Canadian College of Avicenna

Table of Contents Program I: Doctor of Medical Acupuncture
	Courses
	Curriculum
	Course Schedule
	Course Assessment
	Entry Qualifications
	Diploma Summary
	Tuition and Registration Fees

Program II: History of Medicine
	Entry Qualifications
	Pre-requisites and Fees

Program I: Doctor of Medical Acupuncture

Upon successful completion of this course graduates of the College are qualified to practice medical acupuncture. They are awarded a diploma degree in Medical Acupuncture by Canadian College of Avicenna in Medical Acupuncture.

Courses

This degree course is divided into six main areas called programmes, each sub-divided into levels. This allows students to treat patients with a wide variety of conditions, both chronic and acute.We put equal emphasis on gaining both practical and theoretical skills. The practical aspects of the course emphasize the development of rapport-making skills in order to relate to patients, and development in order to enrich medical acupuncture practice. High levels of skill in point location, needling, history taking; physical examination and diagnosis are also emphasized.Medical acupuncture lies at the core of the College's theoretical teaching. Our conventional medical science course has also been developed especially for the College. This relates conventional medical science to acupuncture practices and the theories. Reflective practice forms the core of a practitioner's work with patients, and this is encouraged along with the acquisition of skills in researching the practice of medical acupuncture.

1 General medicine

Students study general medicine throughout the course. This includes the underlying theoretical concepts of medicine including Signes, Symptoms, the substances, the causes of disease and the Principles. They also make study an in-depth study of the pain and its concepts .Develop an understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of the patients' constitutional imbalance. Students also study patterns of disharmony of substances and syndromes as well as the differentiation of all the most common diseases. Medical Acupuncture, electro-acupuncture and auricular acupuncture are also included in this programme.

2 Conventional medical sciences

This specially-developed programme includes anatomy, physiology, pathology, clinical skills and pharmacology.Surface anatomy is used to assist students in point location and safe needle insertion.Physiology and pathology help students to understand the conventional medical description of a disease and how this compares to the viewpoint of the medicine.The study of clinical practice then enables them to understand the patient's disease in terms of conventional medicine and to develop an understanding and respect for the human body and its condition in health and disease. It also encourages students to develop an increasing level of confidence when dealing with patients who are also receiving conventional treatments and when communicating with conventional practitioners.Pharmacology helps students to understand the effects of the drugs that many patients are taking. Physiology, pathology, pharmacology and clinical medicine are mainly taught using a format of study days in class followed by carefully-structured home study.

3 Point location

This programme of the course enables students to develop their palpatory skills and to understand the procedures needed in order to safely and accurately locate all acupuncture points on the body. It also enables students to locate the points respectfully and with sensitivity.

4 Professional practices

In these programme students learn to use their diagnostic and treatment skills, first by learning to diagnose patients in class, and then by diagnosing and planning treatments on people outside the classroom. The students begin treating patients in the College clinic under the close supervision of senior members of the teaching staff.This programme of the course focuses on encouraging students to make courses the successful transition from being students, to being student-practitioners, finally becoming autonomous practitioners. In order to do these students must demonstrate that they understand all the practical and ethical implications of being a professional acupuncturist, and are capable of putting this knowledge into practice.

5 Skills and techniques

This programme includes the practice of both diagnostic skills and treatment techniques. Diagnostic skills include diagnosis as well as rapport making, observing, asking, listening and palpation skills. Treatment techniques include needling, applying moxibustion and stimulators.Practicing acupuncture enables students to experience how it affects practice with patients, as well as how it can improve their own health.

6 Research and reflective practice

This part of the course encourages students to develop a problem-solving and holistic approach to their practice. They carry out clinical observations on patients. Students also study different research paradigms, including orthodox research and reflective practice. During the clinical programme students carry out an audit of patients' responses to treatment, administered by the Oriental Medicine Research Trust. Participating in this audit helps students to develop a reflective attitude towards their practice. They are also helping establish a body of evidence that will shed light on the effectiveness of acupuncture.

Curriculum

The topics covered within the six course programmes are listed below. Each programme is studied at three levels except point location, which is studied at two levels. More than a third of all contact hours are dedicated to clinical observations and clinical practice.

Medical Acupuncture level 1

History of medicine Functions of the Organs/Officials: Lungs, Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen, Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder, Kidneys, Pericardium, Triple Burner, Gall Bladder and Liver Blood and Body Fluids Internal, external and miscellaneous causes of disease Principles of medicineTypes of points Diagnosis of mind and body

Medical Acupuncture level 2

Differentiation of common disease patterns from the viewpoint, including: lower back pain and musculo-skeletal problems, gynecology (including premenstrual tension, dysmenorrheal, amenorrhea, headaches, post viral syndrome, hypertension, asthmaPhlegm and Damp Dietary therapy The function of points of all the Organs Miscellaneous points

Medical Acupuncture level 3

Differentiation of common disease patterns from the viewpoint including: mental diseases, atrophy syndromeThe treatment of addiction Overview of complementary therapies Auricular acupuncture Electro-acupuncture Deep pathways of all channels

Conventional medical science levels 1, 2 and 3

Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Clinical medicine, Structural diagnosis, Conventional clinical skills, Resuscitation and basic first Aid course Interpretation of diseases and drugs Warning features of disease

Point location level 1

Introduction to channels, points and point location

Point location level 2

Location of body points including: shoulder points, thigh and groin points, head points, neck points, face points, upper arm points, miscellaneous points Review of all points

Research and reflective practice levels 1, 2 and 3

Introduction to reflective practice Clinical observations Clinical audit Proposal for dissertation Tutorials for dissertation

Professional practice levels 1 and 2

Patients in class Taking a case history Diagnosis Case history analysis Discussion of diagnosis, treatment strategy and aetiological advice Treatment reactions Ethics and patient management Case histories in class

Professional practice level 3

Treating patients under supervision in the student clinic Clinical class discussions Clinical observations Overview of complementary therapies Setting up in practice Deciding who to treat Keeping accounts How to talk to patients Promoting your practice Supervision and continuing professional development Patient management and boundaries in the treatment room

Course Schedule

Weekend course

Beginning with a six-day introduction. Thereafter teaching days are weekends, followed by the clinical training.

Weekday course

The new weekday course begins with a three-day session. Thereafter, attendance at College will be on weekdays organized as consecutive two-day sessions divided into three terms. Theory will take place two days a week over three months, followed by attendance one day a week for the clinical training.

Study time the course requires

The amount of study time needed outside class depends upon many factors. We teach effective ways of learning to make your study time as productive as possible. As a general guide a student will need to study for between 15 and 20 hours a week, possibly more at certain times during the course.

Course Assessment

Assessment has two important functions.

The first is for us to determine how students are progressing and, where improvement is desirable, to help in friendly, constructive ways.

The second is for students to know clearly what is expected of them and therefore direct their own efforts efficiently.We give students clear goals. Feedback is provided continually throughout the course in various ways.

There is also feedback on and assessment of practical skills to do with diagnosis, sensitivity to patients, and treatment skills. An assessment record is retained and is available to the student. We have a complaints procedure and an academic appeals procedure, both described in the Student Handbook.

Entry Qualifications

Candidates must satisfy the general admissions requirements of Canadian College of Avicenna. We have a preferred minimum age of 21, and preference will be given to mature candidates Overseas students are considered on an individual basis, usually where they have completed a university degree or validated access course in the Canada or overseas.

If you are international student offered a place on this course and English is not your first language, we will ask to see an IELTS or TOEFL certificates before you start the course.

Mature students without the above qualifications are encouraged to apply and will be considered on the basis of their work and life experience.

Some applicants may have previous conventional medical sciences training and wish to apply for exemption from parts of the anatomy, physiology or pathology training. Details of our criteria and application procedure are available on request.

Doctor of Medical Acupuncture: Diploma Summary

This program provides the graduate with professional training in Medical Acupuncture. Students are taught both classical and modern Acupuncture including an exploration of diagnosis and treatment principles.

Prerequisite:

2 Years post secondary education equivalent to 60 university transferable credits.

Curriculum:

Code	Course
100.1	Foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine
100.2	Clinical Diagnosis of Traditional Chinese Medicine
100.3	Medical Terminology
103.1	Physical Assessment
103.2	Anatomy and Physiology
103.3	Pharmacology
103.4	Physical Examination
200.1	Acupuncture Points and Functions
200.2	Professional Clinic: Orientation & Professional Observation
203.1	Acupuncture Therapeutics and Techniques
203.2	Pathophysiology
205.1	Communications For Healing
205.2	Practice Development and Community Outreach
205.3	Professional Clinic Observation
300.1	Acupuncture Treatment for Sports Injuries and Physical Trauma
300.2	Patent Formulae and Diet
300.3	Internal Medicine
300.4	Practice Management
315.2 Clinic	Acupuncture Clinic Internship / Residency

Start date (Fall Trimester): September 2009

Start date (Spring trimester): January 2009

Tuition & fees: $4500 for Canadian Students $9500 for International Students.

Program II: History of Medicine

This program is available for the students interested to learn about the History of Mdicine. A certificate will be offered to the students sucessfully finishing this program.

Entry Qualifications

Candidates must satisfy the general admissions requirements of Canadian College of Avicenna. The courses in this program are in English. If you are international student offered a place on this course and English is not your first language, we will ask to see an IELTS or TOEFL certificates before you start the course.

History of Medicine: Pre-requisits and Fees

Start date (Fall Trimester): September 2009

Start date (Spring trimester): January 2009

Tuition & fees: $400 for General Public $300 for the students who are enrolled in Doctor of Medical Acupuncture Diploma.