Course Descriptions
The following are course descriptions for all programs at Pacific Rim College. All Continuing Education workshop descriptions are listed under the Workshops page.
Please note, for each course we have indicated the semester(s) during which we hope to offer the course on a regular basis. This is intended to be a template only. We reserve the right to make changes to this information at any point in time, with or without notice.
Acupuncture
- Advanced Orthopedics and Traumatology (ACU/BMS332)
- Meridians and Points (ACU101/102)
- Energetics of Acupoints (ACU111/112)
- Techniques and Therapeutics (ACU113/114)
- Internal Medicine (ACU211/212)
- Acupuncture Lab I – Head and Limbs (ACU213)
- Acupuncture Lab II – Torso (ACU214)
- Gynecology (ACU321)
- Orthopedics and Traumatology (ACU322)
- Dermatology and External Medicine (ACU323)
- Pediatrics (ACU324)
- Ophthalmology and Ears, Nose, Throat (ACU325)
- Advanced Acupuncture Techniques (ACU521)
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Ayurveda
- Ayurvedic Nutrition (AYU/NU201)
- Ayurvedic Herbs and Spices (AYU/NU211)
- Foundations of Ayurveda (AYU101/102)
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Biomedical/Biological Sciences
- Anatomy and Physiology (BMS101/102)
- Surface Anatomy (BMS103)
- Advanced Surface Anatomy of the Upper and Lower Limb (BMS104)
- Botany/Horticulture (BMS112)
- Intro to Biochemistry (BMS113)
- First Aid and CPR (formerly BMS221) (BMS121)
- Natural Emergency Medicine (formerly BMS222) (BMS122)
- Pathophysiology (BMS201/202)
- Biochemistry (BMS211)
- Phytochemistry (BMS212)
- Western Diagnosis/Laboratory Tests (BMS231)
- Integrated Physical Examination Skills (BMS232)
- Plant Biochemistry, Physiology and Ecology (BMS233)
- Western Pharmacology (BMS431)
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Chinese Botanical Medicine
- Chinese Materia Medica I (CBOT331)
- Chinese Materia Medica II (CBOT332)
- Chinese Materia Medica III (CBOT333)
- Formulas and Strategies (CBOT401/402)
- Phytochemistry (CBOT403)
- Herbal Pharmacology (CBOT404)
- Practical Herbal Pharmacy (CBOT405)
- TCM Internal Medicine (CBOT411)
- Herbal Case Studies (CBOT412)
- Advanced Herbal Formulas (CBOT413)
- Herbal Identification and Dosing (CBOT414)
- TCM Gynecology (CBOT421)
- TCM Dermatology and External Medicine (CBOT422)
- TCM Ophthalmology and Ears, Nose, Throat (CBOT423)
- TCM Pediatrics (CBOT424)
- TCM Herbal Comprehensive Review (CBOT431)
- Integrative Materia Medica – Western Herbs Through the Lens of TCM (CBOT433)
- Modern TCM Herbal Research (CBOT501)
- Herb-Drug Interactions (CBOT531)
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Chinese Medicine
- TCM Food Therapy (NU/OM208)
- TCM Foundations (OM101/102)
- Chinese Medicine for Natural Health Practitioners (OM103/104)
- History of Chinese Medicine (OM108)
- Introduction to Tai Qi Chuan (OM111)
- Introduction to Qi Gong (OM112)
- Tui Na (OM113)
- Medical Mandarin (OM121)
- TCM Diagnosis (OM201/202)
- Intermediate Qi Gong (OM212)
- Five Elements (OM231)
- Comprehensive Review (OM301)
- Case Studies (OM302)
- Shi Liao: TCM Diet Therapy (OM401/NU401)
- TCM Classics I: Huang Di Nei Jing (OM402)
- TCM Classics II (OM501)
- TCM Classics III (OM502)
- Advanced TCM Internal Medicine (OM511)
- TCM Psychology (OM512)
- TCM Gerontology and Pediatrics (OM513)
- Advanced TCM Differentiation and Therapeutics (OM521)
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Chinese Medicine Clinical Practice
- Clinical Observation (CMCP101)
- Clinical Supervised Practice (CMCP102)
- CMCP111/112 Classmate Case Study Clinic (CMCP111/112)
- Clinical Independent Practice (CMCP200/300)
- Advanced Clinical Observation (CMCP301)
- Clinical Externship/Global Outreach Program (CMCP351)
- TCM Clinical Independent Practice (CMCP400)
- Advanced TCM Clinical Observation (CMCP401)
- Clinical Externship/Global Outreach Program (CMCP451)
- TCM Clinical Independent Practice (CMCP500)
- Advanced TCM Clinical Observation (CMCP501)
- Clinical Externship/Global Outreach Program (CMCP551)
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Community Herbalist Certificate
- Herbal Workshops (CHP)
- Natural Emergency Medicine (CHP/BMS122)
- Materia Medica (CHP/WHS102)
- Practical Herbal Pharmacy (CHP/WHS111)
- Backyard Gardening (CHP/WHS121)
- Herbal Walk/Identification (CHP/WHS131)
- Materia Medica for Community Herbalists (CHP/WHS139)
- Energetics of Herbal Medicine (CHP/WHS151)
- Introduction to Herbal Medicine (CHP104)
- Herbal Therapeutics (CHP111)
- Business Development (CHP113)
- Introduction to Nutrition (CHP117)
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Holistic Doula Certificate
- Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology for Doulas (DLA/BMS105)
- Doula Training and Ethics (DLA101)
- Intro to Midwifery & Primary Health Providers (DLA102)
- Energetics of Doula Work (DLA103)
- Intro to “Family Support” for Doulas (DLA104)
- Intro to Herbal Medicine for Doulas (DLA105)
- Tai Qi for Doulas (DLA106)
- Holistic Nutrition for Pregnancy and Childbirth (DLA107)
- Acupressure for Pregnancy and Childbirth (DLA108)
- Yogatherapy for Doulas (DLA109)
- Doula Research and Presentations (DLA112)
- Business Skills for Doulas (DLA113)
- Infant Feeding Foundations & Support (DLA116)
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Holistic Nutrition Certificate
- Foundations of Holistic Nutrition (HNCP/NU101)
- Evolution of Cultural Diets (HNCP/NU203)
- Materia Medica of Food (HNCP/NU221)
- Politics of Food (HNCP101)
- Food Therapeutics (HNCP104)
- Herbal Nutrition (NU/WHS116)
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Nutrition
- Foundations of Holistic Nutrition (NU101)
- Healing the Root: Addressing Inflammation through Food & Nutrition (NU102)
- Nutrition for Marginalized Populations (NU103)
- Disordered and Emotional Eating (NU104)
- Plant-Based Nutrition (NU105)
- Daily Nutrition through Lifestages: A Health Journey from Childhood to Older Adults (NU106)
- Professional Cooking (NU111)
- Fungal Foods and Mushroom Medicines (NU131)
- Digestive Health: Plant Medicine Basics (NU132)
- Science of Nutrition (NU202)
- Evolution of Cultural Diets (NU203)
- Food, Ecology and Society (NU204)
- Healing Practices Through the Ages (NU207)
- Materia Medica of Food (NU221)
- Pregnancy and Nutrition (NU233)
- Nutritional Benefit of Wild Plants (NU234)
- Early Childhood Nutrition (NU235)
- Holistic Nutrition Ethics and Beyond (NU288/PD288)
- Supplements (NU302)
- Nutrients and Diet Therapeutics I (NU311)
- Nutrients and Diet Therapeutics II (NU312)
- Nutrients and Diet Therapeutics III (NU313)
- Nutrients and Diet Therapeutics IV (NU314)
- Nutrients and Diet Therapeutics V (NU315)
- Nutrients and Diet Therapeutics VI (NU316)
- Toxicity of Foods (NU322)
- Shi Liao: TCM Diet Therapy (NU401/OM401)
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Nutrition Clinical Practice
- Nutrition Clinical Observation (NCP101)
- Nutrition Supervised Clinical Practice (NCP200)
- Nutrition Independent Clinical Practice (NCP300)
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Permaculture Design Literacy
- Global Design Strategies (DLPD101)
- Urban Renewal and Design Strategies (DLPD102)
- Natural Building (DLPD103)
- Group Processes (DLPD104)
- Sustainable Energy Systems (DLPD201)
- Business & Organizational Design (DLPD202)
- Design for Resilience (DLPD203)
- Applied Permaculture Design (DLPD204)
- Life Design (DLPD205)
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Permaculture Ecological Literacy
- Soils (ELPD101)
- Water Systems & Earthworks – Theory (ELPD102)
- Botany and Plant ID – Part I (ELPD103)
- Botany and Plant ID – Part II (ELPD104)
- Plants, Animals and Mushrooms – Theory, Planning and Design – Part I (ELPD105)
- Plants, Animals and Mushrooms – Theory, Planning and Design – Part II (ELPD106)
- Propagation, Cultivation, Harvesting & Traditional Skills – Part I – Winter (ELPD107)
- Propagation, Cultivation, Harvesting & Traditional Skills – Part II – Spring (ELPD108)
- Propagation, Cultivation, Harvesting & Traditional Skills – Part III – Autumn (ELPD109)
- Water Systems & Earthworks – Practice (ELPD201)
- Herbalism for Everyday Health and Wellbeing – Part I (ELPD202)
- Herbalism for Everyday Health and Wellbeing – Part II (ELPD203)
- Ecological Restoration (ELPD204)
- Bioremediation (ELPD205)
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Permaculture Foundational Concepts
- Introduction to Permaculture (FCPD101)
- Introduction to Indigenous Perspectives in Permaculture (FCPD102)
- Foundational Concepts (FCPD103)
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Permaculture Pattern Literacy
- Design Processes, Methods and Frameworks (PLPD101)
- Mapping & Site Surveys (PLPD201)
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Phytotherapy Clinical Practice
- Phytotherapy Clinical Observation (PCP101)
- Phytotherapy Clinical Supervised Practice (PCP200)
- Phytotherapy Clinical Independent Practice (PCP300)
- Phytotherapy Final Clinical Exam (PCP361)
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Professional Development
- Professional Writing Development (PD101)
- Self-Care for Caregivers (PD131)
- Foundations of Social Equity in Holistic Health Care (PD132)
- Fundamentals of Public Speaking (PD201)
- Patient Communication/Therapeutic Relationships (PD211)
- Inclusiveness in a Clinical Setting: Implementing Best Care Practices for Trans* Patients (PD213)
- Holistic Nutrition Ethics and Beyond (PD288/NU288)
- TCM Ethics (PD301)
- Business Development and Practice Management (PD302)
- Phytotherapy Ethics (PD303)
- Research Skills Development/Research Project (PD304)
- Professional Practice (PD305/WHS325)
- Acupuncture Professional Practice (PD306)
- TCM Professional Practice (PD307)
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Western Herbal Sciences
- Introduction to Herbal Medicine (WHS101)
- Materia Medica I (WHS102)
- Materia Medica II (WHS103)
- Flower Essences (WHS104)
- Practical Herbal Pharmacy (WHS111)
- Backyard Gardening (WHS121)
- Ways of Knowing Herbalism (WHS133)
- Introduction to Medical Astrology (WHS143 )
- Energetics of Herbal Medicine (WHS151)
- Materia Medica III (WHS201)
- Herbal Therapeutics I (WHS202)
- Materia Medica IV (WHS203)
- Herbal Therapeutics II (WHS204)
- Advanced Herbal Pharmacy (WHS205)
- Wildharvesting Practices for Medicinal Plants (WHS212)
- Wildharvesting Medicinal Plants (WHS225)
- Materia Medica of Mushrooms (WHS231)
- Growing, Harvesting and Sustainable Sourcing of Medicinal Plants (WHS233)
- Integrative Materia Medica – Western Herbs Through the Lens of TCM (WHS238)
- Deep Herbalism: Extending Plant Medicine (WHS242)
- Medical Astrology Case Studies (WHS253)
- Materia Medica V (WHS301)
- Materia Medica VI (WHS302)
- Herbal Therapeutics III (WHS303)
- Herbal Therapeutics IV (WHS305)
- Herbal Case Studies (WHS306)
- Mental Health Therapeutics (WHS307)
- Advanced Therapeutics: Complex Conditions (WHS309)
- Professional Practice (WHS325/PD305)
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