Although acupuncture began thousands of years ago in China, it did not become well known in the United States until the early 1970s when descriptions of surgery without chemical anesthesia appeared in the press. Since then the Western world has taken a closer look at Oriental medicine and has come to understand and respect it as a distinct body of knowledge with philosophic and scientific essence, concepts, laws and practices that enable the Oriental Medicine practitioner to diagnose and treat many health problems in ways complementary to Western medical modalities.

Samra University, a private non-profit corporation, is the oldest school of Oriental Medicine in the United States. In 1979, we became the first school of Oriental Medicine to receive Full Institutional Approval by the California State Department of Education. Our Master of Science in Oriental Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Schools of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Samra University of Oriental Medicine is known internationally as a premiere teaching institution. Our reputation draws students from throughout the world. To accommodate students' varying backgrounds, classes are taught separately in three languages: English, Mandarin Chinese and Korean.

Samra offers a four and one half academic year course of study, which can be completed in 40 and one half consecutive months of full-time study, leading to the degree of Master of Science in Oriental Medicine. The curriculum includes courses in Chinese Medical Theory, Acupuncture Theory, Chinese Herbology, Western sciences and biomedicine, as well as a clinical internship. A complete listing of required and elective courses is available in our current catalog. After completion of the Master's degree, students are prepared to sit for the California Acupuncture Licensing Examination.

Samra University maintains affiliations with schools of Traditional Oriental Medicine in China. These provide students opportunities to continue their studies in China upon graduation.