The curriculum tables that follow list the tentative schedule of courses each quarter.
MSA Year I
Fall
OM3111: Corequisite course to the MSA program. The MSA curriculum has been designed so students missing one or more of these may take them after matriculating at Bastyr University. Previously completed coursework from other accredited institutions may satisfy these corequisites.
Winter
| BC3135 | Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lecture/Lab (AOM) | 5 |
| OM4110 | Meridians and Points 2 | 3 |
| OM4211 | TCM Diagnosis 1 | 3 |
| OM4221 | TCM Pathology 1 | 3 |
| OM4413 | TCM Techniques 1 | 1.5 |
| OM4803 | Clinical Observation 1 | 2 |
| OM5442 | Tai Chi | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18.5 |
BC3135: Corequisite course to the MSA program. The MSA curriculum has been designed so students missing one or more of these may take them after matriculating at Bastyr University. Previously completed coursework from other accredited institutions may satisfy these corequisites.
OM4803 can be taken in any of the five quarters preceding clinician status.
Spring
| BC3136 | Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lecture/Lab (AOM) | 4 |
| BC4105 | Introduction to Western Pathology (AOM) | 3 |
| OM4111 | Meridians and Points 3 | 3 |
| OM4212 | TCM Diagnosis 2 | 3 |
| OM4222 | TCM Pathology 2 | 3 |
| OM4804 | Clinical Observation 2 | 2 |
| OM5432 | TCM Techniques 2 | 1.5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 19.5 |
BC3136: Corequisite course to the MSA program. The MSA curriculum has been designed so students missing one or more of these may take them after matriculating at Bastyr University. Previously completed coursework from other accredited institutions may satisfy these corequisites.
OM4804 can be taken in any of the five quarters preceding clinician status.
MSA Year II
Fall
| BC4104 | Microbiology | 3 |
| OM5321 | Survey of Western Clinical Sciences 1 | 3 |
| OM5414 | Acupuncture Therapeutics 1 | 2 |
| OM5415 | Acupuncture Therapeutics 2 | 2 |
| OM5439 | TCM Techniques 3 | 1.5 |
| OM5803 | Clinical Observation 3 | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
BC4104: Corequisite course to the MSA program: The MSA curriculum has been designed so students missing one or more of these may take them after matriculating at Bastyr University. Previously completed coursework from other accredited institutions may satisfy these corequisites.
OM5803 can be taken in any of the five quarters preceding clinician status.
Winter
| OM4130 | Pharmacology Overview for AOM | 4 |
| OM4806 | AOM Preceptor Observation | 2 |
| OM5322 | Survey of Western Clinical Sciences 2 | 3 |
| OM5416 | Acupuncture Therapeutics 3 | 2 |
| OM5417 | Acupuncture Therapeutics 4 | 2 |
| OM5438 | TCM Advanced Techniques Lab | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
OM4806 can be taken during observation or clinician phase, once OM4803 is completed.
Spring
| OM5300 | Auricular Therapy | 2 |
| OM5303 | Public Health Issues in AOM | 3 |
| OM5324 | Survey of Western Clinical Sciences 3 | 3 |
| OM5418 | Acupuncture Therapeutics 5 | 2 |
| OM5419 | Acupuncture Therapeutics 6 | 2 |
| OM5813-5815 | AOM Clinic 1-3 | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Summer
MSA Year III
Fall
| OM5405 | TCM Whole Foods Nutrition | 2 |
| OM6110 | TCM Medical Classics | 2 |
| OM6417 | Acupuncture Therapeutics 7 | 2 |
| PS6100 | Motivational Interviewing | 2 |
| TR6105 | Nutrition and Dietary Systems | 3 |
| OM6827-6829 | AOM Clinic 7-9 | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Winter
Spring
OM5819 Students are required to complete a total of 36 interim clinic hours (usually students staff the shifts they were assigned to in the quarter just ended). Students register and pay for this shift in their last quarter of attendance.
Total Requirements
| Total Core Course Credits |
97.5 |
| Total Prerequisites/Corequisities |
16 |
| Total Elective Credits |
8 |
| Total Clinic Credits |
39.5 |
| Total Requirements |
161 |
Curriculum and course changes in the 2016-2017 Bastyr University Catalog are applicable to students entering during the 2016-20167 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 |
Students earning the MSA must complete their degree requirements within four years, including any credits completed as a bachelor’s student and applied toward the master’s degree. Students must complete at least two-thirds of their credits in residence at Bastyr University.
Students entering the master’s program as graduate students 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.
In order to receive a license to practice acupuncture in the majority of states, a student must earn either an MSA or MSAOM degree, pass the NCCAOM licensing exam, and meet any additional state requirements. Several states require Chinese herbal medicine training for licensure (e.g., California, Florida, New Mexico and Texas). Students graduating with an MSA degree may need to consider taking the CCHM program as a postgraduate option to meet this requirement.