Program Overview

Pre-Chiropractic Program

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an above average increase in employment opportunities for chiropractors. As alternative medicine becomes more acceptable and the population ages, it is expected that the profession will grow by 10 percent from 2020 to 2032. Students can expect to spend three-and-a-half years in chiropractic school after the completion of four years of college.

Chiropractors diagnose and treat patients with health problems related to the body's muscular, nervous, and skeletal system, particularly the spine. They view their patients as an integrated being and do not use drugs or surgery. The chiropractic theory states that there are many factors that affect our health, including heredity, type of exercise, environmental surroundings, dietary habits, and rest.

Common tasks for a chiropractor include:

• Patient examination
• Analysis of posture and spine position
• Spinal and joint adjustments
• Application of heat and ice treatments
• Patient lifestyle counseling Some chiropractors use acupuncture, massage therapy, and ultrasound if they have received such training.

Program Overview

Pre-Chiropractic is not a major, and students must still choose a major. Since most of the pre-requisites necessary for application to Chiropractic school are in the sciences, many students choose a science major, though it is not required. A specialized pre-chiropractic advisor works with students to ensure they understand all of the milestones that must be met in college in order to be a competitive applicant to Chiropractic school. A significant number of volunteer or work hours is often a requirement for application to Chiropractic school, so it is important to work with this advisor beginning in freshman year in order to plan all needed activities into your college career.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee partners closely with three chiropractic colleges:

• Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa
• Cleveland Chiropractic College in Overland Park, Kansas
• Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, Minnesota UWM students who meet certain academic standards may qualify for guaranteed admission at these institutions. Students are encouraged to work closely with the pre-chiropractic advisor in order to plan early for this transition and to understand the specific requirements of these schools. There are no chiropractic graduate programs in the State of Wisconsin.

Requirements

Entrance to a chiropractic program is very competitive. Although specific admission requirements may vary among programs, the following minimum standards generally apply:

• 90 completed undergraduate credits
• Overall GPA of 3.00 or higher
• 30+ credits at the 300+ level
• 24 credits in the natural sciences, half with lab work

Other common course requirements include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Cell biology
• Biochemistry
• Math statistics
• Nutrition
• Kinesiology
• Genetics
• Psychology
• Microbiology
• Immunology
• Toxicology

Recommended coursework includes:

• One year (two semesters) general biology with lab: 8 credits
  • BIO SCI 150: Foundations of Biological Sciences I
  • BIO SCI 152: Foundations of Biological Sciences II
• One year (two semesters) general chemistry with lab: 10 credits
  • CHEM 102: General Chemistry
  • CHEM 104: General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis
• One year (two semesters) organic chemistry with lab: 8 credits
  • CHEM 343: Organic Chemistry
  • CHEM 344: Organic Chemistry Laboratory
  • CHEM 345: Organic Chemistry
• One year (two semesters) physics with lab: 10 credits
  • Option 1:
    • PHYSICS 120: General Physics I (Non-Calculus Treatment)
    • PHYSICS 121: General Physics Laboratory I (Non-Calculus Treatment)
    • PHYSICS 122: General Physics II (Non-Calculus Treatment)
    • PHYSICS 123: General Physics Laboratory II (Non-Calculus Treatment)
  • Option 2:
    • PHYSICS 209: Physics I (Calculus Treatment)
    • PHYSICS 214: Lab Physics I (Calculus Treatment)
    • PHYSICS 210: Physics II (Calculus Treatment)
    • PHYSICS 215: Lab Physics II (Calculus Treatment)

Due to the variance in admission requirements, it is strongly recommended that students consult with the pre-chiropractic advisor every semester. A suggested timeline is also available from the advisor to help plan preparatory activities throughout the four years in college.