Pre-Chiropractic Education

The Chiropractic Profession
The Chiropractic profession is a branch of health care that focuses on manipulation of the body as the best mode of care and treatment for many injuries and illnesses.  It emphasizes the interrelatedness of the body parts as a whole system, but especially as they relate to the functions of the nervous system.  Since the majority of the body’s organs are connected by nerves that enter or leave the spine, and  emphasis is placed on the correct structure and function of the spine and the body joints.  Chiropractors consider themselves to be primary care providers - persons who are a point of first contact with a person seeking relief from some malfunction.  It is expected that chiropractors will refer some of their patients for treatment of conditions beyond the scope of chiropractic methods.

Chiropractic Education
A Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) Degree Program provides students with knowledge in the sciences and health related subjects, and can range from 3 – 5 years in length.  Curriculum includes instruction in the sciences, as well as in the primary adjusting and manipulative procedures. 

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. 

1.  Required Courses

Biological Sciences with lab – 8 hours
General Chemistry with lab - 8 hours 
Organic Chemistry with lab  - 8 hours 
** The second semester of Organic Chemistry may be completed by taking Organic Chemistry II, or by taking Biochemistry with lab. 
Physics with lab - 10 hours 
** 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.                 

English Composition - 6 hours

Psychology - 3 hours

Social Sciences/Humanities - 15 hours 
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

2.  Recommended Courses
Courses in the following subjects are recommended:
Advanced Science Courses
Biochemistry
Business Courses in marketing, management, advertising, and business administration
Communication Courses
Computer Courses

Extracurricular Experiences
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
http://www.amerchiro.org/

Council on Chiropractic Education
http://www.cce-usa.org/