Program Goals & Outcomes

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of the Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (MAcCHM) program is to prepare students for entry-level professional practice as licensed acupuncturists with integrated training in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. The program provides a comprehensive education in both disciplines, including clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Graduates are competent clinicians who demonstrate ethical practice, effective communication, critical thinking, and a commitment to equitable, patient-centered care.

Program Goals

Professionalism and Ethical Practice

Graduates demonstrate integrity, compassion, and ethical reasoning in all professional interactions. They uphold legal and regulatory standards, safeguard patient privacy and autonomy, acknowledge and mitigate personal and systemic bias, and contribute to a culture of safety, honesty, and continuous quality improvement. They provide equitable, culturally responsive care that respects the full diversity of human experience and intersectional identity.

Patient-Centered Clinical Practice

Graduates perform comprehensive AHM and biomedical patient assessments, formulate biomedically-informed AHM diagnoses, and develop personalized, evidence-informed treatment plans incorporating acupuncture and adjunctive therapies (and herbal medicine for MAcCHM graduates). They administer care safely in accordance with Clean Needle Technique (CNT) protocols, educate patients on self-care and health promotion, and facilitate timely, appropriate referrals to other healthcare providers.

Foundational and Applied Medical Knowledge

Graduates integrate knowledge of AHM theory and biomedical science—including basic, clinical, pathophysiologic, and social sciences—in clinical reasoning and treatment planning. They critically appraise classical and contemporary sources, recognize the roles of psychological, behavioral, and structural determinants of health, and understand how interprofessional collaboration improves patient outcomes. MAcCHM graduates additionally demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of herbal materia medica, formulation theory, and herb-drug interactions.

Interprofessional and Patient Communication

Graduates communicate clearly, compassionately, and effectively with patients, caregivers, and members of the healthcare team across verbal, nonverbal, written, and electronic modalities. They translate AHM clinical reasoning into biomedical terminology to support interdisciplinary care coordination, employ trauma-informed and culturally intelligent communication strategies, and adapt their approach to the diverse needs of patients and colleagues.

Practice-Based Learning and Professional Development

Graduates engage in ongoing self-reflection and critical appraisal of practice, incorporating feedback, performance data, and scholarly inquiry to improve clinical effectiveness. They set measurable learning goals, access relevant research and clinical literature, utilize digital and evidence-based tools to support continuous improvement, and cultivate the personal resilience and self-care practices necessary for sustainable professional practice.

Systems-Based Practice and Health Equity

Graduates analyze the social, economic, structural, and environmental determinants of health and apply this understanding to support equitable, accessible, patient-centered care. They demonstrate knowledge of healthcare law, regulatory frameworks, billing and reimbursement systems, and professional practice management. They critically evaluate healthcare technologies and contribute to efforts to reduce health disparities, particularly for underserved and vulnerable populations.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine program, graduates will be able to:

1. Demonstrate integrity, compassion, and ethical reasoning in all professional actions; uphold legal and regulatory standards governing AHM practice; safeguard patient privacy and autonomy; recognize and mitigate personal, cultural, and systemic biases; and provide equitable, inclusive, and culturally responsive care to individuals of all backgrounds.
2. Perform comprehensive patient assessments using AHM and biomedical methods, including history-taking and physical examination; synthesize objective and subjective findings to formulate a prioritized AHM pattern diagnosis and/or biomedical differential diagnosis; and identify clinical presentations requiring urgent or emergent referral.
3. Develop, implement, and modify personalized, evidence-informed treatment plans incorporating acupuncture, adjunctive therapies, and lifestyle interventions; administer treatment safely in accordance with Clean Needle Technique (CNT) protocols and recognized patient safety guidelines; and educate patients on self-care and health promotion strategies. MAcCHM: Treatment plans additionally incorporate Chinese herbal medicine, with comprehensive appraisal of toxicity, contraindications, and pharmaceutical interactions.
4. Integrate foundational knowledge of AHM theory and biomedical science—including basic, clinical, pathophysiologic, social, and behavioral sciences—into clinical reasoning, diagnosis, and treatment planning; critically appraise classical and contemporary sources for reliability and clinical applicability; and articulate how structural and social determinants of health influence patient outcomes.
5. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of Chinese herbal materia medica, traditional formulation theory, and herb-drug interactions; compose and revise individualized herbal formulations based on traditional practice and patient assessment; and evaluate the efficacy and safety of herbal treatments using current evidence. Apply dispensary practices that support quality assurance and regulatory compliance. (MAcCHM only.)
6. Actively seek and incorporate formative feedback and performance data to improve clinical reasoning and patient care; locate and critically appraise relevant research and scholarly literature; utilize digital tools and clinical decision-support technologies to support continuous learning; and cultivate the self-reflection, resilience, and self-care practices necessary for sustainable professional practice.
7. Communicate clearly, compassionately, and accurately with patients, caregivers, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals using terminology appropriate to each audience across verbal, nonverbal, written, and electronic modalities; employ trauma-informed, culturally intelligent communication strategies; and translate AHM clinical reasoning into biomedical vocabulary to support interdisciplinary collaboration and timely referral.
8. Analyze social, economic, and environmental determinants of health and apply this analysis to improve patient outcomes and reduce health disparities; demonstrate knowledge of healthcare law, AHM regulatory frameworks, and billing and reimbursement systems; and develop a professional practice plan including office policies, a business plan, and a marketing strategy to support entry into and sustain a successful AHM career.
9. Identify barriers to patient access to AHM care and apply strategies for inclusive, culturally responsive, and affordable care delivery for underserved populations; evaluate the benefits and limitations of current and emerging healthcare technologies (e.g., telehealth, EHR, AI-assisted tools); and contribute to patient safety reporting and quality improvement efforts.
10. Describe the roles, skills, and perspectives of other healthcare disciplines to foster effective collaboration; facilitate timely, patient-centered referrals using appropriate biomedical terminology; maintain complete and accurate clinical records; and demonstrate competency in EHR and practice management software to support safe and efficient care.