Program Goals & Outcomes

Statement of Purpose

To prepare licensed acupuncturists and other qualified healthcare practitioners for advanced clinical practice in Chinese herbal medicine. The program provides comprehensive, practice-oriented training in herbal theory, formula composition, modification, and safe prescribing and dispensing. Graduates are prepared to integrate Chinese herbal medicine into clinical practice, demonstrating clinical competence, critical thinking, and a commitment to safe, ethical, and patient-centered care.

Program Goals

1. Graduates uphold legal and regulatory standards governing herbal medicine, including informed consent, documentation, and transparent communication of risks and contraindications.
2. Graduates perform comprehensive CHM assessments integrating AHM and biomedical knowledge, administer herbal medicine safely, and appraise toxicity, contraindications, and herb-drug interactions.
3. Graduates demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of materia medica, formulation theory, herb-drug interactions, and chemical constituents, and recognize restricted and toxic substances and identify appropriate alternatives.
4. Graduates engage in ongoing self-reflection, critically appraise classical herbal texts and contemporary research, and cultivate professional resilience for sustained contribution to the field.
5. Graduates communicate clearly with patients and healthcare team members regarding herbal rationale, expected outcomes, risks, and regulatory status.
6. Graduates demonstrate knowledge of legal and regulatory frameworks governing CHM practice, apply dispensary compliance requirements, and analyze barriers to equitable access to herbal medicine care.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Chinese Herbal Medicine program, graduates will:

1. Demonstrate ethical and professional conduct in herbal medicine practice, including documentation, culturally responsive care, and transparent risk communication.
2. Conduct comprehensive herbal medicine patient assessments integrating AHM and biomedical frameworks; and identify patients requiring urgent referral.
3. Compose, administer, and evaluate individualized Chinese herbal formulations; and appraise toxicity, contraindications, and herb-drug interactions to ensure safe care.
4. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of herbal materia medica, formulation theory, botanical identification, and chemical constituents; and recognize restricted, toxic, and obsolete substances.
5. Apply state and federal regulations governing CHM practice; and manage dispensary compliance, adverse event reporting, and quality assurance recordkeeping.
6. Engage in ongoing self-reflection; integrate classical herbal texts and contemporary research to inform practice; and cultivate professional resilience for sustained contribution to the field.
7. Communicate effectively with patients and healthcare team members regarding herbal rationale, expected outcomes, safety profile, and regulatory status.
8. Analyze social determinants of health in the context of herbal medicine access; and apply knowledge of healthcare law and AHM-specific regulatory frameworks to professional practice.
9. Identify barriers to equitable access to Chinese herbal medicine care; evaluate emerging herbal medicine technologies; and contribute to the herbal medicine evidence base and quality improvement.
10. Collaborate with healthcare professionals by communicating the evidence base and rationale for Chinese herbal medicine interventions; and manage herbal medicine clinical records and demonstrate EHR competency.