Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies — Chinese Herbal Medicine (CAGS)

For admission consideration, the following application materials must be submitted:

• Completed MCPHS Application
• Official college transcript(s) from all colleges/universities attended demonstrating enrollment in, or satisfactory completion of, an ACAHM-accredited/pre-accredited entry-level master's-level or professional doctoral program in acupuncture.
• Applicants who earned credits at a foreign educational institution must have their transcripts validated and submitted by a recognized educational credentialing evaluation service.
• A formal statement of purpose indicating your desire to study acupuncture at MCPHS.

Additionally, students will be required to successfully complete a faculty interview (by invitation only) to be considered for admission.

Chinese Herbal Certificate program applicants must demonstrate satisfactory completion of at least two (2) years of undergraduate-level education (defined as 60-semester credits or 90 quarter credits) from an institution accredited or pre-accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. In considering the acceptance of education and training obtained in foreign countries, credits earned at a foreign educational institution must be validated by a recognized educational credentials evaluation service.

A maximum of 30-semester credits (or 50%) of the prerequisite two-year education requirement may be earned through prior learning assessment using either, or a combination, of the following assessment techniques: (1) credit by examination using recognized, independently administered, and validated standardized tests and/or (2) assignment of credit for military and corporate training based on recommendations established by the American Council on Education.

Current enrollment in, or the satisfactory completion of, an ACAHM accredited/pre-accredited entry-level (i.e., master’s-level or professional doctoral) program in acupuncture or in acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization. In considering the acceptance of education and training obtained in foreign countries, credits earned at a foreign educational institution must be validated by a recognized educational credentials evaluation service.

International Applicants

International applicants whose native language is not English are required to provide proof of English proficiency for admission to degree, certificate, and non-degree graduate programs. This must be demonstrated by one of the following means:

The applicant must have completed one of the following:

• Four years at a U.S. high school demonstrably delivered in English;
• At least two years (60-semester credits or 90 quarter credits) of undergraduate- or graduate-level education in an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education;
• At least two years (60-semester credits or 90 quarter credits) of undergraduate- or graduate-level education demonstrably delivered in English;
• High school or two years (60-semester credits or 90 quarter credits) of undergraduate- or graduate-level education in an institution in one of the following countries or territories: American Samoa; Anguilla; Antigua & Barbuda; Australia; Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Bermuda; Botswana; British Virgin Islands; Cameroon; Canada (except Quebec); Cayman Islands; Christmas Island; Cook Islands; Dominica; Federated States of Micronesia; Fiji; The Gambia; Ghana; Gibraltar; Grenada; Guam; Guyana; Ireland; Isle of Man; Jamaica; Kenya; Lesotho; Liberia; Malawi; Montserrat; Namibia; New Zealand; Nigeria; Norfolk Island; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Pitcairn Islands; Sierra Leone; Singapore; South Africa; South Sudan; St. Helena; St. Kitts & Nevis; St. Lucia; St. Vincent & the Grenadines; Swaziland; Tanzania; Trinidad and Tobago; Turks and Caicos Islands; United Kingdom; U.S. Virgin Islands; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe.

In all cases, English must have been both the language of instruction and the language of the curriculum used.

OR

The applicant must have completed one of the following assessments at the required level:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT - Total: 61),
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Academic Format (Overall Band: 6.5),
• Duolingo English Test (Score of 90),
• China Standard of English Language (CSE – Score of 6),
• Cambridge First Certificate of English (FCE – Score of C),
• Cambridge English Advanced (CAE – Score of C),
• Common European Framework Reference (CEFR – Score of B2),
• Occupational English Test (OET – Score of 250, C),
• Pearson Test of English (PTE), Academic (Overall: 45).

All official college transcripts and supporting materials can be sent to:

Worcester Admission Office
19 Foster Street
Worcester, MA 01608
admissions.worcester@mcphs.edu
508.373.5607 or 800.225.5506

Total credits to complete degree requirement: 41

*If an applicant has not completed the required 4 credits (60 clock hours) in biomedical clinical hours, these hours may be met by courses in Introduction to Public Health, Research Design and Evaluation, Physiology of Acupuncture, or other co-requisite sciences

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