Step 2. YSU Scholarships for Transfer Students
If you are transferring in to YSU, we offer two scholarships.
The Founder's Scholarship is for students entering our four-year programs (MAcCHM or DAcCHM) from another school.
The Chancellor's Scholarship is for students entering our two-year doctoral program (DAOM) from another school.
Founder's Scholarship
For new students and transfer students
The Founders’ Scholarship recognizes outstanding personal and professional achievements in new and transfer students to the MAcCHM/DAcCHM Program.
Award Amount: $1,000 in tuition credit.
Eligibility: New MAcCHM/DAcCHM students and transfer students with no more than 48 transfer credits.
Selection Criteria: Demonstrate outstanding personal and professional achievement(s).
No application is required other than application for admission.
Chancellor’s Scholarship
For new and transfer DAOM students
Award Amount: $1,500 tuition credit per trimester, renewable for three (3) consecutive trimesters (for a total award amount of up to $4,500).
Eligibility: New DAOM students and transfer students with no more than 18 transfer credits
Availability: Up to three (3) awards per cohort.
Selection Criteria: For the initial award, applicants must submit a completed scholarship application. The recipient(s) will be selected by a scholarship committee based on each applicant’s academic performance in his/her entry-level degree program, as well as documented personal and professional achievements.
Renewal Criteria: Maintaining satisfactory academic progress in the DAOM program, as well as maintaining in overall good standing (payment of outstanding balances, absence of adverse disciplinary actions, etc).
You can view all of our scholarships here.
Apply for Your Scholarship Now!
Questions about transferring to YSU?
Ask Us Now!
Step 3. Meet with our Deans
Your mentor and advisor is Anisa Kassim, Dean of the Master’s program at Yo San University. We invite you to set up a meeting with her. Valerie Mack and Sam Audette are our Assistant Academic Deans and they will be evaluating your transfer credits initially.
Here are the steps for transfer student consideration at YSU:
1. Introduce yourself
- Tell us a little about yourself using the simple form below and we'll get right back to with specific details to set up your phone meeting and then a personal meeting at YSU.
- Check out our scholarship opportunities: you probably qualify for our Way of Tao scholarship which awards you up to $4,500 in tuition credit applicable to the first trimester in the MAcCHM/DAcCHM program at YSU.
- Gather your transcripts: these can be emailed to us (unofficial for now), and will help us compare the content of your completed courses with those offered at YSU.
- Submit an application: it's free to submit our easy application, and there's no obligation. You can do it now or later and it helps to get the process started.
2. Discuss your opportunities
During your phone and personal meeting with us, here are the topics we'll be looking at together:
- Transfer Credit Evaluation: we'll compare the content of your completed courses with those offered at YSU. Our objective is to award you the maximum amount of credits for the work you've done and fill in any gaps in education that need to be addressed through additional coursework at YSU. Here are some guidelines of what to expect during your transfer credit evaluation.
- Clinical Training Evaluation: Given the importance of clinical training in TCM education, any previous clinical experience is closely examined.
- Plan of Study: The Dean will outline a personalized plan of study that takes into account the transferred credits, ensuring that you can complete your degree efficiently while fulfilling all academic and clinical requirements. If gaps in knowledge or clinical experience are identified, we may recommend specific courses or workshops that you should take. This ensures that all graduates meet YSU's high standards for TCM practitioners.
3. Next Steps
- Formalizing the Transfer: Once the evaluation is complete and you agree to the proposed plan of study, the next steps involve formalizing the transfer. This includes completing our free application, submitting two letters of recommendation, official transcripts and registering for courses.
- Orientation and Integration: we'll also discuss orientation sessions and mentorship opportunities to help you integrate into the YSU community and start their journey on the right foot.
With your academic plan set, you'll be ready to join the YSU community. Our supportive environment and commitment to the Taoist lineage of healing will enhance your journey in Traditional Chinese Medicine. You'll have access to our renowned faculty, comprehensive resources, and the unique opportunity to blend ancient techniques with modern integrative medicine practices.
Step 4. Submit our easy application
After you submit the application, we will ask for your unofficial transcript(s) at your first meeting with our admissions advisor. This helps us get the transfer credit evaluation process started. If you don't already have a copy of your current school transcript, you can download it at your school website.
Your official transcript will be due before the term begins and you can ask for it to be emailed to admissions@yosan.edu via your school or parchment.com.
Start Your Application Now!
Transfer Student Admissions to Yo San University
Yo San University welcomes transfer students from other institutions of Chinese medicine who are looking to continue and complete their education with us. A transfer student is defined as someone who has previously been enrolled in another Chinese medicine program and is now seeking to join Yo San University for various reasons. It's important to note that transfer students must complete at least 50% of their degree program at Yo San University. If you have only one year left before graduation at your current institution, we advise you to complete your degree there, unless circumstances make this impossible.
For a preliminary evaluation of your transfer credits, please reach out to our admissions office.
Application Requirements for Transfer Students:
Transfer students are required to undergo the same application process as new students but must also provide syllabi for each course you wish to transfer. Upon acceptance, you will receive information about your program placement and a detailed evaluation of the transfer credits granted.
Transferring TCM Courses:
Credits for TCM courses may be transferred if they were completed at a nationally accredited TCM institution approved by the California Acupuncture Board, provided they match the content and duration of courses in Yo San University's Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DAcHM) or Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (MAcHM) programs and were passed with a grade of C or higher.
For courses from graduate-level programs in Chinese medicine, up to 25% of clinical training and 50% of academic courses might be transferable to our DAcHM or MAcHM programs.
TCM courses from institutions not recognized by the California Acupuncture Board may be accepted, subject to the Board's 50% limitation. Courses from tutorial or apprenticeship programs, as well as credits for work or life experience, are not eligible for transfer.
Transferring Western Medicine Courses:
Medical professionals may be able to transfer some or all of their Western medicine coursework, including natural science prerequisites, from regionally accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities or accredited TCM schools, pending a review of their credentials.
Credit through Challenge Examination:
Under certain conditions, students may petition to earn credit for a course through a challenge examination, except for courses within the Clinical Training Department. This option is available if the course was passed at another institution, but the content did not meet the full transfer requirements.
Qualified students will receive the syllabus to prepare for the challenge exam, which must be passed with a score of 70% or higher before the start of the term when the course is required.
Who can I talk to for more information about transferring to YSU?
For more information about transferring to YSU and to discuss your specific situation, please contact our admissions office. Our team is ready to assist you with any questions you have about the transfer process, program requirements, and how YSU can support your career goals in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Apply for your transfer now to Yo San University.
Transfer policies at Yo San University
Yo San University (YSU) offers four distinct degree programs, each with different transfer policies:
- Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (MAcCHM)
- Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (DAcCHM)
- Doctoral Completion Program (one-year, online)
- Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM)
This document outlines transfer possibilities for each program.
Transfer Policies for Entry-Level Programs (MAcCHM and DAcCHM)
Students enrolled in other Chinese medicine schools who wish to transfer to YSU’s entry level programs must meet the following criteria:
- Up to YSU 95 semester/trimester units may be transferred from your current program into the YSU MAc program and 102 units can transfer into the YSU DAc program (per ACAHM accreditation requirements - reference, Criterion 5.03)
- If you have only one year remaining before graduation, we recommend completing your degree at your current school unless it is not feasible.
For a preliminary evaluation of your transfer credits, contact the Admissions Office.
Application Requirements:
Transfer students must follow the standard application process for new students and provide:
- A catalog from your previous TCM college, including approval agencies and accreditation details.
- A syllabus outlining the content of each course you wish to transfer.
Eligibility for Course Transfers:
- Transfer credits are awarded for courses taken at nationally accredited TCM colleges approved by the California Acupuncture Board, provided they are equivalent in content and length to YSU’s courses and completed with a letter grade of C or above.
- Tutorial or apprenticeship courses are non-transferable, and no credit is granted for work or life experience.
DAcCHM Doctoral Completion Program (Online)
The Doctoral Completion Program is a one-year, online program designed for students who have already earned their MAcCHM degree. This program does not accept transfer credits.
- The DAcCHM Doctoral Completion Program does not qualify you to sit for the California Acupuncture Licensing Exam if your Masters Degree program does not meet the California Board Exam Requirements.
- Prospective DAcCHM students are required to have completed Chinese Herbal Medicine education as part of their masters degree program
Advanced Practice Doctorate (DAOM)
Students enrolled in another DAOM program who wish to transfer to YSU’s Postgraduate DAOM Program may apply as transfer students if they:
- Complete a minimum of 2/3 of their DAOM degree at YSU.
To begin the transfer evaluation process, contact the Admissions Office.
- Prospective DAOM students are required to have completed Chinese Herbal Medicine education as part of their masters degree program
Transfer Credit Requirements for DAOM Program:
- Only courses equivalent in content and length to YSU’s DAOM curriculum are eligible for transfer.
- Transfer credits are subject to a comprehensive review of prior coursework and program accreditation.
Transferring Western Medicine Courses (All Applicable Programs)
Medical professionals may transfer Western medicine courses, including natural science requirements, if they were completed at:
- Regionally accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities.
- Accredited TCM schools.
Transferring Credit through Challenge Examination (MAcCHM and DAcCHM Programs Only)
You may petition to earn credit for one course per department through a challenge exam, excluding clinical training courses. Eligibility includes:
- Courses taken more than five years ago.
- Courses completed with a grade lower than C, making them ineligible for standard transfer credit.
- Courses that were insufficient in content to qualify for full transfer credit.
Challenge Exam Details:
- The course syllabus will be provided to aid in preparation.
- Exams must be taken before the start of the program term in which the course is required.
- A minimum passing score of 70% is required.
- Each course can be challenged only once. If the exam is not passed, enrollment in the course is required at full tuition.
Note: Credits earned through assessment or achievement examinations at other TCM schools are non-transferable.
For further guidance on transfer policies for any of our programs, please contact the Admissions Office.
Acupuncture School Transfer Student Questions and Answers
What are the main concerns when transferring from another graduate college to YSU?
Students often have concerns about the transferability of credits, the alignment of previous coursework with YSU’s curriculum, differences in tuition and financial aid opportunities, adaptation to a new academic environment, meeting the prerequisites for specialized courses, and the potential impact on their graduation timeline.
How does YSU evaluate transfer credits from other institutions?
At YSU, we conduct a thorough review of your previous coursework to determine the compatibility and equivalence with our accredited degree programs in Traditional Chinese Medicine. We consider the accreditation status of the institution, the relevance of the courses to our curriculum, and the grades earned. This ensures that your education aligns with the standards required by NCCAOM and the California Acupuncture Board for licensure.
Can I expect my tuition costs and financial aid to change when I transfer to YSU?
Tuition costs at YSU are competitive, and we offer a range of scholarships and financial aid options to support our students. Transferring students may see a change in their tuition and financial aid packages, and we encourage you to consult with our financial aid office to understand your options and any adjustments that may apply.
How does YSU support the transition for students transferring from other institutions?
YSU is committed to making your transition as smooth as possible. We offer orientation programs, academic advising, and student support services to help you acclimate to our unique blend of ancient healing techniques and modern integrative medicine education. Our community is welcoming, and we value the diverse perspectives that transferring students bring to our campus.
What prerequisites must be met for specialized courses at YSU?
Some of our advanced courses in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine require prerequisites to ensure that all students have the foundational knowledge necessary for success. These prerequisites are outlined in our course catalog, and our academic advisors can help you plan your course of study to meet any necessary requirements.
How might transferring to YSU affect my expected graduation date?
The impact on your graduation timeline depends on the transferability of your previous credits and how closely your completed coursework aligns with our curriculum. Our academic advisors work closely with transferring students to develop a personalized academic plan that minimizes any delays and keeps you on track towards your degree and licensure goals.
Who can I talk to for more information about transferring to YSU?
For more information about transferring to YSU and to discuss your specific situation, please contact our admissions office. Our team is ready to assist you with any questions you have about the transfer process, program requirements, and how YSU can support your career goals in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Apply for your transfer now to Yo San University.
8 things you should consider as a TCM school transfer student
In the context of graduate programs, such as those offered by Yo San University in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), students should be particularly attentive to aspects that affect both their academic progression and future career prospects. Here are some primary concerns:
- Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning: Students are often concerned about the transferability of credits from one institution to another. They want to ensure that the courses they have already completed will be recognized by the new institution, minimizing the need to retake courses and extend their study time unnecessarily.
- Curriculum Compatibility: For a specialized degree like acupuncture, it's crucial that the curriculum at the new institution aligns with your academic and professional objectives. Look for similarities in course content, teaching methods, and how well the program prepares you for licensure exams such as those conducted by the NCCAOM and California Acupuncture Board.
- Licensure and Certification: Students pursuing degrees in fields that require licensure, such as acupuncture and herbal medicine, should be particularly concerned about how well the new program will prepare them for the necessary licensing examinations. The accreditation of the program by relevant bodies (e.g., NCCAOM, California Acupuncture Board) is crucial to ensure eligibility for these exams.
- Financial Implications: The cost of transferring schools, potential loss of scholarships or financial aid, and the overall financial burden of extending their education are significant concerns. Students will need to evaluate the financial impact of transferring, including tuition fees, living expenses, and any lost income if the program extension necessitates a longer period away from the workforce.
- Cultural and Philosophical Alignment: For programs deeply rooted in cultural and philosophical traditions, like those based on TCM and Taoist principles, students are often concerned about the cultural and philosophical alignment between themselves and the new institution. You should seek environments where they can thrive academically and spiritually.
- Clinical Training and Practice Opportunities: Access to quality clinical training and practice opportunities is a major concern for students in hands-on healthcare fields like TCM. You should look into the availability and quality of clinical internships, the diversity of patient cases they will encounter, and how well these opportunities prepare you for real-world practice.
- Reputation and Networking Opportunities: The reputation of the institution and its faculty, along with networking opportunities within the field, can significantly impact your future career prospects. Consider how transferring will affect your ability to connect with peers, professionals, and potential employers in their field.
- Support Services: Transition support services, including academic advising, career counseling, and mental health services, are important for students undergoing the potentially stressful process of transferring. You should gather information on how the new institution supports transfer students in integrating into the academic and social fabric of the school.
Look for a school that provides detailed, transparent information about credit transfer policies, curriculum specifics, licensure preparation, financial aid opportunities, and support services available to transfer students.