Preparing for Admission to Chiropractic School

Coursework

Note: To enter a program in that awards a Doctorate of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree, you must complete 90 total credits with a 3.0 GPA, including 24 credit hours in science courses, of which at least half (12hrs) contain a substantive laboratory component. The 90 hours should also include a well-rounded general education program in the humanities and social sciences. GPA and course guidelines from individual schools may be more or less stringent. For example, some schools require incoming students to have a bachelor’s degree (in any field). Although the coursework is not prescribed, the following courses would be useful, and would satisfy an articulation agreement between UIU and Palmer College:

Principles of Biology I (BIO 135)
Principles of Biology II (BIO 140)
General Chemistry I (CHEM 151)
General Chemistry II (CHEM 152)
Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 251)
Organic Chemistry II (CHEM 252)
Biochemistry (CHEM 330)
Physics I + Lab (PHY 111 & 112)
Physics II + Lab (PHY 113 & 114)
General Psychology (PSY 190)
Basic Composition (ENG 101)
Expository Writing (ENG 201)
Social science or humanities (include ANTH 110, PSY 310 or 360 or SOC 110 if majoring in Exercise Science major below)
Anatomy and Physiology I (BIO 270)
Anatomy and Physiology II (BIO 275)

Additional courses to earn a major if you complete all the courses listed above, your general education courses (and earn 120 total credit hours):

Biology (Pre-Prof/Health Sci) emphasis

General Genetics (BIO 283)
Cell and Molecular Biology (BIO 381)
Evolution (BIO 340)
Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry (MATH 115)
Statistics (MATH 220)
Scientific Literature Skills (BIO 201)
Thesis I (BIO 398)
Thesis II (BIO 498)
6 Hrs approved electives

Exercise Science (Pre-Professional Emphasis)

First Aid/CPR (EXSS 102 or certification)
Developmental Psych (EDU 142, PSY 212 or 222)
Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries (AT 166)
Foundations of Physical Fitness (EXSS 226)
Sports Nutrition (EXSS 283)
Exercise Physiology (EXSS 302)
Kinesiology and Biomechanics (EXSS 305)
Psychology of Exercise and Sport (EXSS 318)
Sport Law and Legal Issues (EXSS 334)
Motor Learning (EXSS 360)
Exercise Prescription (EXSS 420)
Medical Terminology (EXSS 170)
Statistics (MATH 220)
Capstone in EXSS (EXSS 403 or 499)

Experience

While completing coursework is essential, you should also strive to complete volunteer or job-shadowing hours with a licensed chiropractor. This will convey to admissions committees that you are familiar with the job and know what type of career you will have.

Application Timelines

Chiropractic Colleges frequently have multiple application deadlines throughout the year and have rolling admissions. You will be asked to provide references in addition to a record of your completed coursework. Some schools participate in a centralized application system, ChiroCAS.

UIU-Chiropractic School Articulation Agreements

Upper Iowa University’s Department of Biology has a 3 + 1 articulation agreement with three Chiropractic Colleges (Palmer College of Chiropractic, Logan University and Northwestern Health Sciences University). This program allows you to complete 3 years of coursework (90 credit hours) at UIU followed by enrolling at one of those three schools for the D.C. program. Upon completion of your first 30 credit hours at an articulated chiropractic school, you may transfer those credits back to UIU and be awarded a B.S. in Biology. In order to enroll in chiropractic schools via this articulation, UIU coursework must be completed with a GPA ≥ 3.0, and you must have the favorable recommendation of the Biology and Chemistry Department. Contact the pre-professional advisor, Dr. Sara Sheeley ([email protected]) for more information about the articulation agreements.