UW-WHITEWATER PRE-CHIROPRACTIC
ADVISORY INFORMATION
Overview of Chiropractic
education
Today
there are an estimated 50,000 doctors of chiropractic with over 20 million
patients
in the U.S., making chiropractic the second largest of the three primary
health care providers --
medicine (allopathy), chiropractic and osteopathy -- and by far the largest
of natural health
care providers. As a school of healing, chiropractic
may be defined as the diagnosis and treatment
of human ailments without the use of drugs, medicine or incisive surgery. It is a drugless,
non-surgical form of therapy utilizing manipulation of the spine and other
articulations, clinical
nutrition, physiological therapeutics, counseling, hygiene and sanitation
in the prevention and
treatment of disease. Doctors of Chiropractic
(D.C.) are primary care physicians who specialize
in the treatment of neuro-musculo-skeletal disorders.
The practice
of chiropractic is regulated by statute in all fifty states. Education and
licensure requirements include between three and four years of Baccalaureate
level coursework
followed by the D.C. degree earned from a chiropractic college accredited
by the Council on
Chiropractic Education (CCE). Accredited chiropractic education
at a school of chiropractic
typically consists of 10 trimesters of 15 weeks each.
If a student pursues studies continuously
year round (Fall, Spring, Summer) they can earn their D.C. degree in 3 years
and 4 months.
Students may take one or two terms off in the first five trimesters. In general, the first five
trimesters represent the pre-clinical curriculum in the basic sciences with
a concluding five
trimester curriculum in the clinical sciences and internships in associated
college clinics. A
license must be obtained from the state in which the individual chooses to
practice.
The total cost of chiropractic school (2003 prices), including fees,
transportation,
room and board, tuition and licensing, would be on average $100,000.
Starting salaries for a person with an associate position in an established
Doctor of
Chiropractic practice in 2003 are typically in the low 40K range. Established chiropractors
may earn on average 100K per year.
Regions where the need for chiropractors is the greatest include Michigan,
Indiana,
Ohio and the mountain states (Oregon, Washington, Colorado, etc.).
Chiropractic colleges typically require a minimum
of 90 semester hours of college credit
before one can apply for admission. Three schools
in this region, Palmer College (Davenport, IA),
Northwestern Health Sciences University (Bloomington, MN), and Logan College
(Chesterfield, MO),
fall into this category. However, National University of Health Sciences
(Lombard, IL) mandates a
Bachelor's degree. It is essential that you contact
the chiropractic college to which you wish to
apply as early as possible in your college career in order to determine whether
they require a
minimum of 90 semester credits. There is a trend in which schools are increasing
their requirements. Furthermore, the vast majority of applicants to chiropractic
colleges have earned significantly
more than the minimum number of prerequisite credits.
Listed below
are the specific courses at UW-Whitewater that will meet the
minimum prerequisite requirements for admission to the accredited colleges
of
chiropractic in the United States. Note that all science courses
taken must be designed for
science majors. Survey courses (e.g., BIOLOGY
120) will not be accepted.
English / Communication
ENGLISH 101 Freshman English
I
3 units
ENGLISH 102 Freshman English
II
3 units
SPEECH 110
Fundamentals of Speech
3 units
PSYCH 211
Introductory Psychology 3
units
BIOLOGY 141* Biology I: Plant Focus 4 units
BIOLOGY 142* Biology II: Animal Focus 4 units
*Biology I and Biology II are prerequisites for all
other biology courses.
Two or more additional unduplicated courses in anatomy, physiology,
cell biology, zoology and microbiology are highly recommended.
Chemistry
CHEM 102
Introductory Chemistry I 5
units
CHEM 104
Introductory Chemistry II 5
units
CHEM 251
Organic Chemistry Lec. I 3
units
CHEM 252
Organic Chemistry Lec. II 3
units
CHEM 261
Organic Chemistry Lab I
2 units
CHEM 262
Organic Chemistry Lab II 2
units
#Only offered in spring semesters.
Biochemistry (CHEM 456) may be
substituted for this course.
PHYSICS 160 Physics Lecture I 4 units
PHYSICS 161 Physics Lab I
1 unit
PHYSICS 162@ Physics Lecture I
4 units
PHYSICS 163@ Physics Lecture I
4 units
@ Notes: Kinesiology (PEPROF 371,
3 u), statistics (MATH 230, 3 u) or exercise
physiology (PEPROF 471, 3 u) may be substituted for second semester physics
lecture/lab. The
calculus-based physics sequence (170 series) may be substituted
for PHYSICS 160-163.
HUMANITIES / SOCIAL SCIENCES
REQUIRED: 15 units
Recommended courses for the
Humanities include :
Classics, Communication,
Criminal Justice, Education, English, Fine Arts or Drama (history or appreciation
only),
Literature, Philosophy, Religion and Foreign Languages.
Recommended courses for the
Social Sciences include:
Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science, History,
Geography,
Government and Psychology.
Students are urged to contact
the office of admissions at the chiropractic institution they
are considering attending to check whether a particular course is a humanities
or social
science course. The
list does not include courses in
mathematics, computer science,
business, or physical education. Note that this requirement can be met by
completing
the UW-W general education requirements.
UPPER LEVEL
COURSES
For admissions beginning
with the fall class of 2003, the CCE requires that all
entering students must furnish proof of having earned a minimum of 90 units
(semester
credit hours), to include at least 30 semester hours in upper division credits. Northwestern
and Logan are adhering to the set CCE standards which define an upper division
credit
as at least: "..any "200" level and above baccalaureate
applicable class which is not an
introductory or survey titled course". On the
other hand, Palmer considers upper division
courses as those defined by the granting institution as junior and senior
level courses. At
UW-W these would be at the 300 and 400 levels. The 90 unit requirement is
not specific nor
does it dictate in which course areas the upper division credits
must be earned (hard science,
social science or humanities). However, the hours
needed to fulfill this requirement cannot be
earned in a Doctor of Chiropractic program. They
must be earned prior to matriculation.
OTHER RECOMMENDED COURSEWORK
Advanced Science
Classes - In addition to the prerequisite science classes
Business Classes
- Marketing, Management, Advertising, Business Administration
Communication
Classes - Speech, Mass Communications
Computer Skills
See the document "UW-W Pre-Chiropractic
Elective Courses" (http://facstaff.uww.edu/andersos/chiro_electives_3Jan04.htm)
for a listing of specific
recommendations.
Should I
earn my Bachelor's Degree from UW-Whitewater prior to enrolling in
chiropractic college?
It really depends
on your specific needs and plans. Several factors
must be considered
before coming up with the best answer for your particular situation. First
and foremost, it is
trongly recommended that you earn a Bachelor's degree from either UW-Whitewater
or from
the chiropractic college you choose to attend, provided they have a B.S.
option. The reasoning
for this is a number of states, Wisconsin included, require that you must
hold the B.S. degree,
in addition to the Doctor of Chiropractic degree, before issuing a license
to practice. Moreover,
a small number of states require that the bachelor's degree be granted prior
to matriculation
in a school of chiropractic. Accordingly, it is imperative that you confirm
all requirements with
the licensing board of the state in which you desire to be licensed early
in your undergraduate
career! A list of the states currently requiring a baccalaureate degree may
be found through
the Federation
of Chiropractic Licensing Boards listed near the end of this document. Be aware
that this list is subject to change.
In summary, the answer to the question of whether
you should earn a degree from
UW-W prior to entering chiropractic college is: "It depends". If you know
where you ultimately
want to live and work, and if that state does not require that you earn the
bachelor's degree
prior to matriculation, then it is not necessary to graduate from UW-W. Just
stay here long
enough to get your prerequisites completed. However, if you want to be licensed
in Florida,
Kansas, Maryland, or Rhode Island, you must earn an undergraduate degree
before beginning
chiropractic college.
My recommendation is to obtain your B.S. degree
before starting chiropractic school.
By first completing your undergraduate degree, you will not have any future
problems with
licensure requirements if you should change your mind about where you want
to live. Furthermore,
you will not have to take any additional courses above and beyond those in
the chiropractic
curriculum since you will already possess the bachelor's degree. Last but
not least, you will be
better prepared to handle the rigorous chiropractic curriculum by completing
your undergraduate
training first.
What should
I choose as a major if I plan to earn a degree from UW-Whitewater?
First of all, be aware that UW-Whitewater does
not offer a degree in "Pre-Chiropractic".
Students just make this declaration in order to provide them with the appropriate
advising.
Basically, you could major in anything you desire (e.g., art, history, chemistry,
biological sciences,
physics, etc.). All that ultimately matters is that you complete the prerequisites
previously listed.
Most students choose to major in Biological Sciences. This major would likely
provide the most
comprehensive background in terms of preparation for chiropractic school.
There are two
recommended options within this major.
¯
Option 1: Biological
Sciences major (Cell/Physiology track)/Physical Sciences minor. For
particulars, see http://academics.uww.edu/biology/checklists/CellBio.html
and http://www.uww.edu/Catalog/02-04/LnS/physics.html#Major
(scroll to the Physical Science
minor near the end of the document) or the UW-Whitewater Undergraduate Catalog
2002-2004,
pp. 169 and 215.
¯
Option 2: Biological
Sciences major (Cell/Physiology track)/Chemistry minor. For particulars,
see http://academics.uww.edu/biology/checklists/CellBio.html
and http://www.uww.edu/Catalog/02-04/LnS/chemistry.html#Majors
(scroll to the Chemistry minor
near the end of the document) or the UW-Whitewater Undergraduate Catalog
2002-2004, pp.
169 and 175.
Note that for the Cell/Physiology track, it is possible
to substitute BIOLOGY 361 & 362
(Human anatomy and physiology I & II) for BIOLOGY 341 (Animal Development)
and BIOLOGY
345 (Animal Physiology).
Three plus three articulation
agreement (Palmer College only)
A separate document describing this program is available on the web (http://facstaff.uww.edu/andersos/3p3_advinfo_5Jan04.htm).
Articulation agreements are
statements of equivalency between colleges with regard to courses, programs,
or whole majors.
Essentially a student will spend three years at Whitewater and then three
and one-third years
ibed in this document, credits will be transferred back to UW-W, converted
to semester credits,
and applied toward a Bachelor of Science degree with a major In Biological
Sciences (Cell/Physiology
Emphasis) and a Chemistry minor. After all chiropractic
coursework is completed at Palmer, a
Doctor of Chiropractic degree (D.C.) is conferred. One
of the most important requirements for
entry and successful graduation is the maintenance of a minimum B (3.00)
cumulative grade
point average in UW-W coursework, including Palmer courses transferred back
to UW-W. Refer
to the document for full details.
Special Admissions: Applicants
with unique background or experience who meet the admissions
standards set by the colleges, but who do not meet one or more of the college
requirements, may
be eligible for special consideration by the Committee on Admissions. Students are encouraged to
contact the Office of Admissions at their earliest possible convenience to
discuss their chiropractic
education. Once a class closes, students may
be placed on a waiting list, and selected based on
academic merit. Most schools reserve the right to interview an applicant.
Foreign student requirements: Foreign
students also have additional admission requirements.
These may include language proficiency, educational credit evaluation, chiropractic
association
endorsement and/or ability to pay certification.
Transfer credit: Transfer
students from other chiropractic colleges who request transfer credit
at a chiropractic college must be in good standing at their current college.
Advanced standing: This is available to graduates
of some other health science programs.
UW-W Core requirements: Students electing to leave
UW-Whitewater after three years of
study to enter a chiropractic college do not have to complete the General
Studies CORE courses.
Transfer students to UW-W follow the schedule below:
0-less than 21 credits = take all four CORE courses
21-33 = Three CORE courses (including World of Ideas)
34-43 = Two CORE courses (including
World of Ideas)
45+ credits = World of Ideas
only
Assoc. degree = proficiency and gen. ed. (sometimes diversity) waived
Factors considered for
admission: Typical factors which are
considered for selection of
students include: overall GPA, total hours of
college credit, science GPA, letters of recommendation
(including a required letter from a licensed D.C. and usually a professor),
personal interview,
work experience with a chiropractor, community service projects, alumni referral,
and personal
profile / essay (summarizing reasons for wishing to become a chiropractic
physician and goals
following graduation). Honorable withdrawal and
not probation, is required from the college /
university attended. The average GPA of students
entering chiropractic colleges over the past
several years has been about 3.00. As stated previously, the CCE has set
of minimum GPA of
2.50 for acceptance. Some chiropractic schools may use a higher minimum GPA.
Committees on
Admissions will admit only those candidates who in the judgment of the College
are of good
character, are capable of performing in its entirety the doctor of chiropractic
program, and who
show promise of becoming a credit to the chiropractic profession and the College. Telephone or
personal interviews may be required. For foreign applicants and others living
a considerable distance
from the College, college representatives in the area in which the applicant
resides may be designated
for such interviews.
When to apply: Candidates
should ideally apply as soon as they begin their science prerequisites
and minimally one year before the term in which they plan to enter. Schools generally have
Fall-September, Spring-January, and Summer-May admission dates. Most schools will do a
pre-evaluation of transcripts. Applications are
usually accepted up to 30 days prior to the
start of the term desired. Some colleges employ a rolling admissions process;
therefore, early
application could increase an applicant's probability for acceptance.
Additional
information
The most current information,
including guided tours in some cases, is on the chiropractic school
web sites. Each school provides information on financial aid programs including
grants and
scholarships, loans, federal work study, and fellowships.
For additional
information on chiropractic:
American Chiropractic Association
1701 Clarendon
Boulevard
Arlington,
VA 22209
(703) 276-8800
For information
on chiropractic colleges and educational requirements:
Council on Chiropractic Education
8049 North
85th Way
Scottsdale,
Arizona 85258-4321
(480) 443-8877
For information
on chiropractic licensing requirements:
Federation of Chiropractic
Licensing Boards
501 E. California
Ave.
Glendale, CA
91206
UW-W contact information:
Dr. Steven W. Anderson
Voice:
262.472.5121
Pre-Chiropractic Advisor Fax:
262.472.1070
Andersen Library 2224
e-mail: andersos@uww.edu
Important note: This document is not legally
binding; it is intended only to give guidance
in planning one's program. The actual sequence
of courses taken will vary according to
student's backgrounds, course availability and other factors.
Revised by S.W.
Anderson, 5.I.04; file: Disk 3/revised Chiro information/chirogen5Jan04.doc