Master of Acupuncture

The Master of Acupuncture program is designed for individuals who wish to become an acupuncturist to enhance the well-being of others. Individuals with a Master of Acupuncture often establish their own private practice or work in other group practices.

​MUIH’s Master’s and Doctoral Programs in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

MUIH offers four master’s and doctoral programs in acupuncture and herbal medicine: Master of Acupuncture , Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization, Doctor of Acupuncture , and Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization. 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 herbal 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:

• A rigorous clinical experience beginning as early as the second trimester.
• The only accredited graduate program to offer the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) training and related clinical experience as part of the curriculum.
• The opportunity to work with a wide variety of clinical supervisors with different theoretical perspectives and practice styles.
• Exposure to different clinical approaches such as: Chinese and Western nutrition therapy, qi gong, cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, scalp acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and tuina.
• The opportunity to see patients from diverse backgrounds and in community outreach settings.
• The opportunity to engage in specialty courses in the treatment of certain health conditions and populations, including pain management and women’s health.
• Flexible, full-time formats: two days each week, with some online courses, and occasional intensives and self-scheduled electives offered outside of the two-day schedule.
• A cohort learning format that provides mentorship and flexibility for students to learn in small groups and in one-on-one settings during clinical rotation.

Master of Acupuncture Program

The Master of Acupuncture program has the following specific characteristics, in addition to the above highlights shared by all programs:

• A curriculum consisting of 128.25 credits that can be completed in three years (9 consecutive trimesters).
• Clinical acupuncture experience consisting of 30 observations, 125 primary treatments, 125 secondary treatment, and 23 community health initiative treatments.

Click here to view an expanded description of the program highlights, learning outcomes, and curriculum of the Master of Acupuncture program, and how it differs from the Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization, Doctor of Acupuncture, and Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization degrees.

Students who complete the program will be able to:

• Apply a comprehensive and integrated understanding of the classical and theoretical foundations of the field of acupuncture.
• Apply an understanding of biomedicine from an integrative and holistic perspective.
• Develop a healing presence and healing connection between the patient and practitioner.
• Articulate an understanding of the origin of symptoms and the direction and progression of conditions.
• Develop and provide individualized acupuncture treatment plans that address overall health and wellness and bring about effective relief for physical pain conditions, chronic illness, particular physical, mental, and emotional conditions, and spiritual issues in their patients.
• Translate western medical conditions into Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment.
• Participate in a fully holistic system of diagnosis and treatment, addressing all levels of being.
• Apply business and practice management skills to ensure success as they enter the workforce.

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 is designed to be completed in three years across 9 trimesters.

The program consists of a total 128.25 credits, distributed as:

• Level 1 courses – 28.5 cr
• Level 2 courses – 41 cr
• Level 3 courses – 49.75 cr
• Bioscience Elective courses – 3 cr
• Flex Core courses – 6 cr

LEVEL I – The Tao: Health in Wholeness

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:

• The foundational laws and theories that underpin the field of acupuncture and herbal medicine
• Diagnostic skills development
• Rapport-building skills development
• Surface anatomy and point location
• History of acupuncture and an introduction to the classical texts
• Ethics
• Orientation to information literacy
• Philosophy, practice, and therapeutic application of qi through the study of classical self-cultivation practices (such as Tai Ji, Qi Gong, and Daoist meditation)

LEVEL II – Ying/Yang: Health in Balance

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 – Qi: Health in Movement

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 250 treatments. In addition, each student performs at least 180 treatments on patients at Community Health sites (begun in Level II). Beyond 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 to demonstrate the student’s embodied knowledge and skills in the realm of Chinese medicine. Students may graduate upon completion of all coursework, clinical, and other academic requirements.

Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

The Master of Acupuncture and Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization programs of Maryland University of Integrative Health are accredited under master’s degree standards by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), the recognized accrediting agency for programs preparing acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners. ACAOM is located at 8941 Aztec Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347; phone (952) 212-2434; fax (952) 657-7068; acaom.org.

94% of recent graduates of MUIH’s Master of Acupuncture program were employed or self-employed within one year of graduation. Graduates of MUIH’s acupuncture and herbal medicine programs are employed in a variety of settings including private practice; integrative group practices; health care systems; hospitals; wellness centers; pain management centers; addiction treatment centers; behavioral and mental health centers; fertility centers; veterans and military organizations and agencies; state and local health departments; and colleges and universities. Many graduates chose to have a portfolio career in which they have multiple positions and employers within one or more profession, rather than one full-time job. A portfolio career provides such individuals with variety in their work life and the opportunity to develop a wide and varied professional network.

The career outlook for acupuncture and herbal medicine (AHM) 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 AHM 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 herbal 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.

Program Format

This program is offered in the on-campus format. Click here to view MUIH’s definition of online, hybrid, and on-campus course and program formats.

The Master of Acupuncture is delivered primarily on campus with some online courses.

For additional details visit the Academic Catalog.

Program Schedule

For trimester start and end dates, see the Academic Calendar.

For programs that begin in the fall, class times are generally 8:45 a.m.–5 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. For programs that begin in the spring, class times are generally 8:45 a.m.–5 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Students entering the program in the Fall 2021 Trimester should also plan to attend the APP612 intensive experience on September 2-4, 9:30 am to 5:30pm on each day, regardless of the course format; online/remote classes will be conducted live and in real time on the same day and time that they would have met on-campus. Students entering the program in the Spring 2022 Trimester will also have a three day APP612 intensive, dates to be determined.

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.

Intensives

The program begins with a three-day intensive and has a few weekend intensives throughout the first 9 trimesters. Most weekend intensives are 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Electives

Elective course offerings are typically held Mondays 6–9 p.m., Wednesdays 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.

Laws & Licensure

Completion of the Master of Acupuncture 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 Master of Acupuncture 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.

Maryland Acupuncture Licenses

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 Master of Acupuncture 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/.

Requirements of Other States

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

Additional information regarding licensure is available in the Academic Catalog.

Sharon Jennings-Rojas, D.O.M; M.Ac.; L.Ac.; RT (NADA)
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 and Academic Advisor