Program overview
The TCM program teaches you how to study traditional Chinese medicine using modern scientific methods. You'll not only learn classic courses like Chinese Materia Medica, Formulas, and Chemistry of Chinese Materia Medica, but also modern subjects such as Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, Analysis of Chinese Materia Medica, and Pharmaceutics of Chinese Materia Medica. Simply put, you'll figure out why a herb works, how to extract its active ingredients, and how to turn it into safe, effective medicine. Many Chinese universities have unique features—for example, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine have affiliated pharmaceutical factories and clinical bases, where you can process herbs yourself, analyze components, and even participate in new drug development. This major suits students who are interested in natural therapies, enjoy hands-on experiments, and are willing to memorize the Compendium of Materia Medica. Don't worry about the language—many courses have English textbooks, and teachers are considerate of international students.