Course Description

The Doctor of Oriental Medicine degree program is made up of three components consisting of:

  • Nine Core courses,
  • A comprehensive examination and
  • The dissertation project.

The program is designed to be taken at the students own pace.  Each of the core courses is open for 10 weeks, but students may complete them in a shorter period.

Upon completion of the core courses, the student takes the comprehensive examination which upon registration will also be open for 10 weeks.  This is an open book essay exam.  The student will be sent a set of questions with instructions.

The Dissertation phase includes two courses; the Dissertation Proposal which is designed to guide the student in preparing the dissertation proposal, and the Dissertation Project which covers the actual preparation and writing of the dissertation.  

Upon completion, submission and acceptance of the dissertation the student is scheduled to Defend the dissertation.

Course Description / Schedule

CORE COURSES

There are nine core courses of 16 hours each (1 credit) split into three groups over 3 terms for a total of 9 credits (144 hours).

Each course consists of 8 classes of 2 hours duration plus a final exam..   Each course can be taken over a period of 10 weeks.  Students may elect to take the courses over a shorter period of time.

The student usually takes three courses per term, but may accelerate their schedule and continue onto the next set of classes once the first set is completed.

Section One

Core Courses Program

This is the current program syllabus. Please note that additional courses may be added and current classes may be deferred depending on the availability of faculty and resource materials.  Occasionally courses may be added to this list that reflects current and urgent issues in the medical field. The student will be allowed to select nine courses for completion from this list.

Group One

OMD 601: Muscular-Skeletal Problems (1 credit)

1.An overview of the fundamentals of treating Muscular-Skeletal Problems.
2. Neck problems including traumatic injuries and osteoarthritis.
3. Lower back pain caused by overexertion and traumatic injuries.
4. Knee including tendons, ligaments.
5. Shoulder problems caused by trauma and sports.
6. Hip issues.
7. Gouty arthritis: causes and treatment.
8. Radiculitis and treatment of nerve impingement.

9. Final Exam

OMD 602: Hormones and Their Affects on the Body (1 credit)

  1. Menopause/post-menopause and how to treat the discomfort. Perimenopause, including the well-known symptoms of this hormonal transitionary time.
    2. Andropause and erectile disorder.
    3. Menarche and the issues that arise from little or no hormones in the body . Pros and cons of hormone replacement.
    4. Premenstrual syndrome and how to minimize and treat this uncomfortable problem.
    5. Thyroid issues including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
    6. Problems of the adrenal glands
    7. Female and Male Fertility
    8. Summary and Final Exam

OMD 603: Imbalances and Illness of the Organs (1 credit)

1. Heart, Vascular issues and Hypertension
2. Lungs, pneumonia, asthma, and COPD
3. Liver/Gallbladder
4. Stomach/intestines
5. Spleen/pancreas
6. Kidneys/bladder
7. Brain and spine
8. Summary and final exam

Group Two.

OMD 604: Zhang/Fu and Five Elements of the Five Conditions (1 credit)

1. The Eight Conditions – Yin/Yang, Interior/Exterior, Hot /Cold and deficiency and excess.
2. Five Elements
3. Etiology according to TCM
4. Zang-Fu Syndromes
5. Diagnostic methods of TCM – Inspection and palpation, root and branch.
6. Zheng and Xie Qi and resistance to disease.
7. Treatment of the patient from a seasonal perspective or personal characteristics of the patient.
8. Summary and final exam

OMD 605: Infectious Diseases (1 credit)

1. An overview of various infectious diseases and the body defenses. As these defense mechanisms weaken it allows the infective agents to enter and multiply.
2. Viral diseases—the nature of viral types and life cycle. Disease manifestations caused by viral infections and beyond to prions diseases.
3. Bacterial Infections—Bacterial classes and categories. How antibiotics, herbal and pharmaceuticals are used.
4. Fungal Diseases—the nature, growth, and treatment of fungal diseases.
5. Pulmonary infections—Types and nature of respiratory infections.
6. Infections of the skin, the largest organ. The separation between inside and outside the skin, subject to many types and stages of infections.
7. Parasites—Worms, amoebas, and flagellates of the intestinal tract.
8. Summary and final exam

OMD 606:   Western Herbs-Singular and Formulas (1 credit)

1. The world of vitamins (1)
2. The world of vitamins (2)
3. Minerals—our crystal salts and bony structure
4. The essential amino acids (1)
5. The essential amino acids (2)
6. The phosphate supplements and co-enzymes
7. Herbal extracts—the newest supplements
8. Summary and final exam

Group Three.

OMD 607: Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (1 credit)

1. The mind/body interface—the brain and its influences.
2. Neurotransmitters—Acetylcholine to Z-peptides
3. Stress, anxiety, and depression
4. Psychoses and schizophrenia
5. The autistic spectrum disorders
6. The third brain—the influence of our gut and micro-organisms on thought and behavior.
7. Psychological evolution as a biological imperative—evolve or perish.
8. Summary and final exam

OMD 608: Mind-Body and Psychology Problems (1 credit)                                                                           The Electro-Magnetic Laser Body and How It Affects Your Practice

  1. Theories of Chi
  2. Nature of Blood Circulation
  3. Raising Chi: for practitioner & patient
  4. Laser light and emotional center
  5. EM energy and Chi Gong
  6. Chi and breath
  7. Chi and depression
  8. Massage techniques
  9. Patient’s contribution & cooperation
  10. practice
  11. 11)Addressing patients with appropriate customized approaches
  12. 12)Applications:  i.e. Discouragement, shock, sexual harassment, loss of libido.

OMD 609: Practice Management and Running a Business for Practitioners (1 credit)

1. Most important registrations that you need to get!
2. How to get into Insurance Networks
3. The best ways to get referrals from MDs & Chiros
4. Benefits and liabilities in being a Sole Proprietor
5. How to market a new medical practice
6. CPT codes and ICD 10 codes you must understand
7. Be a Great Acupuncturist Blogger
8. Summary and final examination

Section Two

Comprehensive Examination Program

  1. Comprehensive Examination

EXM 980: Comprehensive Examination. (2 credits)

Taken following the completion of the doctoral tutorials and prior to undertaking the dissertation proposal.  This is an open book examination consisting of a set of essay questions based on course content. 

Section Three

Dissertation Program

  1. Dissertation

The activities associated with the dissertation are broken into 3 segments:

  1. RES 985: Dissertation Proposal (4 credits)

This program element guides students through the formal research proposal process for their dissertations, including the development of the research methodology, data gathering device, and data analysis techniques.

  1. RES 990: Dissertation Project (8 credits)

The dissertation will demonstrate mastery of the topic and an original contribution to the field. The project may take any of several forms, depending on the topic. This may be quantitative or qualitative research, literature review and meta analysis, participatory action research, or a major project demonstrating excellence.

  1. EXM 995: Oral Defense of Dissertation (2 credits)

This examination is an oral defense of the doctoral dissertation by the student, conducted by the doctoral committee following the reading of the dissertation manuscript.