Oregon College of Oriental Medicine

Oregon College of Oriental Medicine is one of the oldest acupuncture and traditional Oriental medicine institutions in the United States, with more than 25 years of experience teaching, guiding and advancing wellness. Located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, OCOM trains master's and doctoral students in acupuncture and traditional Oriental medicine by integrating classical theory with a modern, practical approach to health and wellness. Our programs offer a wide-ranging, hands-on course of study that incorporates acupuncture, Chinese herbs, nutrition, Oriental therapeutic massage (shiatsu, tuina), and a fundamental approach to qi cultivation (qigong, taiji quan) for a deep and comprehensive understanding of this transformative medicine.

Learn more about OCOM and a career in acupuncture and Oriental medicine by attending one of our regular Admissions Seminars. Prospective students can learn about the master's program curriculum, clinical experience, financial aid and admissions requirements. They will meet current students, observe an acupuncture demonstration and take a campus tour. Contact Beth Howlett to attend the next seminar.

Oregon College of Oriental Medicine Acupuncture & Herbal Clinic, the college's teaching clinic, offers faculty practice and intern clinics providing affordable health care for an estimated 2,000 patient visits each month. The clinic offers a full-service, 20-treatment room medical facility and traditional Chinese herbal dispensary.

OCOM students are also uniquely positioned to enjoy the region's bountiful mix of recreational opportunities and natural beauty – ocean beaches, snow-covered alpine peaks, dense old-growth forest, rushing rivers, high desert – all within a 100-mile radius of Portland. Fans of cycling, thriving arts scenes, sustainable development, organic foods, crafted microbrews and local wines will find a home here. Portland is consistently ranked among the most livable cities in the country.

• #1 - Greenest City in America, Popular Science (February 2008)
• #1 - Number of people who bike to work, U.S. Census Bureau
• #5 - America's 10 Cleanest Cities, Forbes.com (March 2008)
• #1 - Cityscape and #1 Environmental Awareness, CNN/Travel + Leisure (October 2007)
• #9 - Top 25 Fittest Cities in the United States, Men's Fitness (February 2007)

Looking Ahead

In 2010, the college is slated to "bring healing to the heart of the city" by relocating to the historic Globe Hotel – known to Portlanders as the Import Plaza Building – in the Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood. The move will allow OCOM to expand our capacity to serve the downtown community and its underserved individuals.

Community Outreach

OCOM students and faculty regularly provide informational presentations and sample treatments to a wide variety of businesses, health fairs, free public events and community groups, offering vital community service and learning opportunities. Providing such outreach is a required component of students' studies.

Faculty

The college's nationally-recognized core faculty, many of whom often return to China for continued study, successfully train OCOM students to be skilled and adept practitioners, rather than mere academicians. Their instruction and mentoring has led to OCOM's 2008 pass rate of 94.1 percent*.

*National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)

Admissions and Financial Aid

Admissions are accepted on a rolling basis, with classes beginning once per year in the fall. Prospective students are encouraged to apply as early as possible as classes fill quickly. Students are eligible to apply for Federal Financial Aid (through subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans). An OCOM Board of Trustees scholarship is also available.

Master's Program

OCOM's master's degree program trains highly competent health care practitioners and provides the foundation for ongoing study and development in the field. The program presents coursework and training in all aspects of traditional Oriental medicine, including the theory and practice of acupuncture, herbal medicine, therapeutic massage (shiatsu and tuina), nutrition, exercise and qi cultivation. The study and practice of qigong is integrated into all aspects of the curriculum.

For information on OCOM's doctoral program, please visit our Web site.

Research

OCOM's Research Department provides leadership, expertise and innovation in the areas of research participation, research literacy and research-informed clinical practice. We encourage students and faculty to value research as a bridge between traditional and conventional systems of medicine. The master's curriculum includes a research course series.

Accreditation

OCOM's Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAcOM) program and Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) program are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM)*, which is the recognized accrediting agency for the approval of programs preparing acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners. ACAOM is located at 7501 Greenway Center Drive, Suite 760, Greenbelt, Maryland 20770. Phone: 301-313-0855; Fax: 301-313-0912.

OCOM has been advanced to candidacy status by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) at the master's and doctoral degree levels. NWCCU is located at 8060 165th Ave. NE, Suite 100, Redmond, WA 98052.

*ACAOM is not currently recognized by the US Department of Education for its candidacy or accreditation reviews with respect to doctoral programs in the field.

Contact Us Today!

If you are interested in any of our programs and would like to find out more, please Request Information.