Ayurvedic Practitioner Certificate (Level II)

Courses & Labs

The Ayurvedic Practitioner program is intended for Ayurvedic Wellness Educators 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)

• On-ground lecture Friday, Saturday, and Sunday twice per term from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm in all three terms.
• Online synchronous lectures once a week from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm in all three terms.
• Online synchronous lectures one weekend of the second and third month of all three terms.
• Weekly 4-hour rotations in the University Health Center System or other approved clinical site during Clinical Clerkship in all of the AYPC courses (AYPC51, AYPC52, AYPC53).

Class Schedule (Part-Time)

Courses are typically held on the following days, for students in the 7-term schedule.  Evening classes usually start at 5:30 pm except for Friday which starts at 5:00 pm. Weekend classes start at 8:00 am.

• On-ground session Friday, Saturday, and/or Sunday, twice per term.
• Online synchronous lectures on weekday evenings.
• Online synchronous lecture Saturday and/or Sunday of the second and third month of the term.
• Weekly, on-ground, 4-hour rotations at the University Health Center, the University’s owned and operated clinic on campus, or other approved clinical sites during all of the AYPC courses (AYPC51, AYPC52, AYPC53).

Note: all times are Pacific Time (PT).

Courses Covered in Ayurvedic Practitioner Program

Program Learning Outcomes

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.

For full program information, view the catalog.

Ayurveda Program Mission

Our mission is to provide students with the best quality of education in Ayurvedic Medicine, emphasizing preventative and integrative health care.

Our departmental mission aligns with the SCU mission by preparing professional, competent and caring Ayurvedic Wellness Educators 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.

Ayurveda Program Values

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