Oriental Medicine Program

The College’s Oriental Medicine program combines rigorous academic course work with broad clinical experiences, leading to a Master of Science degree in Oriental Medicine combined with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition (TCM).

Students in the Oriental Medicine program study various forms of acupuncture, traditional herbs and formulas, as well as, nutrition and Chinese food therapy. They are introduced to new clinical protocols, based firmly upon the principles of TCM that combine nutritional supplements with herbal formulas. Students also learn which foods to recommend and which to avoid based upon the TCM pattern and presenting complaint and traditional constitutions.
Education focuses on the “Zang Fu” system of physiology, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment strategy. Traditional pulse and tongue diagnosis aid the graduate in formulating and comprehensive treatment plan. This is the style taught today, in China, at Universities of Chinese Medicine and practiced in their affiliated teaching hospitals.

MWC’s clinics provide the opportunity to rotate through a variety of unique clinical settings where interns experience the approach of many different practitioners. Interns at MWC treat a wide range of conditions and gain thorough, hands-on experience in acupuncture and the other physical modalities of Oriental healing, such as, Tui Na massage, moxibustion, and cupping. They also gain clinical experience making healthy eating recommendations and suggesting specific healing foods based upon their energetic characteristics and recommending nutrition supplements base on TCM concepts. The nutrition component in the program is integrated in the Oriental Medicine courses. Internship is designed to build knowledge and skills and to fine-tune patient/healer sensitivities. MWC delivered over 14,000 individual treatments in 2011. Internship begins in the very beginning of the education at the college and continues during the entire enrollment. After completing the program, graduates are confident in their ability as Oriental Medical Practitioners to address the full spectrum of conditions seen in practice.

The total hours in the Oriental Medicine program are 199.8 quarter credit hours, or 2,826 clock hours. Additional internship hours and courses may be needed for licensure in some states. However graduate are qualified for licensure in the Midwest.

Minimum completion time for the Oriental Medicine program is 36 months (4 academic years). To complete in the minimum time frame, students attend classes on Saturday and a minimum of two evenings per week. Students have up to six and a half years to complete the program on a part-time basis.

Graduates of the Midwest College’s Oriental Medicine Program earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition (TCM) granted simultaneously with the Master of Science degree in Oriental Medicine. Graduates are qualified to sit all examinations given by the NCCAOM, and meet the requirements for a license in Illinois, Wisconsin and many other states.

Graduates of the Midwest College’s Acupuncture program receive Master’s level certification. They are qualified to sit for the examinations given by the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) which lead to Acupuncture Certification and meet the requirements for a license in Illinois, Wisconsin and many other states.

ORIENTAL MEDICINE PROGRAM (CIP 51.3102 and 51.3302)
Students enrolled in the Oriental Medicine program are first year or continuing graduate students for Title IV funding purposes. They are eligible for up to $20,500 per year (9 academic months) of Direct Loans. Students in the Oriental Medicine program are also eligible for the Grad PLUS loan. PLUS loans have no annual or aggregate borrowing limits (other than cost of attendance less other financial aid received). Interest rates are higher for PLUS loans than Direct Loans and require a credit check. Student must exhaust Direct Loan eligibility before applying for PLUS loans.
Oriental Medicine Program Costs
$2,250.00 Typical program costs for books and supplies
$58,608.00 Total program academic tuition (twelve quarters)
$265.00 Mandatory fees (Application and Graduation Fees)
$58,873.00 Total minimum program cost including mandatory fees for completing within normal time
$82,000.00 Federal guaranteed loans available for those who qualify
$68,893 Median Title IV loan debt incurred by students who completed the program (based on 2006-2009 graduates).
$0 Median Private loan debt incurred by students who completed the program (based on 2006-2009 graduates).
$0 Median Institutional loan debt incurred by students who completed the program (based on 2006-2009 graduates).
Oriental Medicine/B.S. Nutrition Graduates
Seventy-seven percent (77%) of our graduates are in practice*. Another 4% have active license, and the remaining 19% we have not been able to contact to confirm their status. Graduates of our programs work in hospitals, medical groups and in private practice. They are on the faculty of other schools, the Boards of professional associations, state and national agencies, and are on the staff of hospitals across the country.
Graduation Rates % Within 2.5 years % Within 3.0 years % Within 3.5 years % Within 4.0 years
2006-2007 39.68% 65.08% 87.30% 93.65%
2007-2008 47.54% 65.57% 72.13% 81.97%
2008-2009 49.30% 67.61% 83.10% 88.73%
2009-2010 52.83% 71.70% 83.02% 90.57%
Oriental Medicine/B.S. Nutrition Career Outlook
The demand for acupuncturists will grow well into the future. The US Department of Labor- Bureau of Labor Statistics projections show that many health care, including acupuncturist, professions will increase much faster than the average for all occupations.
Acupuncturist Salaries
According to O*NET Online Acupuncturists (SOC Code 29-1199.01) have a 7%-13% projected growth rate with a mean hourly wage of $31.36 and a mean annual wage of $65,220. Currently 49,000 persons are employed as acupuncturists. NOTE: Although the US Department of Labor lists the mean annual wage at $65,220, we would like to caution students that as a self employed individual it takes time to build a practice and they may earn up to that annual wage.

*In practice means, the college through phone surveys, web searches, and personal contact have determined that the graduates are practicing Acupuncture or Oriental Medicine.

This course is a practical study of the internal and external causes of disease within the Eastern medical model. A clear understanding of 'TCM pathologies' is needed in order to apply the sophisticated system of Oriental Medicine based on sign and symptom patterns.
This course consists of procedures of physical and neurological examination; providing an understanding of the methods used in making physical diagnosis.
Courses begin with a review of the normal physiological  processes and then discuss how these are altered by disease.  Students will be able to recognize pathological indicators and biochemical pathways to better correlate the basic science of pathology with physical diagnosis and disorders related to nutrition.
Students gain the foundation in western physiology needed to understand the biochemical processes and nutritional needs of the human body related to health and disease. Information in this class is intrinsic to understanding the foundations of nutrition.
This directed learning paper develops additional competencies in basic sciences. Five pathological disorders from different systems are assigned.
This class concentrates on the processes involved with taking in and utilizing food substances by which growth, repair and maintenance of activities in the body as a whole or in any of its parts are accomplished. This includes ingestion, digestion, absorption and metabolism, as well as, basic nutritional needs and the use of vitamins, minerals and supplements.
This class includes topics in neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. Mechanisms of the nervous system are covered as related to the scientific basis of Acupuncture and its application to the treatment of disease. Students in this class gain the ability to explain the mechanisms of Acupuncture in modern medical terms. Communication skills between Acupuncturists and Medical professionals are stressed.
Students continue to practice needle insertion with combinations of points that would be used in treatment.  There is emphasis on safety with difficult points and more complex point prescriptions.
Students review the anatomical structures through which needles pass at progressive depths of the body.  This includes proper insertion, angle, depth, duration and withdrawl of needles.
At the beginning of the second year, students begin developing needle insertion skills. Students receive intensive instruction in techniques of clean needle insertion as approved by current national standards.
This course helps students develop their skills in organization and analysis of presenting symptoms.  The clinic review class includes evaluation of the physical and psychological components of an illness and specific treatment strategies.
This class covers the basis of treatment using the eight principle and secondary vessel pathology. Students learn to formulate a treatment using the information gathered from pulse and tongue diagnosis. Practical use of classical point categories such as antique points, influential points and windows of the sky points in the treatment of eight principle disease patterns will be covered.
It is in this class that the prior three quarter of TCM theory begin to flower and faculty can see the "light bulb go on", as students get a sense of how well the TCM theory fits together.  At this point, students are beginning their next phase of clinic and now have responsibility of using this information in a clinical setting.
A continuation of Anatomy 1, this course is an in-depth study of visceral structure and physiologic function of the human body.
This course is an in-depth study of the somatic structure of the human body: skeletal, muscular, ligamentous, and an introduction to the peripheral nerves. There is attention given to the palpatory anatomy that will be needed for Point Location and Needle Technique classes.
In this course, students are oriented to the procedures and protocol needed to successfully complete internship. Physical assessment skills needed in the practice of Oriental Medicine are covered including: vital signs, temperature, pulse, and blood pressure. Standards of history taking, SOAP noting and unique documentation found in TCM clinical records are part of this course.
This course includes discussion that brings up pertinent issues in healthcare practice and examines the approach taken by a counselor. It focuses on ethical decision-making and the patient practitioner relationship.
The directed learning paper traces the development of Chinese medicine including: the classics, historical figures and periods, and a discussion of important theoretical developments. It gives students a respect for the ancient traditions from which the modern, clinical practice of TCM developed.
The moral and ethical principles that are the core of the teachings of Confucius and Lao Tzu are taught in a manner that can be applied in present day. The influence of these schools on the development of Chinese medicine is stressed in this course.
This course continues massage techniques to regions of the body for local and systemic problem. Good Tui Na technique combined with accessory techniques is an important adjunct to an acupuncture practice.
Tui Na is a form of Chinese massage that includes different hand techniques applied to specific areas of the body. Students will gain proficiency in manipulation skill and sensitivity to energy balancing as they practice techniques in class and apply them in clinic.
Students will attend lectures, demonstrate and practice in the traditional and modern accessory techniques of Oriental Medicine: moxibustion, magnets, guasha, cupping and auricular techniques.
In this course, students will use charts, models and their fellow students as subjects to locate and mark the most important acupuncture points. Students will spend six quarters developing the sensitivity needed to achieve the Qi sensation required for effective treatment.
In this course, students will use charts, models and their fellow students as subjects to locate and mark the most important acupuncture points. Students will spend six quarters developing the sensitivity needed to achieve the Qi sensation required for effective treatment.
This course further studies the eight principle theory as it applies to the pathology of the five phases, the Zang Fu organs and the triple burner.
The rigorous clinic –based educational experience is designed to take classroom learning and first year theory so have students see the clinical application of concepts during their internship activities and experiences.
This is the first class in Chinese medical theory and introduces students to the language and refinement found in Midwest’s academic program. This class will also establish the foundation from which student’s understandings will grow.