The purpose of the Master of Acupuncture with specialization in Chinese herbal medicine at AOMA is to educate and graduate competent Chinese medical practitioners who are eligible to practice.
MAcCHM graduates will demonstrate the ability to:
The Master of Acupuncture with specialization in Chinese herbal medicine program must be completed within eight calendar years from the date of enrollment. The following requirements must be met in order to graduate from the program:
The foundations and diagnostic skills of traditional Chinese medicine are the fundamental cornerstone of Chinese medical science. This theoretical system forms the basis for clinical practice. The well-rounded and comprehensive acupuncture curriculum builds on these fundamentals, creating a strong foundation for other didactic instruction and for clinical internship.
AOMA believes that touch is an integral part of healing and has incorporated a strong Asian bodywork therapy component into the program. The Asian bodywork therapy curriculum is based in the philosophy and application of Chinese medicine and the harmonization of qi. Students have two forms of Asian bodywork therapy from which to choose: tuina and Chinese medical qigong. Students may also elect optional courses in Asian bodywork therapy, which, upon completion, qualify the student to apply for membership to the American Organization for Bodywork Therapists of Asia (AOBTA).
Tuina, the Ancient Healing Bodywork of China
Chinese Medical Qigong
Chinese medical qigong is one of the oldest branches of Chinese medicine, predating acupuncture by thousands of years. It is a therapeutic method for improving health and well-being, regaining and maintaining mind/body balance, preserving health, and enhancing longevity through the training of the mind, the breath, and the physiological processes of the body.
AOMA believes that the internal development of qi facilitates focus and concentration and therefore enhances the students’ educational experience. Additionally, students learn corrective and therapeutic exercises for self-care and as an additive to the treatment plans of their patients.
AOMA’s herbal program is one of the most comprehensive in the nation, with education in the theory, identification, and function of more than 300 herbs and the combination of those herbs in formulas to restore states of health. Resources include an herbal lab, an herbal medicine center that stocks more than 350 herbs in bulk and powdered form, patent formulas, tablets, capsules, and
extracts, and a learning garden where herbs are grown in conjunction with the American Botanical Council.
Integral studies courses at AOMA connect concepts inter-departmentally by educating learners in the core values and behaviors of professional practice in Chinese medicine, the integration of Chinese medicine and Western medicine, and the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to be successful in clinical practice.
Through case management, practice management, communication skills, ethics, and evidence-based practice, AOMA emphasizes the skills essential to producing the best possible outcomes in patient care and practice. These courses address practical business education and ethics, skills to help students connect with their patients and to provide systems-based healthcare in America, and the importance of research in classical and current literature to promote the best possible patient outcomes. MAcCHM students may elect to take PT0101 Psychology and Clinical Communications in place of PT0411 Mindfulness Somatic Therapies.
AOMA’s clinical education provides students with hands-on experience and is a means of service to the greater Austin community. At AOMA, clinical education begins in the first term and continues throughout the first year with a sequence of clinical theater and observation. Supervised clinical internship begins in the second year and goes on to include 972 hours of internship and 36 hours of herbal dispensing, focused herbal and community clinic hours and optional hours focused on tuina and medical qigong. Throughout the internship, students take on increasing levels of responsibility for patient care and case management and attend regular intern meetings to support their education and professional development. Finally, as they progress through the program, students compile a portfolio of their work, including, for example, self-reflections, clinical case studies, and selected coursework. A detailed description of clinical requirements is included in the Student and Clinic Manual.
Scholarships Available:
*International Scholarship is designed to cover English-language training costs that might be required to meet TOEFL & IELTS scores for admission
For Merit and General Scholarships, the $1,000 is distributed in $250 increments per term over 4 successive terms.
For the Relocation Scholarship, a $1,000 check is awarded to the recipients during the first week of class.
To find out more information, contact the AOMA Director of Admissions.
©1998-2022 AOMA Academy, LP - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy