Admissions
 

Admission as a Degree-Seeking Student:

The following are required for admission to the doctoral program:

  1. Evidence of satisfactory completion of a Master’s degree or a Master’s level program in Acupuncture or Oriental medicine from an ACAOM-accredited or candidate institution or international equivalent.
  2. A grade point average of 3.0 or better in previous graduate level work.
  3. Current California acupuncture license. In some cases, an applicant who is currently scheduled to sit for the California Acupuncture Licensing Exam will be considered.

PART I: Admissions Procedure

  1. Application and Non-refundable Application Fee payable to Samra University of Oriental Medicine in the amount of $100 (check or money order).
  2. One passport size photo.
  3. Two (2) Letters of Recommendation from professional colleagues, supervisors or former teachers--persons who can attest to one’s professional and academic qualifications.
  4. Current Resume, which includes any information of significance, including the following:

    1. Education (both academic and continuing education), where and when
    2. Work history (include description of all clinical practice experience)
    3. Experience in teaching and/or research
    4. Publications and formal conference presentations
    5. Membership in professional organizations
    6. Honors and awards.


  5. Personal Essay
    (1 - 2 pages): talk about your scholarly and professional interests and goals and link them with the academic and research components of the DAOM program

  6. Official Transcripts
    Master’s degree program in acupuncture and Oriental medicine in sealed, stamped envelope.
  7. Official Academic Transcripts from all colleges attended.
  8. Evidence of current California acupuncture licensure status.
  9. Evidence of English language competency: All DAOM courses are taught in English. Foreign students or students for whom English is a second language must provide evidence of a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 500 (PBT) or higher, a computer score of 173 or higher, or iBT of 61 or higher.
  10. 10.  Foreign Applicants Requiring F-1 Student Visa must submit a $100 application fee for US currency in the form of check or money order.

PART II: Admissions Procedure

  1. Once all application material has been received, an interview (phone or in person) with the Academic Dean will be scheduled.
  2. Notification of acceptance status will be mailed out within one week of the interview.

PART III: Admissions Procedure

  1. Certificate of malpractice insurance listing Samra University of Oriental Medicine as an additional insured.
  2. Copy of official duplicate California acupuncture license to hang on the wall.

Admissions Interview

Admissions portfolios will be reviewed by the Doctoral Admissions Committee, which consists of the Program Director, Assistant Program Director, Academic Dean, Doctoral Clinic Director, Registrar, and Admissions Director. Applicant portfolios that indicate likely success in the Doctoral program will be invited to an interview with one or more members of the Doctoral Admissions Committee, following which a final admissions decision will be made. Students invited for an admissions interview that cannot make the appointment can request to have the interview conducted over the phone.

Admission as a Special or Probationary Student

Applicants can be considered for Admissions as a Special or Probationary student under the following conditions:

  1. Students that have graduated from an ACAOM accredited institution or its equivalent but lack certain prerequisites for courses at the doctoral level. These students are admitted as “Probationary Students” and are required to take all prerequisites during the first year and pass them.


  2. Experienced licensed acupuncture practitioners who do not meet the educational/course requirements may be admitted into the program under the following conditions:

    1. An examination of their training and experience by the Doctoral Admissions Committee indicating that the student has a strong foundational basis in Oriental Medicine, enough to be an appropriate candidate for admission.
    2. Demonstration of a minimum of five (5) years of full time clinical practice in Oriental medicine with documentation of a minimum of 2000 patient treatments.
    3. Willingness to take specific courses prior to beginning Doctoral level courses.


  3. Applicants who have declared in writing and demonstrated sufficient evidence that they possess the necessary qualifications for “Full Admission” status but have not yet provided all of the necessary documentation, may be conditionally admitted. Such students will have only one quarter to provide the necessary documentation and enroll in Samra University of Oriental Medicine at their own risk. If that documentation, when received, does not qualify them for Full Admission, they must leave the program and reapply for admission once the necessary requirements have been met. Students not supplying Samra University of Oriental Medicine with that information within one quarter will not be allowed to continue in the program until the above information has been received by the Doctoral Admissions Office.

Non-Matriculated Students

Non-matriculated students must meet the same requirements as regular applicants. They may take a maximum four (4) courses or sixteen (16) units as a non-matriculated student. They must have the approval of the Academic Dean. Upon completion of 16 units, the student must apply to the doctoral program and be accepted before proceeding further.

Transfer Credit Policy

Transfer for previous coursework may be considered under the following circumstances:

  1. Transfer credits are from an accredited doctoral program or its international equivalent.
  2. Transfer credits must meet the standards for graduation from the doctoral program.
  3. The requested transfer credits covers all material in the Samra DAOM class of which it is the equivalent with a grade of “B” or better. The total number of transfer credits may not exceed 200 hours.

Degree Requirements

The following policies and guidelines must be carefully noted:

  1. Candidates for the degree of Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine shall complete all required courses, clinical practice units and a successful defense of the capstone project dissertation.
  2. Candidates for the degree are required to complete the overall program with a minimal GPA of 2.00 or higher.
  3. The grade of PASS must be earned in all clinical experiences and on the capstone project.
  4. The student must satisfy all administrative and financial requirements of and obligations to the University.

Time Limit for Degree Completion

The degree must be earned within four (4) calendar years (48 months) from the date of matriculation. Absences due to Leave of Absence will not count as time from the first date of enrollment. Students who need to re-apply for admission to the program will have previous enrollment time count as part of the four (4) year maximum.