cardiology — and teaches you to read lab work and pharmacology through a Chinese medicine lens, collaborating effectively with the rest of healthcare.
Admission requirements
- A completed ACAHM-accredited master’s in acupuncture and herbal medicine
- 90 semester credits of bachelor’s-level education
- Prerequisite coursework in biology, chemistry, and psychology
Postgraduate Certificate
Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine
A 24-month postgraduate program for acupuncture practitioners seeking comprehensive training in Chinese herbal medicine — so you can safely and effectively bring herbs into your clinical practice.
Study individual Chinese herbs and the composition and therapeutic functions of traditional prescriptions, along with prepared medicines, essential oils, food therapy, drug–herb interactions, and the relevant biomedicine. Supervised clinical practice has you creating real formulas for real patients and refining prescriptions as they progress.
Built for working practitioners
- Modular hybrid design — keep your practice running while you study.
- On-campus intensives: 4-day in-person sessions three times a term, moving to monthly 4-day sessions in the final term.
- Board eligibility: graduates qualify to sit the NCBAHM certification exam in Chinese Herbology.
- State recognition: satisfies herbal certification requirements in Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Vermont.
Still deciding?
Talk it through with admissions
Observe a class, tour the campus, and get the program comparison chart. We’ll help you find the right path.