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Bachelor of Science in Public Health – Acupuncture Pathway (BS/MAc)

Location: Boston
Start Term: Fall

As an acupuncturist, you will help patients of all ages manage pain, curb addictions, and improve their overall health and well-being.

In this professional pathway, you will earn a combined Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Master of Acupuncture (MAc) or Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine in six years.

During your three undergraduate years on our Boston campus, you will develop a solid foundation in public health through science and liberal arts courses, and will learn how to strategically address some of the most complex health problems facing our society. You will cultivate marketable skills in data analytics, grant writing, and statistical software, and will be prepared to pursue your MAc or MAOM degree.

You will complete the final three years of the program at the New England School of Acupuncture on our Worcester campus. In our Acupuncture Treatment Center, you will work directly with patients from the community in a holistic clinical setting, and will collaborate with other members of a healthcare team to deliver integrative treatment plans.

Already have a bachelor's degree? Explore our Master of Acupuncture or Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine programs on our Worcester campus.

First-year applicants can view their admission requirements on the Undergraduate Applicants page.

Students with 12 or more college credits may transfer into the first or second year of the program. Courses must have been completed at a regionally accredited college or university with a grade of C or better for transfer. Math and science courses taken more than ten years prior to the anticipated date of matriculation to MCPHS will not be accepted.

While there are no specific required courses for entry into the first year of our program, the admission committee will look for success in any math and science courses you have already taken. If you complete any of the courses listed below, you may receive transfer credit and your first year course load may be lighter. However, due to the block registration nature of MCPHS programs, entering the first year of the program with transfer credits will not change the total length of your program. Courses, other than elective courses, may not be moved forward in your schedule.

Required Courses For Entry to Year II:

Additional Courses Accepted for Transfer Credit:

  • Statistics (3 credits) (Acceptable substitutions include Basic Statistics, Biostatistics, Psychological Statistics, Economic Statistics)
  • Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
  • Cultural Anthropology (3 credits)
  • Interpersonal Communications for Health Professionals (3 credits)
  • Humanities elective (3 credits) (Acceptable courses include Literature, Creative Writing, Philosophy, Ethics, Religious Studies, Select Fine Arts, Advanced Level Languages) General Elective (3 credits) (Acceptable courses include History, English, Fine Arts, Philosophy, Government, Ethics, Foreign Language, Psychology, Religious Studies, Anthropology, Communications, and Economics)
  • Behavioral Sciences Elective (3 credits) (Acceptable courses include any upper-level psychology course)
  • Microbiology with lab (4 credits)

 

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS

Year I–Fall
LIB 111 Expository Writing I  3
CHE 131 Chemical Principles I (w/ Lab)  4
BIO 151 Biology I: Cell and Molecular Biology  3
BIO 150 Biology I Lab  1
MAT 151 Calculus I  3
FYS 101 Introduction to the Major  1
Semester Total  15

Year I–Spring
LIB 112 Expository Writing II  3
CHE 132 Chemical Principles II (w/ Lab)  4
BIO 152 Biology II: Biology of Organisms (w/ Lab)  4
MAT 152 Calculus II  3
LIB 133 American Culture, Identity & Public Life  3
Semester Total  17

Year II–Fall
BIO 110 Human Anatomy and Physiology I  3
BIO 110L Anatomy and Physiology I Lab  1
LIB 120 Introduction to Psychology  3
MAT 261 Statistics  3
PBH 206 Public Health Seminar  1
PBH 250 Introduction to Public Health  3
PBH 260 Public Health research Methods  3
Semester Total 17

Year II–Spring
BIO 210 Human Anatomy and Physiology II  3
BIO 210L Anatomy and Physiology II Lab  1
LIB 220 Interpersonal Communication  3
PBH 340 Environment and Health  3
SSC 230 Cultural Anthropology  3
HUM XXX Humanities Elective  3
Semester Total  16

Year III–Fall
PBH 350 Global Health  3
MAT 461 Biostatistics  3
LIB 512 Healthcare Ethics  3
BEH 260 Lifestyle Medicine  3
BEH 352 Human Development/Lifecycle  3
Semester Total  15

Year III–Spring
BIO 255 Medical Microbiology  3
BEH 353O Nutrition and Health  3
PBH 330 Epidemiology  3
PBH 435 Public Policy and Public Health  3
PBH 360O Health Data Collection and Management  3
Semester Total  15

Year IV–Fall
PBH 430 Infectious Disease Epidemiology  3
PBH 440 Introduction to SAS Programming  3
PBH XXX Public Health Elective   3
PBH XXX Public Health Elective  3

General Elective  3
Semester Total  15

Year IV–Spring
PBH 480 Public Health Capstone Seminar  3
PBH 460 Field Placement  3
PBH 4XX Chronic Disease Epidemiology  3
PBH XXX Public Health Elective  3

General Elective  3
Semester Total 15
Total Credits  125
 

MCPHS New England School of Acupuncture

Close up of Acupuncture needling.

NESA at MCPHS is the oldest college of acupuncture in the United States and prepares students for careers in holistic patient care.

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