Undergraduate Preparation

All schools of chiropractic medicine require a minimum of 90 semester hours of undergraduate course work. Some programs may require the completion of a bachelor's degree prior to enrollment in the professional program. In addition, some states require a baccalaureate degree before licensure.

Required and Recommended Courses

Specific admission requirements vary for chiropractic schools.  Students should consult with schools of interest directly to determine their specific admission requirements.

Required Courses

* The second semester of Organic Chemistry may be completed by taking Organic Chemistry II, or by taking Biochemistry with lab. 

** The second semester of Physics can be completed by taking a General Physics II class, or by taking one of the following courses: Biomechanics, math-based Statistics, Kinesiology, or Exercise Physiology.  The second semester does not need a lab component as long as the first semester physics course included a lab.

It is recommended that students take classes in both the Humanities and Social Science areas.

Social Science areas include: Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Management, Marketing, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.

Humanities areas include: Art, Drama, Fine Arts, Foreign Language, Literature, Music, Philosophy, and Religion.

Recommended Courses

We recommend courses in:

• Advanced Science
• Biochemistry
• Marketing, management, advertising, and business administration
• Communication
• Computers

Back to top

Beyond Academics

Pre-Chiropractic students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular experiences that will help prepare them for Chiropractic School and the chiropractic profession.  Such experiences include leadership roles, volunteer work, research, and shadowing.  Extracurricular experiences play a significant role in a student’s application to a professional school program.  These experiences demonstrate a commitment to knowledge about the profession.  In particular, shadowing chiropractors and involvement with the Pre-Health Club will help students learn more about the chiropractic profession.

Application and Admission

Each chiropractic school varies in terms of requirements, so schools should be contacted directly for their admission requirements. Some chiropractic schools prefer the completion of a bachelor's degree as part of the pre-chiropractic preparation. In any case, it is advisable to be working toward a degree while completing pre-chiropractic requirements.  A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required for all schools of chiropractic. There are no chiropractic schools in Nebraska.

Additional Resoures

• American Chiropractic Association
• Council on Chiropractic Education