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DAc & MAc Programs

DAc & MAc Programs

DAc/MAc Program Intro

The Doctor of Acupuncture and Master of Acupuncture Dual Degree (DAc/MAc Dual-degree) program is specifically designed for the following individuals:

  • Students who wish to practice outside California
  • Students interested in developing a practice emphasizing acupuncture, including MDs and other licensed Western medical practitioners authorized to use acupuncture needles in the State of California.

The DAc/MAc Dual-degree program is offered in English only at our Santa Cruz and San Jose campuses. The program includes both academic and clinical training, with a focus on practicing acupuncture in an integrative medical environment.

If you plan to practice in California, and are not an MD or licensed Western medical practitioner, you will need to complete the DTCM/MTCM Dual-degree program which includes both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine studies.Interested in Our Program? Submit Your Question or Request HERE, or Call (831) 476-9424; or (408) 260-0208

Community Acupuncture Clinic
The DAc/MAc Dual-degree program is designed for students who wish to develop a practice emphasizing acupuncture and especially for those interested in implementing the fast growing community clinic model. The program includes instruction on how to establish and manage a community acupuncture clinic.

Program Overview
The Doctor of Acupuncture and Master of Acupuncture Dual Degree program is a three-year professional degree program consisting of 2647.5 hours and a total of 149 units. The curriculum is taught on a semester basis with clinical training and other designated courses continuing during the summer term.

Taught by highly accomplished faculty in TCM education, the curriculum is offered through the following eight academic and clinical departments:

  • TCM Acupuncture
  • TCM Theory & Clinical Medicine
  • TCM Herbology
  • Western Medicine
  • TCM Clinical Training
  • Review and Assessment 
  • Career Development & TCM Energetics

DAc/MAc Dual-degree Educational Objectives

The educational objectives of the DAc/MAc Dual-degree program provide guidelines for the development of the curriculum, assessment of the program’s quality and success, and the measurement of the achievements of our graduates.

Upon completion of the program our graduates will be:

  • Highly skilled clinical acupuncturists who assist in the prevention and treatment of disease and effectively diagnose, prescribe and provide medical treatment within the parameters of Traditional Chinese Medicine and integrative medicine
  • Primary healthcare providers with thorough knowledge and skills of the four branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture, Tuina Massage, Energetics, Chinese Dietary Medicine) and the integrative components of Western medicine
  • Competent in the assessment of patients and qualified to recognize medical conditions which require referrals of patients to other healthcare providers
  • Qualified healthcare providers who understand the importance of adhering to universal and professional medical ethics, and the social responsibilities of providing primary healthcare to the public
  • Capable of achieving high passing scores on the national certification exams required to become a licensed acupuncturist
  • Successful in establishing and managing a private practice or working as an integral part of a professional team of healthcare providers.

The DAc/MAc Dual-degree program meets the accreditation requirements of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAHM).

The Doctor of Acupuncture and Master of Acupuncture Dual (DAc/MAc Dual-) Degree is awarded to students who complete the entire DAc/MAc Dual-degree program in good academic standing and with no outstanding financial obligations to the University. The DAc/MAc Dual-degree fulfills the requirements you need to sit for the National Acupuncture Certification Exam.