LEVEL 1:

Philosophy:
The first year of the Professional Course establishes the philosophical foundation for all subsequent learning and practice. Topics covered (the what and why of each) include:


The law of similars
The minimum dose (potentization)
The individualized approach
Materialism vs. vitalism
Holistic thinking and the single remedy
Nature and functioning of the vital force
Definitions of health and disease
Chronic disease and miasms
True acutes vs. acute flare-ups of the chronic

Clinical issues follow from the philosophical:

Developing powers of observation
Acute compared with chronic prescribing
Discerning when and how to prescribe acutely
Homeopathic pharmacy
Beginning case taking
Beginning case analysis
Using the tools of classical homeopathy

 

Professional development begins with an understanding of the history and current state of the profession.

Materia medica:
About forty polychrest and common acute remedies are covered in depth, with case illustrations and complete lectures. Remedies are discussed in terms of their various presentations in different contexts.

LEVEL 2:

Philosophy:
The second year revisits, reinforces, and adds nuance to the philosophical concepts introduced in the first year. In addition, new concepts include:

Medicines as artificial diseases
Stronger and weaker diseases
New and complex miasms
Remedy responses
Suppression, palliation, aggravation, relapse
Obstacles to cure
Hering’s Law
Treating vs. healing

Clinical issues:

Discerning what needs to be cured
Understanding the totality
Hierarchy of symptoms
Relationships of remedies
Follow-ups, evaluating the response
Evaluating the strength of the vital force
Prognosis
Potency selection
Developing case taking skills
Developing case analysis skills

Professional development continues with discussion of the variety of schools of thought in homeopathy today. Self-reflective exercises encourage students to explore their own identity as developing practitioners.

Materia medica:
Another forty remedies are covered, and some covered previously are reviewed in a new presentation. Remedies are discussed in light of their family and/or miasmatic relationships.

 

LEVELS 3 and 4:

Philosophy:
The third and fourth years set homeopathic philosophy in the context of clinical practice, using concrete examples to explore the practical implications of the concepts learned in the first two years. Case examples from the clinic are studied in light of the philosophical principles they exemplify, and self-reflection encourages students to assimilate homeopathic philosophy into their actions as practitioners.

Clinical issues:
Topics studied in the first two years are revisited in light of actual cases from the clinic. In addition, new topics include

Blocked and relapsing cases
Interfacing with other therapies
The second prescription
Ethics
Professional engagement
Record-keeping
Building and maintaining a practice

Professional development arises from discussion of the practical issues involved in building a practice and maintaining it over time. Opportunities for self-reflection continue, along with exploration of ways to engage professionally with the homeopathic community.

Materia medica:
Presentation of new remedies continues, alongside reinforcement of those learned previously. In light of clinical practice, there is an emphasis on differential materia medica and understanding the totality of each remedy.


Supervised clinical experience:
An incremental, developmental approach to practice in the clinic eases students gradually into taking and managing cases under the supervision of a certified practitioner. Beginning in working groups and moving into independence, students experience homeopathic practice in a real-life setting and earn clinical training hours toward certification. Each student can expect to have at least five of his or her own cases by the time of graduation.

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