Oriental Medicine, or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is an ancient form of healing that encompasses Acupuncture, Bodywork and Herbal Medicine. Dating back over 5,000 years, the philosophy behind this practice revolves around the body’s state of balance. If an individual is ill, mentally or physically, Oriental Medicine Physicians examine the symptoms to locate signs of disharmony within the body.
Prior to 1980, a comprehensive educational system was lacking for students looking to practice Oriental Medicine. However, over the past two decades, the American public’s increasing interest in natural remedies has propelled the establishment of schools and degree programs in Oriental Medicine. According to the 2007 NIH, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine study, 17.6 million Americans had acupuncture treatments that year and approximately 38% of adults use some form of alternative medicine, including herbs.
With the steadily increasing popularity of Oriental Medicine in the United States, the educational system for students has also grown and the quality of education can be the determining factor of success for an Oriental Medicine physician.
One exemplary school is the Graduate School of Oriental Medicine at New York College of Health Professions, which offers a ten-trimester, 185-credit program from which successful students graduate with a combined Bachelor of Professional Studies/Masters of Science in Health Science/Oriental Medicine. To ensure that their students are ready for this competitive field, the curriculum includes Western and Eastern health sciences and philosophy, nutrition, diagnostic techniques, acupuncture, as well as Yoga, T’ai Chi Chuan and Qi Gong. All students are also required to do a clinical internship at one of the College’s clinics located either at the main campus in Syosset or in the midtown Manhattan site, to acquire the skills, experience and confidence to have a successful career.
New York College of Health Professions, a non-profit institution, has dual accreditation for their Oriental Medicine program. It holds Institutional Accreditation by the New York State Board of Regents and the Commissioner of Education, a nationally recognized accrediting agency, and programmatic accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). Truly a pioneer in holistic and complementary medicine education, New York College exceeds educational standards, offers its students 4 convenient locations in the New York metropolitan area, provides financial aid and scholarships to those who qualify and has flexible day, evening and weekend classes with part-time and full-time scheduling to fit into the busy lives of its students.
If you are looking to learn more about Oriental Medicine education or New York College of HealthProfessions, please visit www.nycollege.edu.
