Prospective Students

Students at AIMC Berkeley gain a comprehensive education in East Asian Medicine, including Acupuncture, Bodywork (Shiatsu & Tuina), Traditional Chinese herbology, Japanese Meridian Therapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine nutrition, and Qi Gong.

Students also learn a variety of treatment techniques such as traditional, shallow, and contact needling, seven-star needling, cupping therapy, direct and indirect moxibustion, shonishin (pediatric acupuncture), auricular acupuncture, and electro-acupuncture (e-stim), providing them with a well-rounded foundation in integrative and traditional approaches.

Not at all! A biomedicine or science background is not required to begin the East Asian & Integrative Medicine graduate program at AIMC Berkeley. Our curriculum provides a strong foundation in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, and Pathophysiology to support students in developing a well-rounded integrative medicine practice.

For applicants with a Master’s-level education in related fields, there may be opportunities to transfer eligible credits into the program.

We welcome students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, including nurses, MDs, massage therapists, lawyers, economists, teachers, and therapists. AIMC values a broad range of experiences, as they contribute to a rich and collaborative learning environment.

Classes are held Monday through Friday, primarily during the day. Full-time students typically spend three to four days per week in classes and clinic.

For each hour in the classroom, students can expect to spend about two hours on homework. Special projects and research papers may require additional time. (1 credit equals 50 minutes of class time per 15-week term.)

Students also have homework assignments for their clinical shifts, which begin in the second term with Theater Observation. In the clinic, students should anticipate one to 1.5 hours of homework per shift.

Yes, many students work while attending AIMC. For full-time students, we recommend limiting work commitments to about 20 hours per week, especially in the first year, to maintain a healthy work-study balance.

Part-time students may be able to maintain a full-time work schedule, depending on their course load. If you live within a 30-to-45-minute commute, we recommend keeping your combined school and work commitments under 50 hours per week. For those with a longer commute, taking a lighter course load may be beneficial.

The program builds a strong foundation for becoming a general practitioner of East Asian Medicine. However, students have the opportunity to gain specialized experience through internships in areas such as orthopedics, prenatal care, and more. These specialized clinical opportunities allow students to develop focused expertise before pursuing a doctoral degree.