DIPLOMA COURSE IN ACUPUNCTURE & TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

The Diploma in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine is a three year part time course which is scheduled to start later this year. There are thirty teaching weekend sessions during the course and students who successfully complete training will be awarded a Diploma in Acupuncture. Graduates will be encouraged to obtain membership of the Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association. Students will be expected to involve themselves with home study groups which will be organised by the College. These groups, when combined with work assignments help to develop the student's knowledge and thereby allow the student to become more familiar with the theory and practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Graduates will be expected to follow a clinical apprenticeship for six months upon the successful completion of the final term. They will work closely under the direction of the college director and have access to college facilities. The graduates will be expected to meet regularly as members of the College's post-graduate clinical club, which will provide a forum for the presentation and discussion of case histories. Further experience will be gained and confidence will be built up while starting a private practice. The college director and academic staff will be available to offer guidance and professional advice to newly qualified practitioners during the first year following graduation. Graduates will be encouraged to maintain links with other graduates through professional registers and academic societies. The concept of a clinical internship is currently being considered by senior members of the profession and if this becomes a requirement for entry into the Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association the College will work closely with the Association to facilitate this. The aim of the students training is a practice conducted in a safe and professional manner.The curriculum consists of theory and practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the location and function of acupuncture points and the Western Medical Sciences. The course follows closely the approved text books so as to facilitate learning and an emphasis is placed on practical work. In the final year of study, case histories, patient diagnosis and patient treatments will predominate.

CURRICULUM

The first ten teaching weekends consist of basic Traditional Chinese medical theories, elementary diagnosis and developing a knowledge of the location and function of most of the acupuncture points. Approximately 40% of these weekends will consist of the Western Clinical Medicine.

The next ten weekends develop upon the basic Chinese medical theories learned in the first module and also complete the study of outstanding acupuncture points. Case histories, patient diagnosis and Chinese herbal remedies are introduced. Approximately 20% of these weekends are devoted to Western Clinical Medicine.

The final ten weekends are practical and encouragement is given to students to develop diagnostic skills. Point location is covered again. Students are guided in the methods of obtaining case histories, identifying Chinese medical patterns and formulating needle prescriptions. An emphasis is placed on the Chinese patent remedies to enable final year students to combine herbal preparations with acupuncture for the common conditions so as to boost the potency of treatment.

Home study is important and during the course various work assignments are given and corrected. This allows the tutor to individually assess the progress of students and identify areas of developing weakness so as to give opportunity to offer additional tuition and encouragement to remedy areas of knowledge deficiency. The final exam will lead to the awarding of a Diploma in Acupuncture by the College. If the Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association suggests any changes to the curriculum the College will endeavour to comply as the ultimate aim of each student ought to be to gain admission to the Association.

HIGHER DIPLOMA IN ACUPUNCTURE

The Merrion Institute of Advanced Studies offers a Higher Diploma in Acupuncture in conjunction with Lansdowne College. This Higher Diploma is awarded following the publication of original research in an approved journal.

Lansdowne College graduates are automatically eligible to apply for entry to the Higher Diploma Course. Graduates from other colleges must firstly apply for membership of the Professional Register and this is achieved through an additional examination.

Course Details:

The course starts in September. Kindly fill in the application Form and forward it to the College so that Dr. Carroll can arrange to meet you. The course fee is €8,000 spread over eight instalments. The first instalment will not be due until after the first teaching weekend, so as to allow you the opportunity to participate without committing to the course. It is essential that you are satisfied this course is the one that meets all your expectations. You are also warmly encouraged to meet more senior students and graduates to help you decide about the course. Dr. Carroll or the College Secretary will happily arrange this for you.