11 Acupuncture PhD Degree Programs

The Doctor of Acupuncture (DAC) program is designed to prepare its graduates for leadership in acupuncture and integrative medicine. The Doctor of Acupuncture program leads to a Doctor of Acupuncture degree, allowing graduates to receive the highest level of education in the field, and achieve degree parity alongside other doctorally-trained healthcare professionals.

The Doctor of Acupuncture degrees (Doctor of Acupuncture and Doctor of Acupuncture with Specialization in Herbal Medicine) are offered separately and can also be taken concurrently with the Master of Science in Acupuncture and the Master of Science in Oriental Medicine degrees.

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

The goal of the Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (DAc) and Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (MAc) programs is to train individuals to become a licensed acupuncturist. Students who complete the prescribed course of study at the American College of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) will be awarded a Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (DAc) and Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (MAc) degrees upon completion of its requirements.

Admission to the professional doctoral program requires the satisfactory completion of a Master’s degree or Master’s level program in Oriental Medicine from an ACAOM accredited or candidate Acupuncture & Oriental medicine program or its international equivalent.

The Postgraduate Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (Postgraduate DAOM) program is designed for licensed acupuncturists interested in developing advanced TCM knowledge and skills, achieving a medical specialization, and gaining valuable experience in research and teaching.

The goal of the transitional doctorate is to help Master’s degree graduates to upgrade their degree to a doctorate without the need to enroll in the entire Doctor of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine program. The transitional doctorate will focus more on integrative approaches and evidence-based research in Chinese medicine.

The doctoral-level competencies enable program graduates to fully utilize the scope of practice of a California licensed acupuncturist, including ordering and interpreting labs and diagnostic imaging, giving effective nutrition advice and exercise counselling, collaborating with other practitioners inpatient care, and incorporating scholarship, research, evidence-based and functional medicine into clinical practice.

Doctor of TCM diploma program is a four years full-time program. Students will learn acupuncture concepts, herbs, TCM foundation … etc. Clinic practice will also be involved in this program as an important part.

The length of the Professional Doctorate program in Oriental Medicine PD in Acupuncture program is four (4) academic years in length. The program consists of three (3) years of foundational studies in the MSOM program and additional studies of advanced courses. The PD in Oriental Medicine is composed of 2122 didactic/lab hours and 1110 clinical training hours.

The Doctoral Program is an evolution of the Master's Degree curriculum, emphasizing advanced clinical competencies and Chinese Herbal Medicine. The DAC program will critically assess the methodology and conclusions of quantitative and qualitative research. Doctoral students will participate in a multidisciplinary healthcare system and collaborate in a team-based approach across all healthcare disciplines.