• The curriculum at American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine leads to the degree of Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine (MSTCM).

• The Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine degree program of the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). ACAOM 87501 Greenway Center Drive, Suite 820, Greenbelt, Maryland 20770, (301) 313-0855, is the recognized accrediting agency for the approval of programs preparing acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners. Degree granting authority is subject to periodic review by both the State of California and ACAOM.

• The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine's degree program meets the requirements of Section 94310(.2) of the State of California Education Code as overseen by the Bureau of Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education within the Department of Consumer Affairs.

• The College's program was approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1983 for the training of veterans and other eligible persons under United States Code Title 38, and current approval has been continuous through successor agencies.

• The College is authorized under Federal Law to enroll non-immigrant alien students.

• The College is listed with the United States Department of Education Directory of Postsecondary Institutions as an Institution of Higher Education.

• Copies of all accreditation, licenses and affiliations are on file in the Colleges Administrative Office.

• The College was approved by the Department of Education to award Federal Financial Aid in 1996.

Degree Requirements for California Licensed Acupuncturists

ACTCM offers a degree program to practicing acupuncturists who were licensed in California prior to the current Master's level licensing requirements who wish to upgrade their skills to the Master's degree level. Due to the wide variety of professional preparation of currently licensed acupuncturists in the United States, the following prerequisites are required to be eligible for this Master's degree program: (please see Admission Section for additional entry requirements)

• completed an A.A. degree or equivalent at an accredited institution

• completed a two-year certification program or equivalent consisting of at least 1800 hours of training

• hold a current acupuncturist's licensure (L.Ac.) and be in good standing with the licensing agency

• be NCCAOM certified within last five years on the basis of acupuncture, PERLS and CNT examinations or pass an ACTCM entrance exam developed for the specific purpose of establishing prerequisite competency levels.

• For a complete listing of program and course requirements contact the Dean of the Master's Program.

The exact nature of the course requirements and clinical experiences will be dictated by the individual's initial certification training, length of time since such certification, and status of the practitioner's current practice. For example,California two-year certificate L.Ac. or L.Ac. applicants educated outside the U.S., may be required to complete fewer minimum credits in herbs and formulas than applicants from a California tutorial program. Each applicant will be evaluated individually by the Dean's Committee.

Transfer Credit Policy

All courses submitted for transfer credit will be evaluated for admission by the College. The granting of transfer credit for the general education requirements does not guarantee admission to American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Transfer students or students returning to ACTCM after a leave of absence must meet with the Dean of Students to discuss their curriculum requirements.

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Residency Requirements

Regardless of prior coursework taken, transfer credit awarded, or examinations passed, all students are required to complete no less than 50% of their didactic training in residence at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In addition, students are required to complete their entire clinical internship at ACTCM. All courses taken at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine must be passed with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 ("B") or better. The College retains the right to designate particular courses as requirements to be taken in residence. Classes of C- or less must be repeated.

Challenge Exams: Coursework taken at an international institution or an unaccredited institution will not be accepted for transfer to satisfy the ACTCM curriculum requirements. Entering students with the approval of the Dean of Master's program will be permitted to take a challenge exam in the equivalent subject area, prepared by the faculty member in that particular subject area, or prepared by a faculty member designated by the Dean of Master's program. If the exams are successfully passed, students earn credit and the grade of "pass." Both the grade and the credits will be recorded on the student's academic record and the course requirement is deemed satisfied. For tuition for challenge exams see Fee and Tuition Schedule.

Advising: The advising and placement of students in classes will be determined by a review of all previous educational coursework, and is not limited to just those courses transferred to satisfy the general education curriculum. Students will be required to meet with their academic advisor or the Dean of Student Services prior to each registration and obtain a signature on their registration form. Specific questions may be directed to the Office of Student Services or Academic Studies.

Licensing: Students obtaining professional licenses as acupuncturists or Oriental medicine practitioners are advised to become thoroughly familiar with the requirements for licensing in the state(s) in which they wish to practice. Individual state requirements for academic preparedness, internship hours, and other requirements, vary considerably.


Academic Requirements
Master of Science in TCM American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine offers the Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine (MSTCM) Degree. This program is a four academic year program (13 quarters of full time study). The following are the foundation, general education and graduate level course work required to complete the MSTCM degree program.

General Education Requirements
The following Foundation Courses are required by ACTCM:

General Science Requirements
The following General Science credits are required by the State of California for graduation:

There is a 1:11 ratio of credits to course hours for didactic classes, and a 1:22 ratio of credits to course hours for most practical classes.

The Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine is awarded upon satisfactory completion of the following:

• California State Licensure Requirements 

• Foundation Coursework 

• Required ACTCM Didactic Credits 

• Required ACTCM Clinical Credits 

• Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 or better for all Master's level courses and successful completion of all

• Total credits/hours for the MSTCM Degree (251.5 credits) (3,282 hours)

* In addition, 12 hours are required for comprehensive exam reviews (Levels I & II.)
** 40 hours of clinic instruction at the Intern level completed over quarter breaks.
 
Graduation
Students on probation or academic dismissal are ineligible for graduation. Full-time students must complete the Master's degree program within five years, and 1/2 or 3/4 time students within eight years. A degree or certificate candidate must meet all of the College's regulations and complete all academic requirements as stated in the catalog. Students satisfying their degree requirements in the Fall quarter may request permission to participate in the Fall Commencement. The Application to Graduate form is to be filed at registration of the final quarter.

The graduation date posted on an academic transcript, diploma or certificate coincides with the last month of a quarter. The official graduation date will reflect the completion date of all academic requirements for the degree or certificate, not necessarily the last term of enrollment.

A finalized list of degree candidates is provided to the Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs for approval. The Provost recommends the approved list to the Board of Directors who confer the degrees. Certificates are awarded by the President's Office.
  
Student Records
Student Academic records are maintained in permanent files in the Student Records Office. A Student Record contains all documents relating to a student's activities at the College including but not limited to: admissions, grade reports and transcripts, quarterly registration, tuition payments, correspondence, comprehensive exam scores, tuition agreement form, and health documents. ACTCM protects student records in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of
1974, as amended.

By appointment a student may examine his or her records during regular business hours. The College does not release school records or any other information about a student, to any third party without the consent of the student, except as allowed by law. The College permanently maintains records of academic progress.
  
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
The College complies with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Buckley Amendment). This Act provides certain rights regarding educational records. These rights are as follows:

• Students have the right to inspect and review their educational records.

• The Act outlines the procedure for correcting inaccurate information found within the student's records.

• The privacy of the student's records, in that a student's records will not be released to a third party without the prior written consent of the student.

Certain types of records are excluded by law from inspection, i.e., a parent's financial information or a student's psychiatrist's, or physician's records. However, the Buckley Amendment permits the College to release directory information on a student unless a student requests in writing that directory information be withheld. The following is considered to be directory information: student's name, address, email address, telephone number, sex, date and place of birth, enrollment status, major field of study, dates of attendance, degrees, awards received, most recent previous educational institutions attended, past and present activities, and academic status.
  
Transcripts
A student academic file is the property of the College, however, official copies of coursework (transcripts) are furnished upon request by the student.

The transcript is official only if it is imprinted with the signature of the Registrar and the embossed seal of the College. If an encumbrance is applied against a student's file for owing debts to the College, outstanding library books, etc., no official transcripts or other documents will be released until the encumbrances are removed.

Upon graduation the student may request two transcripts free of charge. To order a transcript, please fill out and sign the Transcript Request Form. Allow one week for transcripts to be sent from the Records Office. Requests are to be submitted in writing to the Registrar. A week is allowed for preparation for any other official documents prepared by the College.