SDSU Home
Pre-Chiropractic
Advisor: Greg Heiberger
E-Mail: Greg.Heiberger@sdstate.edu
College of General Studies
Wecota Hall 218
Brookings, SD 57007
(605) 688-4294The Chiropractic Profession
Undergraduate Majors
Chiropractic Schools
Minimum Application Requirements
Getting Accepted to Chiropractic School
Role of Your Advisor
Time Table & Recommended Courses
Useful links
A chiropractor is primarily concerned with the relationship between skeletal structure and body functions affected by the nervous system. The chiropractic philosophy of care is holistic and focuses on the body's natural healing abilities. The chiropractor strives to restore and preserve health through natural, drug-free treatments including spinal adjustment, exercise, diet, rest, and lifestyle changes.
As a primary care clinician, chiropractors are responsible for wellness promotion, health assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. When indicated, the doctor of chiropractic consults with or refers patients to other health care providers. (Council on Chiropractic Education, 2005; Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2006)
Chiropractors are licensed in all 50 states and some other countries.
According the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2006), the profession is expected to grow faster than average. A good job market is expected through 2014 as chiropractic gains broader acceptance, research expands on chiropractic treatment, and consumers demand less invasive treatments.
No specific undergraduate major is required for pre-chiropractic students. Many students choose biology/microbiology, nutrition or chemistry as these majors duplicate nearly all chiropractic school requirements. Health promotion and liberal studies are also popular majors for pre-chiropractic students.
Students may wish to start with an undeclared major and pre-chiropractic program designation in the College of General Studies and Outreach Programs (GS). While enrolled in GS, students must consider various graduation majors (you cannot graduate with only a pre-chiropractic designation). Selection of a major should be based upon the student's individual goals. Even after a degree program is specified, students maintain their pre-chiropractic designation to ensure they receive important information regarding pre-chiropractic meetings and events.
The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) is the official accreditation agency for Chiropractic Colleges. For a complete list of accredited Chiropractic Colleges and their current accreditation status, visit the council's website at http://www.cce-usa.org/#F.
Minimum Application Requirements:
The minimum requirements to apply to chiropractic college include completing at least 90 undergraduate semester credits, earning a cumulative GPA of 2.5, and attaining a grade of C or better in all laboratory courses. No more than 20 semester hours can be acquired through exams, and none of the pre-requisite science courses may be acquired by exam (such as AP and CLEP). In addition to a thorough grounding in the sciences, chiropractic colleges require a broad general education including courses in communications, humanities and social sciences. Students are encouraged to contact specific chiropractic schools for additional requirements, if any.
Getting Accepted to Chiropractic School:
The requirements listed above are the minimum to apply. However, candidates who meet only the minimum standards are unlikely to be admitted to professional school given the competitive pool. SDSU students recently admitted to chiropractic schools had an average GPA of 3.2, and 85% had completed bachelor's degrees. Chiropractic colleges expect the trend toward higher GPAs and bachelor's degrees to persist as more states require the degree prior to licensing. Licensing requirements for specific states can be viewed at the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards website at http://www.fclb.org/.
Pre-chiropractic students typically have two advisors, one for the degree program and one for the pre-chiropractic program. Students should meet with both advisors regularly to coordinate plans. The advisor can assist in building a strong academic and experiential base to meet individual student goals. Students planning to apply to Chiropractic College prior to completing a degree should consult with the pre-chiropractic advisor early to develop a specific plan of study.
Students should make application to chiropractic school approximately one year prior to their preferred starting date. There is no standardized admission test for chiropractic schools, but many give greater weight to performance in the sciences when evaluating applicants. Therefore, completing a good portion of the science requirements prior to applying is recommended. Chiropractic colleges will also look at undergraduate transcripts as an indication of one’s potential for handling the academic rigors of professional school. Students who are unable to maintain a 3.0 GPA with an average of 16 credits per semester should discuss their professional goals with their advisor.
Suggested Pre-Chiropractic Coursework:
These courses represent the requirements for successful application to chiropractic colleges. Contact the pre-chiropractic advisor for assistance coordinating requirements with your major degree program or special interests.
NOTES: All science courses must be taken with the associated labs. Chiropractic colleges will not accept survey science courses such as BIOL 101-Biology Survey I, CHEM 106-Chemistry Survey, and CHEM 108-Organic & Biochemistry. Students must earn a grade of C or better in all lab courses and must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 to be considered for chiropractic college admission.
Freshman Year
Fall
Spring
BIOL 151-151L, General Biology I and Lab
4
BIOL 153-153L, General Biology II and Lab
4
CHEM 112-112L, General Chemistry I and Lab
4
CHEM 114-114L, General Chemistry II and Lab
4
MATH 102, College Algebra or higher
3-5
or
3-5
PSYC 101, General Psychology
3
or
3
Other Degree Requirements:
2-8
2-8
System General Education (SGR Goals)
Institutional Graduation Requirements (IGR Goals)
Major Degree Requirements
Sophomore Year
Fall
Spring
BIOL 221-221L, Human Anatomy
4
BIOL 325-325L, Physiology
4
MICR 231-231L, General Microbiology
4
or
4
Other Degree Requirements:
8-12
4-12
System General Education (SGR Goals)
Institutional Graduation Requirements (IGR Goals)
Major Degree Requirements
Junior Year
Fall
Spring
CHEM 326-326L, Organic Chemistry I and Lab
4
CHEM 328-328L, Organic Chemistry II and Lab, or
4
CHEM 464-464L, Biochemistry I
PHYS 111-111L, Introduction to Physics I and Lab
4
At least one of the following:
3-4
PHYS 113-113L, Introduction to Physics II and Lab,
STAT 281, Introduction to Statistics,
PE 350, Exercise Physiology,
PE 454, Biomechanics
Major Degree Requirements
4-8
4-8
Senior Year
Fall
Spring
Complete Major Degree Requirements
- American Chiropractic Association (ACA)
- International Chiropractic Association (ICA)
- Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards
- Directory of Accredited Chiropractic Degree Programs by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE)
SDSU Home
College of General Studies
1047 Medary Avenue, Box 511 • South Dakota State University • Brookings, SD 57007
605-688-4153 • Fax: 605-688-5631