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The Instructional Design of the Doctorate Program

Case-based Instruction in Didactic Courses
Pacific College has used case-based instruction in the Integrative Oriental Medicine series of its Master’s degree for many years. The results have been impressive and are taken to greater levels of refinement and sophistication in the doctoral program. A clinical case provides an immediate context and relevance to the subject at hand. Context is important to retention. As we all know, relevance is a key characteristic of effective adult education, a field in which Pacific College’s academic deans are expert. Extensive lectures from recognized leaders in the field will still supplement the case discussions. However, we recognize that it is impossible to teach the entirety of any of these constantly evolving subjects. Doctoral graduates who will be considered leaders in the field must have the means and habit of staying current themselves. Therefore, as part of the case-based approach, the faculty member models to students and students apply the problem-solving method that they have been taught by Pacific’s academic leadership team. Students are expected to demonstrate problem-solving in the written projects, which evidence their critical-thinking and self-directed learning in the particular subject. Pacific’s doctoral grading practices emphasize projects and minimize exams. The college believes that doctoral training is a time to demonstrate originality and productivity, not simply to memorize and repeat what has been presented in class.

Research Activities
The Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) series supports the goal of self-directed learning and critical thinking. Research is the formalized application of critical-thinking, problem-solving methodology. The college’s research courses provide the technical skills that underlie modern scientific inquiry, i.e., the inductive-deductive method. The most fundamental aspect of critical thinking is having a method by which one can ascertain that one’s thinking is correct. This is the fundamental role of the EBM series. It culminates in the Clinical Capstone Project. The project promotes and assesses the doctoral fellows’ understanding of problem solving, research methodology, and the standards of modern, scientific publication. It allows them to explore their area of specialization and to create a product that contributes to the knowledge base of the profession.

Specialization (Didactic and Clinical)
Even within the holistic framework of Chinese medicine, specialization has been a tradition and one that is of critical importance to the continued development of the field. Pacific College has selected Family Medicine as the core specialty. The doctoral program concentrates on Neuromuscular Medicine, Geriatrics, Mental Health, Women's Health, Orthopedic and Pediatric areas of study within Family Medicine. The doctoral fellow must complete the specialty series in its entirety, i.e., all specialty courses, specialization clinic, and a related capstone project as one requirement of graduation. Doctoral fellows participate in over 1000 hours of didactic, clinical and research activities in specialization. The college believes this significant level of training within specialization will create leaders who will raise the level of teaching, authorship, and research in the area of Family Medicine.

Schedule of Classes
Pacific College’s doctoral program is currently designed for resident, full-time doctoral fellows. It is, however, scheduled to be highly manageable for practitioners maintaining a full-time private practice or other significant commitments. Each semester or term is five months and there are six terms in the program for a total of 30 months of study. During each five-month term, students attend classes on Thursdays through Sundays one weekend a month. In addition to the didactic courses, doctoral fellows do one day of clinic shifts each month in the college’s Integrative Outpatient Clinic. For a detailed schedule of classes, please contact an admissions counselor. Clinical instruction is scheduled during the business hours of the clinic. Due to the comprehensive nature and length of the program of study, classes may be held on secular and religious holidays. While recognizing the importance of religious observation, Pacific cannot promise students that scheduled classes will not conflict with religious obligations. The aforementioned workload and schedule descriptions are meant for general information purposes only. Students should expect some variation from course to course, and semester to semester.