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Acupuncture graduates usually enter clinical practice, either alone or as a partner in a healthcare clinic.
Other employment opportunities include: research, social welfare and in community health service settings.
Acupuncture
Overview
The ancient practice of acupuncture is a modality integrated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The basis of Chinese philosophy and acupuncture theory is holistic, and acknowledges the existence of a primary motivating force behind all life and the relationship between the individual and the environment. The acupuncturist aims to restore the harmonious flow of energy by influencing the acupuncture points with needles, lasers, or finger pressure. The channels of energy (meridians) flow through the body, forming a complex network.
Traditional Chinese Medicine, usually practiced alongside acupuncture, uses Chinese herbs and traditional medicines to stimulate and strengthen the body's natural healing mechanisms and restore balance.
Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture) QLD, VIC & SA
This course provides graduates with the knowledge and skills to become successful acupuncture practitioners. As well as foundation studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the course includes appropriate Western medical sciences, interpersonal skills, research methodology, in-depth studies of clinical acupuncture, and elective units on topics of special interest.
An Overseas Study Option is also available, allowing students to study in China at the Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medical University. Students attend the Nanning campus for six weeks of intensive clinic work in the University's teaching hospital. This Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture) degree is accredited by the Chinese Medicine Registration Board (CMRB).
Students are advised that AACMA stipulates that, if students enrol in
online learning subjects, AACMA has approved six (6) subjects in the
course for online delivery, as approved by the Office of Higher
Education (OHE - Queensland). Furthermore AACMA has a policy that
where students complete more than 12.5% of their studies by distance or
on-line mode or via recognition of prior learning, graduates would be
classed as non-routine applicants by AACMA, which means that the
process of application for registration with AACMA would take longer,
and graduates may be required to undergo an examination process.
Please note that if students’ online learning subjects do not exceed
the six (6) units approved by the OHE and the total number of
subjects completed by distance or on-line or via recognition of prior
learning are less than or equal to 12.5% of their course then students
are eligible for accreditation with AACMA on completion of their course.
| Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture) BHSc (ACU) – Course Structure QLD, VIC & SA | |||||||
| Year One: Semester One | |||||||
| Code | Subject | Prerequisites | Austudy % | ||||
| FCC | Foundations of Communication and Counselling | Nil | 13 | ||||
| ATCM | Anatomy for TCM Students | Nil | 13 | ||||
| ACT | Acupuncture Channel Theory | Nil | 13 | ||||
| FCL | Foundations of Chinese Language | Nil | 13 | ||||
| HBS1 | Human Biological Science 1* | Nil | 25 | ||||
| FTCM | Foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine* | Nil | 25 | ||||
| Year One: Semester Two | |||||||
| FEM | Foundations of Eclectic Medicine | Nil | 13 | ||||
| TCMAD | TCM Assessment and Differentiation | FTCM | 25 | ||||
| HBS2 | Human Biological Science 2* | HBS1 | 25 | ||||
| PL | Point Location* | ACT/ATCM | 25 | ||||
| CMACLS1 | Chinese Medicine – Acupuncture Clinical Studies 1 | Nil | 13 | ||||
| Year Two: Semester Three | |||||||
| TNT1 | Tui Na Therapeutics 1 | PL | 13 | ||||
| AT1 | Acupuncture Therapeutics 1 | PL/FTCM/TCMAD | 13 | ||||
| BCT | Biochemistry for Complementary Therapists | Nil | 13 | ||||
| HCS1 | Human Clinical Science 1* | HBS1-2 | 25 | ||||
| PCP | Point Classification and Prescription | PL/TCMAD | 13 | ||||
| CHB | Chinese Herbal Medicine | FTCM/TCMAD | 13 | ||||
| CMACLS2 | Chinese Medicine – Acupuncture Clinical Studies 2 | CMACLS1 | 13 | ||||
| Year Two: Semester Four | |||||||
| AT2 | Acupuncture Therapeutics 2 | AT1 | 13 | ||||
| HCS2 | Human Clinical Science 2 | HCS1 | 13 | ||||
| ISH | Interpersonal Skills of the Helper | FCC | 13 | ||||
| CCM1 | Chinese Clinical Medicine 1 | PCP/TNT1/CHB | 13 | ||||
| CCM2 | Chinese Clinical Medicine 2* | PCP/CHB | 25 | ||||
| CMACL3 | Chinese Medicine – Acupuncture Clinical Studies 3 | CMACLS2, AT1 | 13 | ||||
| CHF | Chinese Herbal Formulae | CHB | 13 | ||||
| Year Three: Semester Five | |||||||
| TNT2 | Tui Na Therapeutics 2 | TNT1/TCMAD | 13 | ||||
| CEX | Clinical Examination | HCS1 | 13 | ||||
| CCM3 | Chinese Clinical Medicine 3 | CCM2 | 13 | ||||
| PHAR | Pharmacology | HBS1-2/BCT | 13 | ||||
| HDTCM | History & Development of TCM | CCM1-2/CMACLS3 | 13 | ||||
| HCS3 | Human Clinical Science 3 | HCS2 | 13 | ||||
| CMACLS4 | Chinese Medicine – Acupuncture Clinical Studies 4* | AT2/CMACLS3 | 25 | ||||
| Year Three: Semester Six | * Overseas study opportunity available.|||||||
| CCM4 | Chinese Clinical Medicine 4 | CCM2 | 13 | ||||
| CRS | Critical Research Skills | Nil | 13 | ||||
| CMTCLS1 | Chinese Medicine – Tui Na Clinical Studies 1 | *TNT1-2/CMACLS-3 | 25 | ||||
| CMACLS5 | Chinese Medicine – Acupuncture Clinical Studies 5*** | CCM1-3/CMACLS4/CEX/HCS1-2 | 50 | ||||
| Year Four: Semester Seven | |||||||
| CCM5 | Chinese Clinical Medicine 5 | CCM2 | 13 | ||||
| TCMR1 | TCM Research 1 | CRS/CCM2/HCS3/CMACLS5 | 13 | ||||
| CHD | Chinese Dietetics | CHB/FTCM/TCMAD | 13 | ||||
| CMTCLS2 | Chinese Medicine – Tui Na Clinical Studies 2* | HCS1-2/CMTCLS1 | 25 | ||||
| CMACLS6 | Chinese Medicine – Acupuncture Clinical Studies 6** | CMACLS5 | 38 | ||||
| Year Four: Semester Eight | |||||||
| EMP | Establishing & Managing Professional Practice | Nil | 13 | ||||
| CEPH | Community Education & Public Health | Nil | 13 | ||||
| TCMR2 | TCM Research 2 | TCMR1 | 13 | ||||
| APCW | Acupuncture Practical Clinical Workshop 3 | CMACLS6 | 13 | ||||
| CET | Chinese Exercise Therapy | FTCM/TCMAD | 13 | ||||
| CMACLS7 | Chinese Medicine – Acupuncture Clinical Studies 7** | CMACLS6/CMTCLS2 | 38 | ||||
Course Duration 4 years full time or equivalent part-time.
Study Mode On campus only.
Intake Two semester intakes yearly (late February and early August).
Semesters are 13 weeks long. Most subjects are 3 hours in duration once per week with 39 contact hours and 2 credit points.
* These subjects meet two times per week for 3 hours with 78 total contact hours and 4 credit points.
** These subjects meet 9 hours per week or 117 total contact hours and 6 credit points.
*** This subject meets12 hours per week, 156 total contact hours and 8 credit points.