Acupuncture Institute Graduate

Master of Science in Chinese Herbology

MS Master of Science

A 22-month blended Master of Science in Chinese Herbology for currently licensed healthcare professionals, with all clinical rotations completed in residence.

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22 moTwo years, on a semester basis

Program length

50%Plus 11 weekends a year on campus

Didactic work online

100%Completed at UB

Clinical rotations in residence

4Across the major

Distinct curriculum areas

Curriculum

A blended, residential program

The Master of Science in Chinese Herbology degree program joins the Acupuncture MS degree program and the Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology MS degree program within the Acupuncture Institute. It is a part of the Health Sciences Division which also includes physician assistant, nutrition, chiropractic, and dental hygiene. The program is two years in length (22 months) and is scheduled on a semester basis.

FORMAT

Primarily residential

The MS-CH program is primarily residential, with students completing 50% of their course work and 100% of their clinical rotations in residence.

BLENDED

A blended schedule

The Asian/Chinese Herbology courses are offered in a blended format, with 50% of the didactic program offered online and 50% during 4 weekends each semester, plus an additional 3 weekends each summer, for a total of 11 weekends a year.

WHO

Who the program is for

The MS-CH is limited to those who currently hold licensure or registration as healthcare professionals. The MS-CH program will not expand graduates’ scope of practice. There is no independent licensing for Chinese herbal practitioners in the US. Please consult your state’s licensing authority regarding state-specific scope of practice for licensed health practitioners in the area of herbal prescribing.

BOARDS

National board exams

The MS-CH degree can be used as preparation for the national board exams in Chinese herbology only by those who have accredited acupuncture degrees. Only upon passing the requisite NCCAOM exams in Chinese Herbology may practitioners use the title “Diplomate in Chinese Herbology.”

Admission requirements

How to apply

Applications are reviewed by the Acupuncture Institute. We review applications on a rolling basis for a fall start term only. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a completed application and all supporting materials by July 15 for priority consideration.

Program prerequisites

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
Must be currently licensed or registered healthcare professionals whose scope of practice includes the use of Chinese herbs and formulae
Bioscience prerequisites: Human Anatomy, 4 semester credits. Human Physiology, 4 semester credits. Pharmacology, 1 semester credit. Clinical Diagnosis (human), 4 semester credits. Pathology (human), 4 semester credits.
Traditional Chinese Medicine prerequisites: TCM Medical Theory, 36 hours and 2 semester credits. TCM Diagnosis 1 covering TCM substances, 5-elements and zang-fu, 36 hours and 2 semester credits. Meridian Theory and Meridian Diagnosis, 36 hours and 2 semester credits.

Required materials

Application
Official transcripts from all institutions attended
International applicants should consult our international admission requirements, or contact an admissions officer with specific questions.

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Deadlines

April 15

Summer semester

Completed application and all supporting materials

July 15

Fall semester

Completed application and all supporting materials

December 1

Spring semester

Completed application and all supporting materials

Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

Upon successful completion of the Chinese Herbology MS program, the graduate will have the ability to:

Diagnosis

Demonstrate competency in utilizing the four examinations to identify Chinese Herbology diagnoses, and adapt diagnosis and treatment strategies as needed for diverse patient populations.

Clinical application

Formulate and skillfully implement the safe and effective clinical application of Chinese medicine modalities based upon a total assessment of the patient, including acupuncture, moxibustion, Chinese herbal medicine, qi cultivation, tui na, and other adjunctive techniques.

Collaborative care

Evaluate patient care from biomedical, pharmacological, and Asian perspectives in order to understand the medical context in which patients present, make appropriate treatment and consultation decisions in various healthcare settings as part of a collaborative health care team, and make timely referrals when appropriate.

Patient-centered practice

Value patients’ dignity and confidentiality, and apply knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient-centered care in a variety of settings in order to optimize patient health and coordinate care with other healthcare practitioners.

Licensure of graduates

Where UBAI programs meet state requirements

Completion of any of the UBAI programs does not guarantee licensure in any state. Most states require passage of some or all of the National Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) exam modules and the Council of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (CCAHM) Clean Needle Technique (CNT) exam for licensure.

MS-Acupuncture: meets state requirements

AK, AZ, CO, CT, GA, IA, ID, IL*, IN, KY, LA, MA*, MD, ME, MI, MN, MD, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH*, OR, PA*, RI, SC, TN, UT, VA, VT*, WA, WI, WV, WY, Washington DC*. *DC, IL, MA, OH, NJ, VT and PA allow for acupuncture only licensure or licensees can choose TCM licensure including TCM Herbs, which requires a TCM degree and passage of the herb module for NCCAOM.

MS-Traditional Chinese Medicine: herbal training required

AR, DE, HI, FL**, KS, NM, NV, TX, VT. **Florida only accepts masters-level degrees in TCM for licensure as of 2021. FL also requires training in injection therapies prior to licensure.

MS-Traditional Chinese Medicine: herbal training optional

DC, IL, MA, OH, NJ, PA, VT. The optional category also includes all of the states where MS-ACUP meets state requirements.

Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine

California, plus all of the states where MS-ACUP and MS-TCM meet state requirements, except FL. California requires passage of the California exam.

MS-Chinese Herbology

MS-CH does not lead to acupuncture licensure alone. Completion of an acupuncture degree is required.

No acupuncture licensure (2021)

AL, OK, SD.

California

In California you must take a program approved by the California Acupuncture Board (CAB) and pass the California Acupuncture exam to qualify for licensure. As of 2021, the only program at UBAI that qualifies a graduate for the California exam is the Doctor of Acupuncture with Traditional Chinese Medicine (DAc.TCM) degree.

Before you apply

Please note that legislation changes can take place and completing the program does not guarantee state licensure eligibility alone. Many states require a state-specific exam in Jurisprudence or other areas of state-specific laws in addition to the NCCAOM exam modules. Always check state licensure requirements prior to applying for an acupuncture license.

Accreditation

Accredited by ACAHM

The following programs offered by University of Bridgeport’s Acupuncture Institute are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM):

Accredited programs

Master of Acupuncture Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization (including a Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization degree completion track)

Scope of accreditation

The programs listed above may offer courses via distance education. ACAHM does not accredit any programs at the undergraduate/bachelor’s level. Accreditation status and notes may be viewed on the ACAHM Directory.

About ACAHM

ACAHM is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the specialized accreditation agency for institutions/programs preparing acupuncture practitioners. ACAHM is located at 500 Lake Street, Suite 204, Excelsior, Minnesota 55331; phone 952/212-2434; acahm.org

Public disclosure

Public Disclosure Statement Effective as of 12 February 2025

Course catalog