Master's Program Admissions Process

US Students

All Candidates for admission to the Master’s program must be at least 18 years old and must be competent in speaking, reading, and writing English as well as understanding spoken English. Candidates must provide the Institute with all necessary admission documents including official transcripts documenting at least (2) two years of accredited baccalaureate-level education (60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits) or its international equivalent. 19 of those 60 credits must be taken in the following four General Education/Liberal Arts areas below, with at least 3 semester credits in each of the subject areas:

  1. Humanities/Fine Arts
  2. Social/Behavioral Sciences
  3. English/Communications
  4. Science/Mathematics

English Language Competency (Master’s program)

English-language competency is required of all students seeking admission to the Master’s  program. If the ATOM administration has any concern about English-language competency, the applicant must achieve a minimum score of at least 61 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet based test (iBT).

Assessment of Prior Learning (Master’s program)

A maximum of 30 semester credits (50%) of the prerequisite three‑year education requirement for admission to the Master of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (MAHM) program may be earned through prior learning assessment using either one or a combination of the following assessment techniques: (1) credit by examination through the use of standardized tests and/or (2) assignment of credit for military and corporate training based on recommendations established by the American Council on Education.  Guidelines are as follows:

  1. Credit by examination can be earned through successful testing and the recommended college credit equivalencies of the College Scholarship Service’s AP (Advanced Placement) examinations, the College Scholarship Service’s CLEP (College Level Examination Program) examinations, the American College Testing PEP (Proficiency Examination Program) examinations, PONSI (N.Y. State Department of Education Program on Non‑collegiate Sponsored Instruction), the USAFI (U.S. Armed Forces Institute) program, and the DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) tests.
  2. Credit for military and corporate training may be assigned according to the recommendations established by the American Council on Education in The National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs and The Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services.hree

Provisional Admissions (Master’s program)

No student will be admitted unless he/she has successfully completed at least 60 college (semester) credits from an accredited postsecondary institution. As noted in the relevant section of these Policies and Procedures, included within the 60 (semester) college credits must be 3 (semester) credits in each of the following subject areas:

  1. Humanities/Fine Arts
  2. Social/Behavioral Sciences (Psychology)
  3. English/Communications
  4. Science/Mathematics

From time to time a student meets the (60) sixty-hour college credits requirement yet lacks (3) three semester credits in one of the four above-specified categories.  In some limited, special cases, the Admissions Committee may grant Provisional Admission to those students. Provisional status will require the student to rectify any deficiencies in the four specified categories and the required three Psychology credits before Bachelor of Health Science or a Master of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (MAHM) can be conferred. The student will be required to earn a minimal grade of 70% in that course in order for the course to be considered successfully completed.

If the student on Provisional Status does not complete the required coursework in the four above specified categories, he or she will not receive a Bachelor’s degree of Health Science or a Master of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (MAHM). All deficiencies must be completed no later than the end of the second academic year of the program. Upon such successful completion of all requirements, the student will be placed in Regular Student Status.

Should any student wish to apply for Provisional Status, she/he will be required to execute a written agreement encompassing the above conditions and the student will be required to comply with all other requirements for admission and for continuation as an ATOM student.

Master’s Program Admissions Documents

  1. Certain admissions documents must be submitted to ATOM to begin the application process for admissions to the Master’s program.  Once submitted to ATOM these documents can neither be returned to the candidate nor forwarded to any other institution or agency.  The Admissions Committee makes all acceptance decisions. New matriculating classes begin in January (WINTER Session), May (SPRING Session) and/or September (FALL Session).  Candidates applying to enroll in the Master’s program must submit the following:
    1. A completed application form 
    2. $30 non-refundable application fee.
    3. Photo Identification and a Social Security Card (Photocopied for file).
    4. Official certified transcripts from 2-year or 4-year colleges accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or its international equivalent that document a passing grade in 60 or more baccalaureate-level semester credits (or 90 or more quarter credits). Transcripts must be received by ATOM directly from the issuing institutions.  Foreign transcripts must be translated into English and evaluated by a foreign credentials evaluation service acceptable to ATOM. (See Admission Requirements for specific prerequisites.)
    5. A professional resume.
    6. One-page essay describing reasons for pursuing this program and plans for financing three years of study.
    7. Two letters of reference sent directly to the Institute from individuals outside the applicant’s family (letters must include a handwritten signature).
    8. International students must possess a VISA permitting study in the U.S. for at least the 3-year period required to complete the program.
    9. See additional admissions requirements for International Students, below3

Transfer Credit Policies and Basic Course Transfer Eligibility Criteria

Click Here > International Students
Click Here > Transfer Students

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