Ayurvedic Practitioner Certificate (Level II)

Program Details

The Ayurvedic Practitioner program is intended for Ayurvedic Health Counselors who are interested in deepening their competencies in Ayurveda clinical assessments and treatments. As the only program in the West affiliated with a university, SCU students enjoy the advantages of highly degreed and experienced faculty combined with the latest classroom, online learning, and lab technologies. SCU’s Ayurvedic program is based on the guidelines of the World Health Organization benchmarks for training in traditional /complementary and alternative medicine: benchmarks for training in Ayurveda. This program includes a strong emphasis on clinical practice and the understanding of Ayurvedic pathology, diagnosis, and herbal medicine. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to determine the vikriti (imbalances) of an individual’s body and mind; and will be able to design a comprehensive treatment plan for clients to realign imbalanced states of the doshas (natural energy), agni (digestive fire), dhatus (tissues), and malas (waste products), using herbs, diet, lifestyle, yoga, and body therapies.

Program At-A-Glance

STUDENTS CHOOSE ONE OF TWO PROGRAM SCHEDULES

Full-time schedule (3 Terms | 12 months): Students in the full-time program are expected to enroll full-time for three consecutive terms including the summer. Courses are offered on-ground and in an online format.

Part-time schedule (7 Terms | 28 months): Students in part-time program are expected to enroll part-time for seven consecutive terms including the summer. Courses are offered on-ground and in an online format.

Ayurvedic Therapies

SCU’s Ayurveda program includes coursework in many Ayurvedic therapies. Each therapy has unique benefits that will restore the balance to the body and mind to future patients. Therapies include Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Shiroabhyanga, Greeva Basti, Kati Basti, Janu Basti, Shashtika Shali Pinda Sweda (Rice Therapy), Podi Kizhi, Pizhichil, Nasya, and Virechana.

Ayurvedic Herbology

Learn about Ayurvedic principles of pharmacy and pharmaceutics. Students will learn about individual herbs, combining herbs into formulas with respect to selection of raw herbs, method of preparation, storage, and posology.  Students will also learn about the important Ayurvedic herbal combinations with their functions, indication, and contraindication for the management of specific pathologies.

Ayurvedic Diet and Lifestyle

Learn about how to structure the diet based on Ayurveda principles, qualities, and actions of various grains, legumes, spices, vegetables and greens, and also will learn various meal preparations for health promotion and wellness care. Students also will get a deeper understanding of the Ayurveda preventive medicine and lifestyle practices such as daily routine, and seasonal routine that emphasizes health promotion. Students will also learn yoga philosophies and mindful meditation typically used in Ayurvedic treatments. Students will also learn various yoga practices such as asanas, meditation, and various breathing techniques.

Ayurvedic Pathology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Students will learn etiopathogenesis, clinical features of diseases of various systems in the body, how to check vitals, and Ayurvedic examination of the patient. Students will also learn how to record, implement, and adapt a patient management plan from an Ayurvedic perspective to bring balance in the body and mind.

Class Schedule (Full-Time)

Ayurvedic Practitioner courses are typically held at the following times, for students in the 3-term schedules:

• On-ground Sessions: Held on Saturday and Sunday during Term 1, and during Term 2 or Term 3.
• Online Synchronous Weekday Classes: Every Monday and Wednesday evening all the three terms.
• Online Synchronous Weekend Classes: Weekends in week 1 or 2 (Saturday and Sunday) and in week 13 or 14 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) of each term.
• Asynchronous Weekly Lecture: Pre-recorded lectures are available for each week.
• On-ground Clinical Rotations (AYPC51, AYPC52 and AYPC53): Weekly 4-hour rotations in the University Health Center System or other approved clinical site during Clinical Clerkship in all of the AYP Clerkship courses (AYPC51, AYPC52, AYPC53) – or on other schedule for students who receive program approval to complete clinical hours in more condensed blocks of time.

All times Pacific. Schedule is subject to change.

Class Schedule (Part-Time)

Courses are typically held on the following days, for students in the 7-term schedule.

• Two on ground sessions held on, Saturday and Sunday in the program
• Online synchronous lectures on weekday evenings and weekends
• Asynchronous weekly lecture
• On-Ground Clinical Rotations (AYWC52: Ayurvedic Wellness Clerkship II): 4-hour rotations at the University Health Center, the University’s clinic, or another approved clinical site. Rotations are held during last term for 15 weeks, or on an alternate schedule for students who receive program approval to complete clinical hours in more condensed blocks of time

Note: all times are Pacific Time (PT).

Courses Covered in Ayurvedic Practitioner Program

Program Learning Outcomes

1. 1. Ayurvedic Assessment and Diagnosis: The graduate will apply Ayurvedic principles to accurately assess and diagnose patient conditions.
   2. Ayurvedic Management Plan: The graduate will apply Ayurvedic principles to create a management plan including lifestyle, herbs, nutrition, therapies, and yoga required to promote health and manage disease.
   3. Evidence-informed Practice: The graduate will apply and appraise historical and scientific evidence into clinical practice.
   4. Professionalism and Communication: The graduate will exhibit professionalism and communicate with an awareness of ethical practice.
   5. Interprofessional Collaboration: Effectively collaborate with health-care professionals to design, coordinate, and deliver patient-centered care, ensuring a holistic and integrative approach.

Ayurveda Program Mission

The Ayurveda Program at Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) prepares students to become empathetic, competent Ayurvedic professionals who improve lives through a person-centered, outcome-focused, whole-health approach to health and healing.

The Ayurveda program’s mission aligns with SCU’s mission by preparing professional, competent and caring Ayurvedic Health Counselors and Practitioners. Through skill mastery and a strong evidence-based curriculum, graduates have the tools to be successful as independent Ayurveda professionals or collaborative members of an integrative healthcare team.

SCU’s Ayurveda program Values are:  

• Patient-centered care
• Individualized care
• Evidence-based teaching
• Clinical learning framework
• Healthy lifestyle
• Holistic approach
• Health promotion & wellness care