The Doctor of Acupuncture Program at National University
The Doctor of Acupuncture (DAc) is a 134 credit hour program and can be completed in 8 trimesters. Upon the completion of the first 107 credits (6 trimesters) on campus, students will receive the Master of Acupuncture (MAc) degree. The last 27 credits are fully online in an asynchronous format which allows students to adapt the program in a more convenient schedule to finish each term in the allotted time frame, to stay on track and complete in one year.
Doctor of Acupuncture Program Benefits
Acquire Advanced Skills in Research and Analysis
The DAc provides the opportunity to advance skills in writing, reading, research and analysis, which can benefit you academically and professionally. Our case-based teaching method consistently delivers knowledge and wisdom you can take back to your practice and begin using immediately.
Enhance Patient Confidence with a Terminal Degree
In addition to receiving highest level of licensure-qualifying training and parity with other health care professionals, a DAc degree further enhances patient confidence that their care and treatment are handled and administered by a practitioner with a terminal degree
Expand Your Employment Opportunities
Opens employment opportunities for finding positions in hospitals, integrative medical clinics, pain management clinics, and women’s health-OB/GYN offices. DAc graduates may be more qualified for top-level positions, which can increase lifetime earnings and potentially provide more career opportunities.
DAc Preceptorship Requirement
Doctor of Acupuncture students are required to complete a 60-hour preceptorship with any medical professional in practice who holds a professional doctorate (DC, ND, MD, DO, etc.) This requirement allows students to develop communication and collaboration skills that promote collegiality with western medical professionals. Those needing assistance locating a preceptor will be provided guidance and support from NUHS.
Campus Location and Facilities
National University is conveniently located 15 miles from the city of Chicago and its diverse neighborhoods, including the bustling Chinatown area with its rich tradition of herbal medicine shops and practitioners. The Chicagoland area is also home to one of the largest health care communities in the country with over 120 hospitals and hundreds of area clinics.
Our large integrative care clinic and extensive herbal dispensary ensures outstanding clinical training. The gross anatomy laboratory allows you to learn western anatomy and eastern meridian theory through hands-on dissection of a human cadaver. In the Training and Assessment Center (TAC), you’ll learn, practice and be assessed on your diagnosis and patient interaction skills. You will also have access to the on-campus James F. Winterstein Library, one of the region’s largest health science libraries, and modern classrooms utilizing state-of-the-art technology such as interactive video and SMART boards.
Accreditation
National University of Health Sciences plans to offer a new Doctor of Acupuncture (DAc) program. The graduate degree program is designed to accommodate students from across the United States and beyond to prepare its graduates for leadership in the field of acupuncture and integrative medicine.
NUHS has been approved to offer the DAc to students. It is the normal first step in the accreditation process. The program must be active with students before it can be reviewed for accreditation. Therefore, the following ACAHM statement is shared to be transparent with all students entering the new DAc program.
The following programs offered by National University of Health Sciences are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM):
- Master of Acupuncture [currently named Master of Science in Acupuncture]
- Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization [currently named Master of Science in Oriental Medicine]
Accreditation status and notes may be viewed on the ACAHM Directory . ACAHM is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the specialized accreditation agency for institutions/programs preparing acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners. ACAHM does not accredit any programs at the undergraduate/bachelor level. ACAHM is located at 8941 Aztec Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347; phone 952/212-2434; www.ACAHM.org
The entry-level Doctor of Acupuncture program offered by National University of Health Sciences is approved to begin enrolling students but is not accredited or pre-accredited by ACAHM. This program is eligible for ACAHM accreditation, and NUHS is currently in the process of seeking ACAHM accreditation for the program. However, NUHS can provide no assurance that pre-accreditation or accreditation will be granted by ACAHM. Graduates of an unaccredited program are not considered to have graduated from an ACAHM-accredited or pre-accredited program and may not rely on ACAHM accreditation or pre-accreditation for professional licensure or other purposes.
