Dongguk University Los Angeles

Dongguk University Los Angeles (DULA) is a nonprofit graduate institution in Koreatown, Los Angeles, focused on acupuncture and East Asian medicine. It serves a specific professional goal: preparing students for acupuncture practice through classroom study and supervised clinical hours. Its programs are institutionally accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM), and the university says its Master of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine is approved by the California Acupuncture Board. Because professional licensing rules vary by state, applicants planning to practice outside California should verify requirements with that state’s licensing board before enrolling.

Degrees, clinical preparation and admissions

DULA currently lists three routes: the four-year Master of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (MAcHM), the four-year Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (DAcHM), and a nine-month DAcHM completion track for already-qualified acupuncturists. The MAcHM involves 213 didactic units and 960 clinical hours; the DAcHM route includes 243 didactic units and 1,000 clinical hours. The completion track adds 30 didactic units and 40 clinical hours. Instruction can be in person, online, or hybrid, but clinical training requires hands-on participation. Applicants to the master’s program need a bachelor’s degree or at least 60 semester units of prior college work and a minimum 2.25 cumulative GPA; the doctoral program has a higher prior-credit threshold. Confirm transfer-credit and course-sequencing details with an academic adviser.

The school’s whole-health clinic connects training with patient care and gives the campus a practical, clinical character. Ask how student clinic assignments are supervised, when students begin treating patients, what language support is available, and how the lecture format is scheduled each quarter. DULA’s admissions page describes the application process and current degree routes. Its accreditation page also distinguishes active programs from prior program tracks that have closed, so verify the exact degree title on your enrollment agreement.

Tuition, scholarships and financial aid

The published estimated program total is $55,830 for the MAcHM and $66,980 for the DAcHM. DULA says those estimates include required tuition, fees, books, supplies, and clinical malpractice insurance for students finishing in the minimum time; housing, meals, transportation, and other living costs are additional. Published supplemental charges include a $100 application fee and quarterly facility, technology, and registration fees. Tuition schedules can change, so ask the accounting office for a current term-by-term estimate and a written total for your expected pace of study.

DULA describes federal student aid, work-study, veteran benefits, and installment payments as possible sources of support for eligible students. Its scholarship page currently says listed awards are under review and temporarily unavailable; do not count on a scholarship until the school confirms an amount in writing. Financial-aid eligibility has enrollment and satisfactory-progress conditions, and the university’s aid page notes changes to federal graduate loan rules taking effect in 2026. Contact Financial Aid to compare the revised loan options with the full program cost before accepting an offer. The tuition and fees schedule and financial-aid information provide the current details.

Location, services and student perspective

The single campus is at 440 Shatto Place, second floor, Los Angeles, CA 90020. The university’s public office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday and national holidays are closed. Call the university at (213) 487-0110, Admissions at (213) 925-9944, or the clinic at (213) 487-0150. The on-site clinic is a separate service from degree admissions; ask the clinic directly about appointment availability and patient fees. Use the school’s contact page to confirm a visit and reach the right office.

Independent student commentary about DULA is sparse. One publicly available student comment praises the traditional Chinese medicine instruction and says the acupuncture safety classes built confidence; that is an individual experience, not a broad consensus. Prospective students may get a clearer picture by attending an open house and asking current students about clinical supervision, class scheduling, and administrative support. Review the available student comment as anecdotal context, then contact Admissions to begin an application.