Doctorate Programs
Purpose
The purpose of the first professional doctorate, Doctor of Acupuncture (DAc), is to train future traditional Asian medicine professionals with the ability to practice as independent health care providers in a variety of settings. This is accomplished through rigorous education and clinical training in traditional Chinese medicine and biomedical concepts. The program’s rigor builds on the student’s knowledge and understanding by improving their ability to think critically and creatively, synthesize knowledge, and use research findings and the scientific and scholarly literature to support the professional practice. The program fosters collaborative interactions between traditional Asian medicine practitioners and other health care practitioners. The program is designed to train acupuncturists to the highest level of competency in an entry-level degree.
Students enrolled in this entry-level professional doctoral program will be co-enrolled in a master’s program, Master of Acupuncture OR Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization. Thus, graduates of this program will have achieved all the master competencies and doctoral-level competencies set out for the two programs.
Expected Program Outcomes
The DAc graduates are trained to be the following:
1. Safe and effective in the care of patients by demonstrating in-depth ability in the following areas:
a. Knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic strategies and their application to individual cases
b. Skill in the traditional methods of assessing patients, including interviewing, palpation, and observation
c. Competence in selecting the appropriate treatment modalities and plans for a patient utilizing acupuncture, tui na, Chinese herbs (relevant to the MAcCHM), lifestyle and dietary counseling, and other modalities within the scope of practice
d. Skill in the application of acupuncture techniques in an appropriate and safe fashion for each patient
e. Competence in physical examination, orthopedic and neurological assessment, and pain management
f. Critical thinking and other skills to continually improve patient outcomes and professional judgment
g. Ability to incorporate findings from imaging, laboratory, and diagnostic studies in patient care
2. Able to integrate traditional Asian medicine and biomedicine 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
3. Proficient in setting up and maintaining a private practice compliant with safety and legal standards
4. Capable of collaborating with other health care professionals
5. Capable of accessing the quality of clinical research and scholarly works in the field
6. Able to provide health promotion and disease prevention measures based on traditional Chinese medicine theory (such as tai chi, qigong, and therapeutic nutrition) to support the well-being of their patients and themselves
7. Qualified to pass national and state acupuncture and/or herbal exams
8. Able to assess personal and professional strengths and weaknesses, and implement a professional development plan
9. Able to provide leadership within the acupuncture and traditional Asian medicine field
10. Able to deliver interprofessional care in a collaborative and interdisciplinary setting
Admissions
For general information on the admissions process, please refer to the Admissions section in this catalog. The information below refers only to the DAc program.
Students may enter with a completed bachelor’s degree and the required prerequisite coursework (minimum GPA 2.75). Students may also enter the program without a bachelor’s degree, but must complete the required prerequisite coursework in addition to specific general education requirements, which total a minimum of 135 quarter credits.
Prerequisites:
| Intermediate Algebra |
1 course |
| General Chemistry (allied-health-level with lab)1,2 |
1 course |
| General Biology (allied-health-level with lab)2 |
1 course |
| General Psychology |
1 course |
| General Physics |
1 course |
Note: All students must complete a CPR Basic Life Support course or equivalent prior to entering clinic.
1Survey-level class that covers inorganic chemistry and includes a lab component. Intended for students in allied-health majors.
2Science classes must have been taken within seven years of entering the program. If not, additional coursework may be required after the Admissions Committee review.
Age of Course
Required chemistry and biology courses not taken within seven years of matriculation into the program are subject to review by the Admissions Committee. Additional coursework may be required.
Transfers
Students who wish to transfer from other accredited acupuncture and traditional Asian medicine programs are accepted on a space-available basis and must meet the same entrance requirements at the class level they seek to enter. Transfer credit is evaluated individually after the application process. Transfer applicants must submit a $100 transfer evaluation fee.
Applicants must provide an official transcript from the college or program from which the transfer is being requested, demonstrating that they are leaving in good academic standing.
Applicants must submit syllabi for the courses they completed in their acupuncture program and should be prepared to submit additional documentation to support a thorough evaluation. If a transfer student is found to be deficient in some area(s) of study, they may be required to complete competency exams or additional courses at Bastyr University. Students must complete at least two-thirds of the program credits, including all clinical credits, at Bastyr University. For more information on the transfer admission policies and procedures, contact the admissions office.