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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)
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. The Endeavour College of Natural Health Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture) degree is accredited by the Chinese Medicine Registration Board (CMRB).
Course Structure
Course Structure - Queensland and South Australia Campuses
| Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture) BHSc (ACU) | |||||||
| 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 *Overseas study option available | |||||||
| 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 | |||||||
| 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.
Course Structure - Victoria Campuses
| Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture) BHSc (ACU) | |||||||
| Year One: Semester One | |||||||
| Code | Subject | Prerequisites | Austudy % | ||||
| FCH | Foundations of Chemistry | Nil | 16.7 | ||||
| FHUB | Foundations of Human Biology | Nil | 18.3 | ||||
| ICM | Introduction to Chinese Medicine | Nil | 11.7 | ||||
| PL1 | Point Location 1 | Nil | 13.3 | ||||
| FCL | Foundations of Chinese Language | Nil | 11.7 | ||||
| HPNM | History & Philosophy of Natural Medicine | Nil | 11.7 | ||||
| MSA | Musculoskeletal Anatomy | Nil | 16.7 | ||||
| Year One: Semester Two | |||||||
| BIO | Biochemistry | FCH | 16.7 | ||||
| HUB1 | Human Biology 1 | FHUB | 18.3 | ||||
| IPP | Introduction to Professional Practice | Nil | 11.7 | ||||
| SPR | Safe Practices | Nil | 11.7 | ||||
| HDP1 | Human Disease Processes 1 | FCH/FHUB | 16.7 | ||||
| ICP | Introduction to Chinese Pathology | ICM | 11.7 | ||||
| PL2 | Point Location 2 | PL1 | 13.3 | ||||
| Year Two: Semester Three | |||||||
| ATH1 | Acupuncture Therapeutics 1 | ICP/PL2 | 12.3 | ||||
| CMP1 | Chinese Medical Pathology 1 | ICP | 14 | ||||
| CMP 2 | Chinese Medical Pathology 2 | ICP/CMP1 | 14 | ||||
| FCC | Foundations of Communication & Counselling | Nil | 14 | ||||
| HUB2 | Human Biology 2 | FHUB | 19.3 | ||||
| CRS | Critical Research Skills | Nil | 12.3 | ||||
| HDP2 | Human Disease Processes 2 | DP1/BIO/HUB1 | 14 | ||||
| Year Two: Semester Four | |||||||
| ACLS1 | Acupuncture Clinical Studies 1 | ATH1/CMP1/CMP2/IPP/SPR | 15.1 | ||||
| CEX | Clinical Examination | HDP1/HUB1/HUB2 | 13.2 | ||||
| HDP3 | Human Disease Processes 3 | BIO/HDP1/HUB1/HUB2 | 15.1 | ||||
| DD1 | Differential Diagnosis 1 | CMP2 | 15.1 | ||||
| DD2 | Differential Diagnosis 2 | DD1/CMP2 | 15.1 | ||||
| ATH2 | Acupuncture Therapeutics 2 | ATH1/CMP2 | 13.2 | ||||
| CHD | Chinese Dietetics | ICP | 13.2 | ||||
| Year Three: Semester Five | |||||||
| ACLS2 | Acupuncture Clinical Studies 2 | ACLS1/ATH2/CEX/CHD/DD2/HDP3 | 18 | ||||
| CHB1 | Chinese Herbal Medicine 1 | CMP1 | 13.1 | ||||
| HDP4 | Human Disease Processes 4 | HDP2/HDP3 | 13.1 | ||||
| PHAR | Pharmacology | BIO/HDP1/HUB1/HUB2 | 11.5 | ||||
| ACLS3 | Acupuncture Clinical Studies 3 | ACLS1/ATH2/CEX/CHD/DD2/HDP3 | 18 | ||||
| DD3 | Differential Diagnosis 3 | DD2 | 13.1 | ||||
| NU1 | Nutrition 1 | FCH/FHUB | 13.1 | ||||
| Year Three: Semester Six | |||||||
| ACLS4 | Acupuncture Clinical Studies 4 | ACLS2/ACLS3/DD3/HDP4 | 18.6 | ||||
| CET | Chinese Exercise Therapy | Nil | 11.9 | ||||
| DD4 | Differential Diagnosis 4 | DD3 | 13.6 | ||||
| NU2 | Nutrition 2 | BIO/HUB1/NU1 | 13.6 | ||||
| ACLS5 | Acupuncture Clinical Studies 5 | ACLS2/ACLS3/DD3/HDP4 | 18.6 | ||||
| CHB2 | Chinese Herbal Medicine 2 | CHB1 | 11.9 | ||||
| EPR | Establish a Practice | IPP | 11.9 | ||||
| Year Four: Semester Seven | |||||||
| ACLS6 | Acupuncture Clinical Studies 6 | ACLS4/ACLS5/CHB2/CHD/EPR | 21.2 | ||||
| ACLW1 | Advanced TCM Clinical Workshop 1 | ACLS 4-5/CHB2 | 15.4 | ||||
| ACLS7 | Acupuncture Clinical Studies 7 | ACLS4/ACLS5/CHB2/CHD/EPR | 21.2 | ||||
| CEPH | Community Education & Public Health | Nil | 12.5 | ||||
| HITCM | History of Ideas in Traditional Chinese Medicine | ACLS1/DD3 | 15.4 | ||||
| EL | Elective | Nil | 13.5 | ||||
| Year Four: Semester Eight | |||||||
| ACLS8 | Acupuncture Clinical Studies 8 | ACLS6/ACLS7/ACLW1 | 19.6 | ||||
| ACLS9 | Acupuncture Clinical Studies 9 | ACLS6/ACLS7/ACLW1 | 19.6 | ||||
| ACLS10 | Acupuncture Clinical Studies 10 | ACLS6/ACLS7/ACLW1 | 19.6 | ||||
| APCW | Acupuncture Practical Clinical Workshop | ACLS5/ATH2 | 14.3 | ||||
| ACLW2 | Advanced TCM Clinical Workshop 2 | ACLW1/CHB2 | 14.3 | ||||
| EL | Elective | Nil | 13.5 | ||||
| Electives | |||||||
| ISH | Interpersonal Skills of the Helper | FCC | |||||
| FMAS | Foundations of Massage | Nil | |||||
| TCMRM1 | Traditional Chinese Medicine Remedial Massage 1 | Nil | |||||
| TCMRM2 | Traditional Chinese Medicine Remedial Massage 2 | TCMRM1 | |||||
| IN | Internship – Guangxi* | ||||||