Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine is the largest organized herbal system in existence. In China, it is considered a very powerful form of therapy that is used to treat most conditions. Chinese herbs includes roots, flowers, seeds, leaves, stems and branches and other substances. Chinese herbs usually are used in combination. Some herbs reinforce each other and some eliminate adverse effects of other herbs.
The Chinese herbal medicine certificate program is designed for those seeking comprehensive training in the field of Chinese herbal medicine. This program is a postgraduate course for acupuncturists.
The CCHM curriculum enables students to gain skills and knowledge in the principles of Chinese herbology, including materia medica, formulations, prepared medicines, dispensary, herbal therapeutics and clinical training at the Chinese herbal medicine teaching clinic. The CCHM curriculum covers a minimum of 300 herbs and other therapeutic substances and a minimum of 150 herbal formulas. Case studies are presented to enhance the learning process. Students also gain skills in understanding drug/herb interactions — a very relevant topic for today’s practitioners. At the conclusion of the certificate program, graduates have enhanced their academic skills through clinical training and have gained the traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic skills to assess and diagnose syndromes relevant to traditional Chinese medicine. They also are prepared to determine and use appropriate Chinese herbal therapies within the appropriate professional scope of practice.
Expected Learning Outcomes
The Chinese Herbal Medicine Certificate trains graduates to be the following:
- Safe and effective in the care of patients by demonstrating in-depth ability in the following areas:
- Knowledgeable of traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic strategies and their application to individual cases
- Skilled in the traditional methods of assessment of patients, including interviewing, palpation and observation
- Competent in selecting the appropriate treatment modalities and plans for a patient utilizing Chinese herbs (relevant to the MSAOM) and lifestyle counseling
- Skilled in the application of herbs and Chinese herbal formulas in an appropriate and safe fashion for each patient
- Able to integrate Eastern and Western paradigms of medicine for the purposes of informing the practice of traditional Chinese medicine, communicating with other health care professionals and patients, and making appropriate medical referrals when necessary
- Qualified to pass national and state acupuncture and/or herbal exams
Prerequisites
The CCHM is a postgraduate course of study that includes both didactic and clinical training. The minimum requirement for the CCHM is either a master’s degree in acupuncture from ACAOM accredited institution or a certificate in acupuncture with 10 years of documented clinical experience. Applicants need to have completed or be in the process of completing the following coursework:
| Intermediate Algebra |
1 course |
| General Psychology |
1 course |
| General Chemistry (allied-health level with lab) |
1 course
|
| General Biology (allied-health level with lab) |
1 course |
| General Physics (allied-health level with lab) |
1 course |
The following classes are corequisites and may be completed while taking CCHM classes: Survey of Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Microbiology.
CCHM applicants must have a background in the basic sciences that is comparable to Bastyr University’s master’s curriculum. Upon review of past coursework, applicants may be asked to take a higher-level science course or complete a competency exam.
California Licensure Requirements
The CCHM curriculum is designed to meet the current Chinese herbal medicine requirement portion for California acupuncture licensure. (The California licensing exam requires comprehensive training in acupuncture as well as CHM.) Those interested in California licensure should complete the MSAOM program or complete the MSA and return to the CCHM program as a postgraduate student.
Case/Herbal Studies in China
Students in the CHM certificate program may also choose to study in China. (Please see the China Studies section in the AOM master’s program description.) Students who choose to complete the China studies must take an additional 1-credit course, OM6820 Clinic Entry for China, in the summer quarter immediately preceding their trip.
The curriculum tables that follow list the tentative schedule of courses each quarter
CCHM YEAR I
Summer
| CH6421 | Chinese Materia Medica 1 | 4 |
| CHM Dispensary 1 | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
CH 6831 may be taken in any quarter in the herbal program.
Fall
| CH6422 | Chinese Materia Medica 2 | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 4 |
Winter
| CH6423 | Chinese Materia Medica 3 | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 4 |
Spring
| CH6431 | CHM Formulations 1 | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 4 |
Summer
| CH6432 | CHM Formulations 2 | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 4 |
CCHM Year II
Fall
| CH6408 | Chinese Herbal Therapeutics 1 | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 4 |
Winter
| BC6100 | Pharmacology of CHM and Drug Interactions | 2 |
| CH6409 | Chinese Herbal Therapeutics 2 | 4 |
| CH6803-6804 | Chinese Herbal Medicine Clinic 1-2 | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 10 |
Spring
| CH6410 | Chinese Herbal Therapeutics 3 | 4 |
| CHM Dispensary 2 | 2 |
| CH6805-6806 | Chinese Herbal Medicine Clinic 3-4 | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 10 |
CH6832 may be taken in any quarter in the herbal program.
Summer
| CH6411 | Chinese Herbal Therapeutics 4 | 4 |
| Chinese Herbal Medicine Clinic 5-6 | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |
Students who plan to study in China must take the 1-credit elective course Clinic Entry for China in summer quarter of year two, just preceding their China studies, making their total required program credits 63.
CCHM Year III
Fall
| CH6105 | Chinese Herb Preparations | 1 |
| Chinese Herbal Medicine Clinic 7-8 | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 5 |
CH6105 may also be taken in summer of year two.
Total Requirements
| Total Core Course Credits |
39 |
| Total Clinic Credits |
20 |
| Total Requirements |
59 |
Note: the CCHM program is 59 credits total. To earn the certificate, 41 credits must be completed in residence.
Curriculum and course changes in the 2016-2017 Bastyr University Catalog are applicable to students entering during the 2016-2017 academic year. Please refer to the appropriate catalog if interested in curriculum and courses required for any other entering year.
Academic Status and Graduation Requirements
| |
Minimum Grade |
Minimum GPA |
Total Quarter Credits |
Total Elective Credits |
Total Quarter Credits in Residence |
Student Clinician Rotations |
| BS/MS |
C |
2.75 yr 1/3.0 thereafter |
180 |
- |
45 |
- |
| MSA |
C |
3.0 |
161 |
8 |
93 |
14 |
| MSAOM |
C |
3.0 |
214 |
5 |
134.5 |
16+2 CHM +2 dispensary labs |
| CCHM |
C |
3.0 |
59 |
0 |
39 |
8 herbal +2 dispensary labs |
The CCHM is a graduate course of study and, as such, follows the grading policies of the department of AEAM degree programs.
Students entering the certificate in Chinese herbal medicine (CCHM) must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to be in good academic standing. A grade of D+, D, D- or F indicates failure to meet the minimum level of competency for learning objectives or core competencies. A student who receives a failure in a required course, lab, clinic shift or internship must repeat that course, lab, clinic or internship. Academic sanctions occur when the quarterly or cumulative GPA drops below the minimum level or when a student receives PC, D or F grades. Students with a quarterly GPA below the minimum will be placed on academic warning status. Students who receive a PC, D or F in any one quarter, regardless of GPA, may be placed on probation status. Academic tutoring and support are available to assist students to return to good academic standing.