Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization
The Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (DAcCHM) degree program offered at NUNM is a life-changing journey on the path of the acupuncture and Chinese medicine scholar-practitioner.
The Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAcCHM) is a four-year degree program that incorporates the Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (MAcCHM). Students cultivate the capacity to access the profound healing knowledge and ancient wisdom found in classical medical texts.
Immersion within the ancient texts helps our students develop the required competencies to integrate classical wisdom, skills and values into today’s healthcare system through effective communication and collaboration—assuring enhanced clinical outcomes.
Scholar-Mentor Approach to Becoming a Doctor of Acupuncture
The College of Classical Chinese Medicine emphasizes education through a scholar-mentor approach and clinical practice designed to transmit the art, science and spirit of Chinese medicine. Our programs deliver the most comprehensive training in classical Chinese medicine offered within the U.S.
As a DAcCHM graduate, you’ll also receive an MAcCHM degree. Both degrees are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) and qualify you to apply for licensure, and to take all of the AOM examinations administered by NCCAOM—used in most states as the basis for licensure.
A confident practitioner: “I can’t imagine doing anything else.” Elizabeth Rowan, DSOM (’17), reflects on the depths of NUNM’s classical Chinese medicine program.
“Classical texts are the source and origin of classical Chinese medicine. I feel very fortunate to be able to study and teach them. They are not just theoretical discourses, but very practical clinical manuals. I apply them in clinic and am often amazed by the effectiveness of original instructions in the classics.”
Dr. Joon Hee Lee is fluent in classical literary Chinese and continues to discover wisdom and insights from the classical texts. He is also knowledgeable in the literature from Korea and Japan, and well-informed in the medical traditions of these East Asian countries. Dr. Lee completed his Master of Science in Oriental Medicine degree at Samra University of Oriental Medicine in Los Angeles, California, in 2004; and Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree at Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 2010.
Dr. Lee has been with NUNM since 2011, and teaches both academic and clinical courses. “I really enjoy teaching and helping students achieve their goals. I love our students. They are motivated to learn, and come with genuinely warm hearts to help other people.”
Program Options
The Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization program may be taken concurrently with the following programs.
Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university or its foreign equivalent
A GPA of 3.0 or higher (strongly recommended)
Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisite courses are designed to ensure entering students are academically prepared for the curriculum of the program. Prerequisite courses may be substituted with comparable coursework if the learning objectives are met at the determination of the Admissions Committee, utilizing the evaluation procedures set by that committee.
General Biology
1
Science-major level preferred with lab; cellular biology recommended.
General Chemistry
1
Science-major level preferred with lab.
Physics
1
Must include mechanics.
Psychology
1
Any general psychology course 100-level or higher
Humanities
1
Courses in the areas of art, religion, philosophy, literature, music, and other related fields will satisfy this requirement.
General Biology —
1 Course
Science-major level preferred with lab; cellular biology recommended.
General Chemistry —
1 Course
Science-major level preferred with lab.
Physics —
1 Course
Must include mechanics.
Psychology —
1 Course
Any general psychology course 100-level or higher
Humanities —
1 Course
Courses in the areas of art, religion, philosophy, literature, music, and other related fields will satisfy this requirement.
A grade of C or better is required for all prerequisite coursework. Candidates may apply while in progress.
Documents and Essays
Applicants are required to submit essays to be considered for admission. Essays provide applicants the opportunity to share their background, abilities, interests and experiences, and how these will make them a good candidate for the programs at NUNM. Applicants should share some personal experiences and genuine thoughts in their essays. Explaining why you are applying to NUNM and how you would enrich that community is also helpful. The Admissions Committee will look for writing ability, as well as content when reading the essays.
Required Documents and Essays for the DAcCHM Program
Resume
A chronological resume of work, educational, and volunteer experience. Include work experience, internships, research, activities, publications, community service, and any honors/awards received.
Personal Statement
Please write a 2–3 page personal statement, which should include: the development of your decision to become a naturopathic physician or CCM practitioner; recent steps taken to further explore this career path; qualities and/or attributes you might bring to NUNM that might distinguish you from other applicants.
(double spaced)
DAcCHM #1
Please discuss the specific factors that drew you to apply to the DAcCHM Classical Chinese Medicine program at NUNM.
* The prices listed above reflect an estimate based on the 2023-2024 academic year.
** Click the dollar amount to see an itemized list of fees for the DAcCHM program.
Total DAcCHM Degree Credits
Core program credits
256.25
Elective credits
10
Total required credits
266.25
DAcCHM/MScGH
Admissions Requirements for DAcCHM/MScGH
Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university or its foreign equivalent
A GPA of 3.0 or higher (strongly recommended)
Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisite courses are designed to ensure entering students are academically prepared for the curriculum of the program. Prerequisite courses may be substituted with comparable coursework if the learning objectives are met at the determination of the Admissions Committee, utilizing the evaluation procedures set by that committee.
General Biology
1
Science-major level preferred with lab; cellular biology recommended.
General Chemistry
1
Science-major level preferred with lab.
Physics
1
Must include mechanics.
Mathematics
1
Must be statistics (preferred) or college algebra.
Psychology
1
Any general psychology course 100-level or higher
Humanities
1
Courses in the areas of art, religion, philosophy, literature, music, and other related fields will satisfy this requirement.
Social Science
1
Any course from the following disciplines: psychology, public health, sociology, anthropology
General Biology —
1 Course
Science-major level preferred with lab; cellular biology recommended.
General Chemistry —
1 Course
Science-major level preferred with lab.
Physics —
1 Course
Must include mechanics.
Mathematics —
1 Course
Must be statistics (preferred) or college algebra.
Psychology —
1 Course
Any general psychology course 100-level or higher
Humanities —
1 Course
Courses in the areas of art, religion, philosophy, literature, music, and other related fields will satisfy this requirement.
Social Science —
1 Course
Any course from the following disciplines: psychology, public health, sociology, anthropology
A grade of C or better is required for all prerequisite coursework. Candidates may apply while in progress.
Documents and Essays
Applicants are required to submit essays to be considered for admission. Essays provide applicants the opportunity to share their background, abilities, interests and experiences, and how these will make them a good candidate for the programs at NUNM. Applicants should share some personal experiences and genuine thoughts in their essays. Explaining why you are applying to NUNM and how you would enrich that community is also helpful. The Admissions Committee will look for writing ability, as well as content when reading the essays.
Required Documents and Essays for the DAcCHM/MScGH Program
Resume
A chronological resume of work, educational, and volunteer experience. Include work experience, internships, research, activities, publications, community service, and any honors/awards received.
Personal Statement
Please write a 2–3 page personal statement, which should include: the development of your decision to become a naturopathic physician or CCM practitioner; recent steps taken to further explore this career path; qualities and/or attributes you might bring to NUNM that might distinguish you from other applicants.
(double spaced)
DAcCHM #1
Please discuss the specific factors that drew you to apply to the DAcCHM Classical Chinese Medicine program at NUNM.
MScGH Personal Statement
Please share what interests you about this program, why you believe you’re a good match for the program, and what you hope to do in the future with this degree.
(2000 words max, double spaced)
* The prices listed above reflect an estimate based on the 2023-2024 academic year.
** Click the dollar amount to see an itemized list of fees for the DAcCHM program.
The above tuition numbers reflect only the cost of the primary program (Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine). Concurrent degree plans are established individually and each term is priced accordingly. The credit hour fee is consistent across all graduate programs.
Total DAcCHM Degree Credits
Core program credits
256.25
Elective credits
10
Total required credits
266.25
Total MScGH Degree Credits
Core program credits
50
Elective credits
12
Total required credits
62
DAcCHM/MScN
Admissions Requirements for DAcCHM/MScN
Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university or its foreign equivalent
A GPA of 3.0 or higher (strongly recommended)
Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisite courses are designed to ensure entering students are academically prepared for the curriculum of the program. Prerequisite courses may be substituted with comparable coursework if the learning objectives are met at the determination of the Admissions Committee, utilizing the evaluation procedures set by that committee.
General Biology
1
Science-major level preferred with lab; cellular biology recommended.
General Chemistry
1
Science-major level preferred with lab.
Physics
1
Must include mechanics.
Mathematics
1
Algebra or Statistics preferred.
Psychology
1
Any general psychology course 100-level or higher
Humanities
1
Courses in the areas of art, religion, philosophy, literature, music, and other related fields will satisfy this requirement.
General Biology —
1 Course
Science-major level preferred with lab; cellular biology recommended.
General Chemistry —
1 Course
Science-major level preferred with lab.
Physics —
1 Course
Must include mechanics.
Mathematics —
1 Course
Algebra or Statistics preferred.
Psychology —
1 Course
Any general psychology course 100-level or higher
Humanities —
1 Course
Courses in the areas of art, religion, philosophy, literature, music, and other related fields will satisfy this requirement.
A grade of C or better is required for all prerequisite coursework. Candidates may apply while in progress.
Documents and Essays
Applicants are required to submit essays to be considered for admission. Essays provide applicants the opportunity to share their background, abilities, interests and experiences, and how these will make them a good candidate for the programs at NUNM. Applicants should share some personal experiences and genuine thoughts in their essays. Explaining why you are applying to NUNM and how you would enrich that community is also helpful. The Admissions Committee will look for writing ability, as well as content when reading the essays.
Required Documents and Essays for the DAcCHM/MScN Program
Resume
A chronological resume of work, educational, and volunteer experience. Include work experience, internships, research, activities, publications, community service, and any honors/awards received.
Personal Statement
Please write a 2–3 page personal statement, which should include: the development of your decision to become a naturopathic physician or CCM practitioner; recent steps taken to further explore this career path; qualities and/or attributes you might bring to NUNM that might distinguish you from other applicants.
(double spaced)
DAcCHM #1
Please discuss the specific factors that drew you to apply to the DAcCHM Classical Chinese Medicine program at NUNM.
MScN: Career Goals
Speaking to your background in nutrition, interests, and philosophy around nutrition, please share how you plan to use nutrition in your career.
(maximum of 1,600 words, double spaced)
* The prices listed above reflect an estimate based on the 2023-2024 academic year.
** Click the dollar amount to see an itemized list of fees for the DAcCHM program.
The above tuition numbers reflect only the cost of the primary program (Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine). Concurrent degree plans are established individually and each term is priced accordingly. The credit hour fee is consistent across all graduate programs.
Total DAcCHM Degree Credits
Core program credits
256.25
Elective credits
10
Total required credits
266.25
Total MScN Degree Credits
Core program credits
52
Elective credits
12
Total required credits
64
DAcCHM/MSCR
Admissions Requirements for DAcCHM/MSCR
Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university or its foreign equivalent
A GPA of 3.0 or higher (strongly recommended)
Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisite courses are designed to ensure entering students are academically prepared for the curriculum of the program. Prerequisite courses may be substituted with comparable coursework if the learning objectives are met at the determination of the Admissions Committee, utilizing the evaluation procedures set by that committee.
General Biology
1
Science-major level preferred with lab.
General Chemistry
2
Science-major level preferred with lab.
Physics
1
Must include mechanics.
Mathematics
2
Must be pre-calculus, calculus 1, or statistics.
English Composition
1
Psychology
1
Any general psychology course 100-level or higher
Humanities
1
Courses in the areas of art, religion, philosophy, literature, music, and other related fields will satisfy this requirement.
Social Science
1
Any course from the following disciplines: psychology, public health, sociology, anthropology
General Biology —
1 Course
Science-major level preferred with lab.
General Chemistry —
2 Courses
Science-major level preferred with lab.
Physics —
1 Course
Must include mechanics.
Mathematics —
2 Courses
Must be pre-calculus, calculus 1, or statistics.
English Composition —
1 Course
Psychology —
1 Course
Any general psychology course 100-level or higher
Humanities —
1 Course
Courses in the areas of art, religion, philosophy, literature, music, and other related fields will satisfy this requirement.
Social Science —
1 Course
Any course from the following disciplines: psychology, public health, sociology, anthropology
A grade of C or better is required for all prerequisite coursework. Candidates may apply while in progress.
Documents and Essays
Applicants are required to submit essays to be considered for admission. Essays provide applicants the opportunity to share their background, abilities, interests and experiences, and how these will make them a good candidate for the programs at NUNM. Applicants should share some personal experiences and genuine thoughts in their essays. Explaining why you are applying to NUNM and how you would enrich that community is also helpful. The Admissions Committee will look for writing ability, as well as content when reading the essays.
Required Documents and Essays for the DAcCHM/MSCR Program
Resume
A chronological resume of work, educational, and volunteer experience. Include work experience, internships, research, activities, publications, community service, and any honors/awards received.
Personal Statement
Please write a 2–3 page personal statement, which should include: the development of your decision to become a naturopathic physician or CCM practitioner; recent steps taken to further explore this career path; qualities and/or attributes you might bring to NUNM that might distinguish you from other applicants.
(double spaced)
DAcCHM #1
Please discuss the specific factors that drew you to apply to the DAcCHM Classical Chinese Medicine program at NUNM.
MSCR: Background and Goals
Please speak to your career goals, background in research or research-related interests, and what interests you about integrative medicine research.
(maximum of 1,600 words, double spaced)
* The prices listed above reflect an estimate based on the 2023-2024 academic year.
** Click the dollar amount to see an itemized list of fees for the DAcCHM program.
The above tuition numbers reflect only the cost of the primary program (Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine). Concurrent degree plans are established individually and each term is priced accordingly. The credit hour fee is consistent across all graduate programs.