Program Overview

The DAOM degree is designed as a 24-month program consisting of 1,215 total hours and 55.5 academic credits organized into six trimesters. Each trimester includes a combination of online classes and in-person sessions, including scheduled campus residency periods. Graduates complete the program with advanced diagnostic, treatment, and research competencies in Chinese medicine.

Curriculum Structure

The curriculum includes both didactic coursework and clinical training:

Didactic Coursework

Theoretical instruction comprises approximately 510 classroom hours, covering advanced acupuncture, herbal medicine, classical texts, and integrative medicine concepts.

Clinical Training Hours

Clinical training comprises approximately 705 hours in supervised clinical environments, including observation, internship, practicum, clinical forums, and pedagogy, emphasizing real-world application of classical Chinese medicine principles.

Classical Qi-Based Medicine Components

The DAOM curriculum deeply explores classical Qi theory, including the properties, movement, transformation, location, and communication of Qi, as well as related diagnostic and treatment strategies grounded in classical texts such as Huang Di Nei Jing, Nan Jing, ShangHan Lun, and Shennong Bencaojing.

Part Ⅰ. Research Methods Based on Qi

1. Properties of Qi
2. Movement of Qi
3. Transformation of Qi
4. Location of Qi
5. Communication of Qi
6. Harmony of Heaven and Human

Part Ⅱ. CCM Anatomical Structures of Qi

1. Qi’s structure in the universe
2. Qi’s anatomical structure in the human body
3. Circulation of Wei Qi
4. Circulation of Ying Qi

Part Ⅲ. CCM Diagnosis of Qi

1. Color Diagnosis
2. Pulse Diagnosis
3. Symptoms

Part Ⅳ. CCM Treatment of Qi

1. Acupuncture
2. Chinese Herbal Medicine
3. Moxibustion
4. Five Tones

Part V. CCM Prevention Based on Qi

1. Five Yun and Six Qi
2. Preventive Treatment

Part VI. Research Methods Based on Qi

The academic curriculum includes fundamental principles and significant techniques from the Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine), Nan Jing (The Huang Emperor’s Canon of Eighty-One Difficult Issues), Shennong Bencaojing (The Divine Farmer’s Classic of Materia Medica), ShangHan Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases), and Jin Gui Yao Luo(Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber).

In year 1, students learn fundamental theories, diagnosis, needle techniques, and treatment plans based on the classic text, Huang Di Nei Jing and Nanjing, and start to practice in internship and self-practicum. In the 1^st trimester, students are assigned to the professor to decide the capstone project, and will take the relative integrative observation.

In year 2, students continue with internship and self-practicum, also will be solidate the knowledge in clinic forum, and continue learning the classic text, Shang Han Lun, Jin Gui Yao Luo, Wen Bing, and finish the capstone project.

The 705 hours of clinical training is an effective combination of clinical observation (90 hours), clinical internship (120 hours), clinical practicum (405 hours), clinic forums (75 hours), and clinical pedagogy (15 hours). All clinical courses emphasize the clinical application of Chinese medicine for the clinical effectiveness.

For the 405 hours of clinic practicum, students will practice the DAOM knowledge and technique in their clinic and report all treatment reports. The students need to provide the practice license, good standing certificate and liability insurance.

Research Project

The doctoral program’s Capstone Project provides students the opportunity to research a topic, problem, or issue within their field of study, and work individually with a Capstone advisor. Similar to a thesis, but more flexible, the Capstone project will synthesize and apply core concepts acquired from the program. Students demonstrate their abilities to utilize the theoretical and practical/clinical aspects of doctoral education, critically evaluate research and potentially contribute to the research base of Chinese medicine and enhance competencies of professional communication. A Capstone Proposal must be approved by both the Capstone Advisor and the Research Director. The student will be assigned a Capstone advisor who is knowledgeable in the field of study to work closely with and who can guide the research project. Evaluation will be focused on the quality and professionalism of applied research and writing; critical and creative thinking; problem-solving skills; knowledge of research design, method, and implementation; and contribution to the field and topic of study. The faculty committee will review and evaluate the following:

1) the research interest, ethical issues, and methods of addressing each in the research;

2) data gathering methods;

3) progress toward completion,

4) CCM theory, diagnosis, treatment,

5) quote from the CCM text, and

6) final project content, format, and delivery.

Research proposals should be no longer than 3,000 words (excluding the reference list/bibliography).5