Small, clinically-focused graduate school training East Asian medicine practitioners through apprenticeship-style education.
SIEAM offers two graduate programs: a Master of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (MAcHM, 3 years) and a Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (DAcHM, 4 years). All students enroll in both programs and decide in their third year whether to graduate with the Master's or continue to the Doctorate. The curriculum emphasizes apprentice-style clinical experiences, case-based instruction, physical palpation skills, qigong practice, Chinese language instruction, and collaborative care. Students also complete an Asian Medical Bodywork Certificate program and can pursue a Healing Business Practice certificate.
Clinical instruction begins within weeks of enrollment, providing nearly three years of hands-on experience with patients. SIEAM operates a teaching clinic and herbal dispensary in the Georgetown neighborhood where graduate students observe faculty practitioners and practice under supervision. The Charles Winslow (Chip) Chace Memorial Library holds approximately 4,000 books, journals, and electronic materials in English and Chinese, with access to Chinese-language academic articles through CNKI.
SIEAM accepts applications on a rolling basis for the fall term. Applicants must submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended; international transcripts require credential evaluation. After submission, the Admissions Committee reviews applications and conducts interviews, with admissions decisions typically communicated within two weeks of the interview. Accepted applicants have two weeks to submit a nonrefundable $1,000 deposit to reserve their place; this deposit is applied to first-trimester tuition.
SIEAM's mission is to train compassionate and effective practitioners of East Asian medicine who can function independently and collaboratively in patient-centered care. The school represents a modern take on traditional apprenticeship training, accepting a limited number of students annually to ensure small class settings and personalized instruction from experienced faculty practitioners representing diverse acupuncture styles.