Mission Statement
Southwest Acupuncture College is a classical school of Oriental medicine. With the primary responsibility of educating students to become independent healthcare providers, Southwest's foremost goal is to provide excellence in the education of those prospective practitioners. A concomitant goal of the college, to cultivate leadership and service to the community in this emerging field of effective medical care, is fostered in the curriculum and the educational format as well as the life of the college community through its on-site public clinic and numerous off-campus extern clinics that offer free services. In order to accomplish the goals of sustaining the highest quality of education, and promoting the greatest caliber and realization of professional performance, Southwest's staff and faculty are continually re-evaluating the program and supporting areas of institutional activity, seeking ways to enhance and maintain the college's standard of excellence.
History
Southwest Acupuncture College was founded in 1980. Since its inception, the college has been dedicated to providing the highest quality of education possible and has remained in the forefront of education in the field of Oriental medicine.
Programs Offered
The academic program at Southwest Acupuncture College consists of 3,000 hours of training in acupuncture, herbal medicine, physical therapy, nutrition, and exercise/breathing therapy. The greatest number of hours are devoted to the study and practice of acupuncture and herbal medicine, with the balance of the hours completing the students' education in graduate level studies in Oriental medicine and Western science. Upon graduation, the college confers the Master of Science in Oriental Medicine (MSOM) degree. The identical program is taught at all three campuses.
Both campuses operate on a yearly schedule of two 15-week semesters and a 10-week summer session equivalent to a 15-week semester. With the exception of electives, classes are held only in the daytime. Clinic is held both in the day and the evening and on weekends. While course times are set, the college clinic runs many shifts from which the students may select so that reasonable flexibility is built into the program to accommodate individual student needs.
The professional degree program, which is the equivalent of four academic years, can be taken in one of three formats. The accelerated format requires approximately 22 to 25 hours of coursework per week. It allows for completion in three calendar years. The full-time format takes four calendar years to finish and requires 16 to 22 hours of coursework per week. This option permits students to have a lighter schedule while still allowing for a reasonable completion time. The part-time format is an option the students can take advantage of if financial burdens or other responsibilities require the student's attention, or if the student prefers to study at a more gradual pace. Part-time study necessitates a minimum of nine to ten hours per week of class attendance. In all cases, part-time study must be completed within seven years of entry to the program.
Contact Information
For more information on Southwest Acupuncture College, contact:
Southwest Acupuncture College
1622 Galisteo Street
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Tel: (505) 438-8884
Fax: (505) 438-8883
E-mail: sfe@acupuncturecollege.edu
Web site: www.acupuncturecollege.edu
Boulder, Colorado branch
6620 Gunpark Drive
Boulder, CO 80301
Tel: (303) 581-9955
Fax: (303) 581-9944
E-mail: boulder@acupuncturecollege.edu
Web site: www.acupuncturecollege.edu
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