The American Liberty University Department of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine offers a course of study leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. The doctoral program is research oriented and is designed to provide the theoretical and scientific knowledge necessary for scholarly pursuit in oriental medicine. Students are required to show competence in appropriate areas relevant to their major area of study by completing theory and research courses in oriental medicine and related disciplines.

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.

Our Doctor and Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a single program conferring two degrees at graduation – the Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine – is taught in English and Chinese.

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 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 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 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.

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.

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