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Dongguk University Los Angeles

#2753 in US ranking Los Angeles, CA
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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What is the history of Dongguk University Los Angeles?

Dongguk University Los Angeles (DULA) is a Los Angeles institution focused on graduate education in acupuncture and East Asian medicine. It has also used the name Dongguk Royal University. Its connection to Dongguk University in South Korea helps explain its present name, but applicants should treat the Los Angeles institution as a distinct school when checking accreditation, admissions, and degree requirements.

The institution's development from a specialized school of Asian medicine into a graduate-level university is more relevant to most applicants than a conventional undergraduate-college history. Older catalogs and records may use different institutional or program names; students comparing them with current requirements should confirm which name and curriculum were in effect at the time.

What are the faculties and departments at Dongguk University Los Angeles?

DULA's academic focus is acupuncture and East Asian medicine, not a broad collection of undergraduate colleges. Its educational model centers on professional coursework and clinical preparation rather than a menu of conventional bachelor's majors.

Prospective students should use the current academic catalog to identify the exact credential offered in their intended field. Program titles in acupuncture education have changed over time, and a master's degree, an entry-level doctorate, and a post-professional doctorate can have different prerequisites, clinical-hour requirements, and licensing implications. A course in herbal medicine also does not, by itself, establish that every credential has the same herbal-medicine scope.

What is the location of Dongguk University Los Angeles?

DULA is in Los Angeles, California, in an urban setting. Its Shatto Place location places students in a metropolitan area where commuting, clinical travel, and the cost of living deserve attention alongside classroom schedules.

The surrounding Koreatown and Mid-Wilshire area has bus and rail connections, including the Wilshire/Vermont Metro station in the wider neighborhood. Applicants planning to use transit should check the route to their actual class and clinical sites, which may have different schedules. Those who plan to drive should ask about parking availability and charges before treating a published tuition figure as their full commuting cost.

What is the mission and vision of Dongguk University Los Angeles?

DULA's educational purpose is centered on preparing practitioners of acupuncture and East Asian medicine. Its identity is also connected to Dongguk University's Buddhist heritage; that background is an institutional affiliation, not a substitute for checking a program's academic or licensing requirements.

For applicants, the practical question is how that purpose appears in the curriculum: classroom study, supervised clinical training, and preparation for professional practice. A mission statement describes what an institution intends to do. It does not independently establish graduates' licensing results, employment outcomes, or the effectiveness of a particular treatment.

Dongguk University Los Angeles Profile - Basic Information

Name of the institution

Dongguk University Los Angeles

Level of institution

Four or more years

Control of institution

Private

Setting type

City: Large

Institutional Category

Degree - granting, graduate with no undergraduate degrees

Institution size category

Under 1,000

Dongguk University Los Angeles Accreditation

Dongguk University Los Angeles is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.

Dongguk University Los Angeles Programs and Degrees

iconMaster's degree
iconDoctor's degree - professional practice

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.