（1）Diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), a branch of studies guided by the TCM theory, concerns about how to apply diagnostic methods and to make pattern identification. It could be regarded as a bridge linking the basic theories and clinical studies.

（2）Diagnostic methods are used to examine patients and collect clinical data. Pattern identification includes pattern identification with eight principles, pattern identification of qi, blood and body fluids, and pattern identification of zang-fu organs, for analyzing the data obtained by the diagnostic methods and differentiating the nature of disease. 

（3）The students could understand the basic principles and theories of diagnosis in TCM, to master the techniques of diagnostic methods, and to have the ability to make pattern identification.

（1）To master the skills of the diagnostic methods;

（2）To analyse the clinical data obtained from the diagnostic methods;

（3）To have the ability of making pattern identification.

Fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Medicine