Post Graduate Degree in Acupuncture in Dentistry

General Objectives of the Course

The Post Graduate course in Acupuncture is aimed to University Graduates and Physicians who wish to practice the medical competence of Acupuncture, understanding as a general aim that Acupuncture is an integral part of the medical procedure.
The course comprises four academic semesters.
Subjects are taught using horizontal and vertical integration and are grouped into coherent curricular units. The teaching-learning process is targeted to acquiring knowledge which were not part of the graduate course and to acquiring the competence to practice acupuncture as part of the medical procedure, at the level of diagnosis and therapy.
In the first semester there are only theoretical classes and theoretical and practical classes of simulated clinical practice, using models. In the remaining semesters there are also clinical classes with patients making a minimum total of 150 hours of integrated clinical practice.
The integrated clinical practice includes the medical procedure, carrying out a medical appointment based on the current scientific and medical knowledge complemented with TCM elements with the prescription of acupuncture treatment, supplemented with drugs or physiatrics and rehabilitation techniques or other techniques when necessary.
The duration of the proposed course is two years (four semesters) which correspond to 120 ECTS. Based on the experience of the previous course, and after consulting teachers and former students, four semesters were considered to allow adequate training in accordance with the aims of the course.

Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine and holders of a professional healthcare license valid in the Portuguese territory.

Candidates should check the admission requirements available on this site, in addition to the information provided here.

Professional Goals

The teaching-learning process is targeted to acquiring knowledge which were not part of the graduate course and to acquiring the competence to practice acupuncture as part of the medical procedure, at the level of diagnosis and therapy.
The Graduates should be competent to:
- know the applications and limitations of Acupuncture;
- know and understand the physiological basis in which Acupuncture action is established;
- establish a critical comparison between the medical reasoning and the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM);
- carry out a medical observation of the patient and determine the appropriate therapeutic scheme in an integrated way;
- formulate a treatment plan and predict its evolution;
- carry out treatments of manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture integrated in the general treatment;
- cooperate within a multidisciplinary team in the treatment of complex cases;
- use all means at their disposal to improve their professional training.

Mode of Study

The course is delivered in full time or part time attendance and daytime schedule.

Teaching / Evaluation language(s)

Portuguese

Examination Regulations, Assessment and Grading

As assessment is a pedagogical activity inseparable from the teaching process, its aim is to establish the students' competencies and knowledge, their critical sense, ability to recognize and resolve problems, as well as their written and oral presentation skills. Students may only register for exams for classes they are currently registered for under the terms of number 6 of article 4 of the University of Coimbra Pedagogical Policy. The following are examples of assessment items: Oral or written exams, written or practical work, individual and group projects that may require an oral defense, as well as class participation. Assessment for each class may include one or more of the above mentioned items. Grading is based on a scale of 0 to 20 and a grade of 10 is required to pass. Whenever assessment includes more than one item, the final grade is calculated by taking into account the relative weight of each item according to a formula published in the course outline under the terms of number 2 of article 7 of the UC Pedagogical Policy.

Learning Objectives and Intended Skills

The Graduates should be competent to:
- know the applications and limitations of Acupuncture;
- know and understand the physiological basis in which the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are established;
- carry out a medical observation of the patient and determine the appropriate therapeutic scheme in an integrated way;
- formulate a treatment plan and predict its evolution;
- carry out treatments of manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture integrated in the general treatment;
- cooperate within a multidisciplinary team in the treatment of complex cases;
- use all means at their disposal to improve their professional training.
In addition, the course should also:
- encourage the development of a scientific attitude to develop and stimulate professional interest;
- deepen the principles of scientific methodology;
- deepen the interpretation of medical literature;
- stimulate research activities and oral and written presentation of scientific and clinical results.

Course Coordinator(s)

Maria Filomena Rabaça Roque Botelho
mfbotelho@fmed.uc.pt

Recognition of Prior Learning

The provisions of article 45 in the Decree Law no. 74/2006, 24th March, with the words of Decree Law no.107/2008, 25th June shall apply.

Qualification Requirements and Regulations

The legal framework for the qualification is established by the decrees: Decree-Law no. 74/2006, 24th March, amended and republished by the decree: DL no 107/2008, 25th June; Ordinance no. 782/2009, 23rd de July.

Graduation Requirements

In order to achieve the competences listed in accordance with the aims of the course, this is organized in curricular units, some taught simultaneously and others taught sequentially, thus allowing a successful integration of the subjects and successive application of the acquired knowledge and the developed skills. Teaching-learning strategies include a process that emphasizes student’s work, especially in the practical component, and is developed with the participation of PBL techniques (Problem Based Learning) and TBL techniques (Task Based Learning).
Subjects included in the curricular units are those needed to acquire the competences which are intended to be achieved with the specialization training in Acupuncture. This course has a basic technical component complemented with a supervised clinical activity. The changes take into account the competences to be developed in line with the existing and applicable legislation. The studies plan project and the curricular development which is in the studies plan (Peça B) states the application of methodologies needed to acquire the competences that are part of the aims of the course.

Access to Further Studies

This Post Graduate degree allows health professionals to have a specialization in Acupuncture and its general aim is that Acupuncture is an integral part of the medical procedure. Is allows the student to have access to high level training, namely 2nd cycle studies (Master Degree).

Study Programme

Acupuncture in Dentistry

Academic year
2017-2018

Course Type
Non Degree Course

DGES Code: 3894

Qualification Awarded: Diploma/Certificate

Duration: 2 Semester(s)

ECTS Credits: 60.0

Price : 2500.0


Applications

Call for Applications


Calendar

1st Semester
Start date: 04-09-2017
End date: 15-12-2017
2nd Semester
Start date: 05-02-2018
End date: 30-05-2018

Documents