The Doctor of Oriental Medicine degree integrates the Doctor of Acupuncture curriculum with a deep concentration in the study of Chinese Herbs and prepares graduates to meet the growing need and opportunities for well-trained Chinese medical practitioners to serve in numerous types of integrative medicine settings across the country. It prepares students to be integrative practitioners who can seamlessly weave acupuncture and Chinese herbs into clinical treatment plans, and bring their research literacy, advanced diagnostic studies, systems-based medicine skills and knowledge to bear in a multitude of clinical environments, including integrative healthcare settings alongside practitioners in allopathic and other complementary health fields. As a graduate of this program, you will be recognized as a doctor, both professionally and publicly, and will be prepared to work as a vital part of multidisciplinary healthcare team.
The Doctor of Oriental Medicine program is designed for individuals who wish to become an acupuncturist, integrate the use of Chinese herbal medicine into their practice, apply research literacy to an evidence-based approach, and work in conventional medical and healthcare settings as well as private practice.
MUIH offers four master’s and doctoral programs in Acupuncture and Oriental medicine: Master of Acupuncture (MAC), Master of Oriental Medicine (MOM), Doctor of Acupuncture (DAC), and Doctor of Oriental Medicine (DOM). All four programs prepare students to achieve full clinical competency in acupuncture and to become highly skilled, integrative acupuncturists. Each program has unique characteristics that prepare students for different career tracks and aspirations.
All of MUIH’s master’s and doctoral programs in acupuncture and Oriental Medicine blend acupuncture approaches from two healing traditions, Constitutional Five Element Acupuncture (CFEA) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with contemporary science as the basis for treating the whole person. The programs provide a comprehensive understanding of the classical and theoretical foundations of the field of acupuncture and introduce students to biomedicine from an integrative and holistic perspective. They emphasize self-cultivation and healership through a curriculum that is rigorous, transformative, and relationship centered. By drawing upon ancient wisdom and the gifts of nature students will learn to choose their words and actions intentionally in order to be a healing presence that supports their patients. These programs develop highly skillful and compassionate practitioners who offer acupuncture as a catalyst for healing and wellness, as well as for increased self-awareness and personal transformation. Additionally, the programs provide a solid foundation in career development, practice management, and the business skills necessary to build a practice or enter the workforce and participate in today’s growing healthcare field.
All four programs share these highlights:
The Doctor of Oriental Medicine program has the following specific characteristics, in addition to the above highlights shared by all programs:
Click here to view an expanded description of the program highlights, learning outcomes, and curriculum of the Doctor of Oriental Medicine program, and how it differs from the Doctor of Acupuncture, Master of Oriental Medicine, and Master of Acupuncture degrees.
Students who complete the program will be able to:
For a full description of the curriculum including the required and elective course work, visit the Academic Catalog.
Students progress through three levels of training, each with a specific focus that guides program goals and objectives. The trimesters flow and build from one to the next, and the coursework is sequenced to provide a rich and transformative educational experience. The program can be completed in four years and four months across 13 trimesters.
The program consists of a total 190.25 credits, distributed as:
Level I begins with an intensive course on healership that introduces students to the art, practice, and science of being a healing presence. Students are introduced to MUIH’s foundational philosophical principles, living within the rhythms of nature, living with mindfulness, and the skillful and purposeful use of language as tools for being a powerful healing presence and catalyst for change. This intensive is followed by coursework designed to open up the power of observation and sensory awareness. Other topics in Level I include:
Level II coursework delves deeper into the topics introduced in Level I, focusing on theory, diagnosis, treatment planning, and skills development. Students continue to observe clinical practice throughout Level II and begin supervised clinical work. Each student trains at the on-campus faculty-supervised clinic and at the off-campus Community Clinic Sites. Near the end of this level, each student will take the Level II Comprehensive Exam. Upon passing the exam, the student may begin the expanded clinical portion of the program.
Level III begins with a three-day off-campus retreat, which serves as a bridge between the academic work of Levels I and II, and the clinical experience of Level III. During the retreat, students reflect on their clinical transition and build community with peers who will practice with them in the faculty-supervised clinic. Over the course of Level III, each student generates a minimum of 10 patients, and completes, under supervision, a minimum of 295 treatments. A portion of the completed treatments will take place in integrative healthcare settings that may be located off-campus. The Chinese herbs clinic consists of 210 hours, including direct diagnostic calibration treatment planning, and extensive practical dispensary training. Each student also performs at least 180 treatments on patients at Community Clinic Sites (begun in Level II). In addition to the increased clinical focus, Level III coursework focuses more deeply on advanced topics in theory, diagnosis, treatment planning, and skills development. During the final stages of clinic work, each student must pass an oral exam with a panel of senior faculty that demonstrates the student’s embodied knowledge and skills in the realm of Chinese medicine. In addition, students must complete evidence-informed case reports, and a more extensive case study, on their own patients. Students may graduate upon completion of all coursework, clinical, and other academic requirements.
MUIH is approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission to award a Doctor of Oriental Medicine degree, and the program conforms to Maryland laws and regulations regarding the practice of acupuncture.
The Doctor of Acupuncture and Doctor of Oriental Medicine programs of Maryland University of Integrative Health are not accredited or pre-accredited (candidacy) by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). Graduates of these programs are not considered to have graduated from an ACAOM accredited or candidate program and may not rely on ACAOM accreditation or candidacy for professional licensure or other purposes.
The career outlook for Acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) practitioners is strong, and national statistics indicate that individuals pursuing such careers successfully earn income and either establish a solo practice or are hired into a number of different healthcare settings. The AOM career track has been categorized as a “BrightOutlook” occupation by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), indicating that this occupation is predicted to experience rapid growth during the years 2018-2028. BLS predicts a much faster than average (11%) employment growth for AOM practitioners during this time period. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) reports that approximately 72% of acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners are actively working in clinical practice with a majority of those practitioners reporting a solo practice being their primary practice setting. NCCAOM also reports that there has been a significant increase in employment in hospital and integrative care settings; the percentage of acupuncturists employed or contracted in these settings grew from 6% in 2008 to 10% in 2015. NCCAOM job analysis statistics indicate that 36% of AOM practitioners reported a total gross income (before taxes) of $40,000-$100,000 with 11% reporting gross incomes of $100,000 and above; the BLS reports the median average salary for AOM practitioners in 2017 was $73,830. View more about career opportunities.
This program is offered in the on-campus formats. Click here to view MUIH’s definition of online, hybrid, and on-campus course and program formats.
The Doctor of Oriental Medicine is delivered primarily on campus with some online courses.
For additional details visit the Academic Catalog.
For trimester start and end dates, see the Academic Calendar.
For programs that begin in the Fall trimester, class times are 9 a.m – 5 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. For programs that begin in the Spring trimester, class times are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays.
There are occasional scheduling exceptions for intensives, electives, non-credit requirements, and other special courses as described below. Students must plan ahead to clear work schedules and commitments to be available to attend all courses as required.
The Chinese herbal medicine portion of the program consists of 37 credits delivered as two- to three-day weekends (Friday-Sunday), starting in Level II. Please refer to the Course of Study and the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Chinese Herbs in the Academic Catalog for more information.
The program begins with a three-day intensive and has a few intensives, including weekend intensives throughout the 11 trimesters. Most weekend intensives are 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Elective course offerings are typically bioscience (ISCI) courses held Mondays from 6 – 9 p.m, Wednesdays from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., and weekends (generally two weekends consisting of Friday evening and all-day Saturday and Sunday), with some online availability. Offerings vary by trimester.
Completion of the Doctor of Oriental Medicine program does not automatically qualify graduates to begin practicing independently. Each state, including Maryland, has specific licensure or registration procedures that must be met. Governmental laws, regulations, legal opinions, and requirements differ from country to country and state to state. MUIH cannot provide assurance that completion of the program will qualify a graduate to be registered or accepted under a state law other than Maryland. However, the University’s Doctor of Oriental Medicine program is designed to provide basic, solid competence in traditional acupuncture. There may be a waiting period between the completion of the program and the legal recognition allowing the graduate to begin practice. Until a graduate receives official notification of legal recognition to begin practice, she or he may continue to practice only under faculty supervision. Students who wish to continue to practice in Maryland after graduating, but prior to being licensed, must enroll in MUIH’s Trainee Program. Most states require successful completion of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine exam. For more information, refer to nccaom.org.
Graduates wishing to practice in Maryland may be licensed by applying to the Maryland Board of Acupuncture. MUIH is approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission to award a Doctor of Oriental Medicine degree, and the program conforms to Maryland laws and regulations regarding the practice of acupuncture. For requirements for licensure in Maryland, contact: Maryland Board of Acupuncture, 4201 Patterson Avenue, Room 311 Baltimore, MD 21215; phone 410-764-4766 or 800-530-2481; or online at health.maryland.gov/bacc/.
Qualified MUIH alumni who have completed the additional course of study required by the California Acupuncture Board are currently eligible to take the California Acupuncture Licensing Examination. This course of study will be available to individuals entering the program in spring 2020; it will not be available to individuals entering the program in fall 2020 and later trimesters. Individuals who wish to practice in California are advised to check the licensing requirements with the California Acupuncture Board, 1747 N. Market Blvd., Suite 180 Sacramento, CA 95834 916-928-2204; online at acupuncture.ca.gov.
For eligibility to apply for licensure, other states may stipulate additional requirements, such as completion of a course in Chinese herbs or clinical hours beyond what is required by MUIH. Individuals who wish to practice in a state other than Maryland are advised to check the licensing requirements of that state by contacting the medical or acupuncture regulating agency in each state.
Additional information regarding licensure is available in the Academic Catalog.
Alexandra York, M.S.
Interim Department Chair
Janet Padgett, M.Ac., Ph.D.
Director, Acupuncture Programs
Kerri Westhauser, M.Ac., D.A.O.M
Director, Chinese Herb Programs
Janice Campbell, D.O.M., L.Ac., A.D.S.
Director, Clinical Education
Jennifer Schwing, M.A.
Department Manager
Chelsey Barrett, M.S., CHES
Student Support Specialist & Academic Advisor