What Undergrad Degrees Prepare You for Chiropractic School?

What should I study to prepare myself for chiropractic school?

In our conversations with Ms. Schwarz and Dr. Poirier, we discovered that there are two key academic considerations here. First are the undergraduate degrees that prepare you well for chiropractic school. Second, but of no less importance, are the specific courses you take, regardless of the exact bachelor’s degree you ultimately earn. 

According to Ms. Schwarz, “There are the obvious programs to choose, such as biology, chemistry, physics, kinesiology and exercise science. We see a lot of students with those degrees, but we also see people in the life and physical sciences. Some may have environmental or earth science degrees, or ecology, geology, botany, even astronomy. In short, degrees with science-heavy curriculums.”

As Dr. Poirier put it, “There are two different categories that we see the students come from. The first is more of a hard sciences or physical sciences background. The second are those who have an applied sciences background, such as exercise science or kinesiology.” 

He noted that each group brings with it particular strengths, relative to the study and practice of chiropractic. “Those in the first group may have degrees in biology or pre-med and tend to have a stronger foundation in the more traditional sciences. They may have done more coursework in physical sciences — for example, chemistry — and do well with these topics because they have more undergrad training. We also have students who come in from the applied side of undergrad education, such as kinesiology or exercise science. These students don’t typically have as much background in the fundamental sciences, but they have more training when it comes to being able to interact with others, with potential patients.”

However, as Ms. Schwarz pointed out, preparing for chiropractic school is more than a matter of degrees — it’s also the specific coursework that counts.  “You don't necessarily have to come directly from those degree programs,” she said, “but you do have to be strong in relevant courses. For instance, to qualify for the Doctor of Chiropractic degree program here at Northeast College you must have at least 90 credits of undergraduate coursework, which is about the equivalent of finishing your junior year of college. Traditionally, at least 24 credits need to be in the life and physical sciences, and at least half of those need to include a lab component.” 

“So,” she continued, “rather than focusing on a particular degree program, it’s more important that students take particular classes, like anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry. Even nutrition is really going to help them not only qualify for the program but to be more prepared for it. Whether these are required for their degree or not, the more of these types of classes they get under their belt in undergrad, the better prepared they’ll be.”

 

What exactly will I be studying in the chiropractic school I choose?

Many schools award a Doctor of Chiropractic degree — but the coursework, clinical experience and teaching philosophy that underlies those degrees can vary greatly. As Northeast College has long been considered a leading chiropractic school (founded over 100 years ago, and formerly known as New York Chiropractic College), we asked Dr. Poirier to describe the learning experience one should look for from a top chiropractic program.

The first descriptor he emphasized was “rigorous.” He told us, “There's a lot to learn in this program, just like in any other doctoral degree that's similar in accelerated timeframe as ours. And students must have a high level of motivation to be able to learn at this high level. While our chiropractic curriculum is very rigorous, we keep it balanced by creating a progression of courses that makes sense to what students’ needs are. So, both in terms of content and rigor, the courses build progressively one upon another.”

He went on to say, “Each stage of learning informs the next in skills and knowledge. For example, students in the first year will learn a lot about anatomy and physiology, and then progressively that information will be applied in the area of pathophysiology. As students learn about the pathology, they need to understand the cellular events that happen, so that they can understand how dysfunction within those events leads to a pathological process. 

Eventually, in the second year, the students learn about the clinical manifestations of those pathological processes. How do we, from a practical standpoint, make a diagnosis associated with those processes? The curriculum builds onto different learning steps, if you will, from course to course and from trimester to trimester.”

“But,” he was quick to add, “whether it’s in the classroom or clinic, it’s about more than teaching students how to create a diagnosis or treat patients.  We have to do it in a way that ensures students are competent, that they're safe, that they're ethical, and that they're caring towards their patients. So, skills must be developed in many different branches. Yes, it’s about the sciences and diagnosis, which tend to be the more rigorous courses, but it’s also about understanding how to relate to patients and speak with them effectively.”

 

What are the challenges I’ll face in a top chiropractic program?

Both Dr. Poirier and Ms. Schwarz spoke to the demands of earning a chiropractic degree, and how the best schools balance academic rigor with student support.

Dr. Poirier noted that, “Students need to have a decent amount of grit and resiliency, because there's a lot of information. Even those who typically got an A in undergrad courses may find themselves with a B or a C in a class here. But those who a maintain a level of intellectual curiosity, a positive attitude towards the information, and especially a willingness to learn things for the long term, rather than just for an exam, should do well here.”

As to the support required to keep that positive attitude, Ms. Schwarz described the extremely student-centered approach offered at Northeast College. “What is most important for these students,” she said, “Is to get into good study and time management habits right from the beginning. Our Office of Student Engagement and the faculty members themselves are going to be their biggest resources for this. 

We can help with time management, showing them how to block out their schedule so they can find time to study, and go to the gym and have a social life, too. There are multiple free tutoring services available to students. Then there’s the ultimate student resource, our faculty. They have open office hours, always welcome questions, and truly want to see their students succeed.”

 

Is there any way I can guarantee admission to a good chiropractic school?

Of course, before you can succeed at chiropractic school you have to get in. With that simple, but sometimes daunting, fact in mind, Ms. Schwarz recommended looking at schools that have partnership programs with undergraduate colleges. In the case of Northeast College, such programs can even guarantee admission to their Doctor of Chiropractic program.

“We have several educational partnership schools,” she said. “These are special arrangements with select institutions whose programs we've examined and determined that they will prepare students with the requirements needed to do well in our program. These are called ‘articulation agreements,’ and they're either 3+3 year or 4+3 year plans. 

In a 3+3 program, students study through their junior year at a partner school and then start with our program. Some of our credits feed back to the partner schools so that students earn their bachelor's through their original undergraduate college. Say you go to Nazareth College, one of our educational partners, for three years and then enter our program. You could end up earning your bachelor's degree through Nazareth and then get your Doctor of Chiropractic in the three years and four months. You completely cut out a year of school. 

In the 4+3 articulation track you’ll complete your undergrad degree at a partner institution and — assuming you’ve maintained the required GPA — you’ll be automatically accepted to Northeast College. Either way,” she concluded, “these partnerships are great because you know you’ll be well-prepared for our program, plus you’ll have peace of mind knowing your acceptance is assured. Just sign a letter of intent, go through our admissions process, keep your grades up and you're basically guaranteed to get into our program.”

 

Should I shadow a chiropractor? 

Our two experts also pointed out that practical exposure to chiropractic is essential.

Shadowing a local chiropractor can provide an excellent introduction to the reality of chiropractic.  If you don’t know a local chiropractor, ask an admissions counselor at one of the school’s you’re considering if they can arrange to have you shadow a practitioner from their pool of alumni.