Admission Requirements - College of Chiropractic

Admission requirements are comprised of:

  1. Total credits and cumulative GPA
  2. Prerequisites
  3. Qualifications
  4. Admission application

1. Total credits and cumulative GPA

  • A minimum of 90 semester or 135 quarter credits at the bachelor's degree level in an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
  • No more than 20 semester credits may be acquired through CLEP examinations or challenging of courses and only in courses other than required science courses.
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for all prerequisite courses.
  • All science courses must be taken for letter grade. Science courses must be passed with a grade of C or better.

Admission is competitive and enrollment is limited. Satisfying the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

2. Prerequisites

Subject

Minimum
Semester
Credits

Minimum
Quarter
Credits

Biology (with labs)

Animal/Vertebrate General Biology/Zoology, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology

6

9

General/Inorganic Chemistry (with labs)

One academic year – General Chemistry I and II or variations in course title
(Principles of Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Introductory Chemistry).

6

9

Organic Chemistry (with labs)

One academic year – First semester in the Organic Chemistry sequence (Organic I).
Second trimester may be completed by taking Organic Chemistry II or Biochemistry with lab.

6

9

Physics/Quantitative Sciences/Biomechanics (with lab)

One academic year – First semester in algebra or trigonometry-based General Physics sequence (General Physics I) with lab.

Second semester may be completed by taking General Physics II or by one of the following courses: Inferential Statistics (from a math or statistics department), Biomechanics, Kinesiology, or Exercise Physiology for majors. The second semester must be taken for a minimum of three semester credits.

6

9

English

English, Literature or Speech Composition is strongly recommended. English, Literature or Speech courses are acceptable. Drama, Mass Communications, Theater and Journalism may not be used to meet this distribution requirement.

6

9

Psychology

General Psychology, Principles of Psychology, or Introductory Psychology

3

4.5

Humanities and Social Sciences

Philosophy, Religion, General Humanities, Art History, Music History, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, History, Political Science or Economics courses are acceptable. Business courses and studio courses in art or music may not be used to meet this distribution requirement.

15

22.5

Electives

Recommendations for elective courses include Human Anatomy, General Physiology, Cell Biology, Cell Physiology, Immunology, Genetics, Macroeconomics, Marketing, Small Business Management, Public Speaking, Technical Writing, and Medical Terminology.

42

63

TOTAL

90

135

3. Qualifications

You must demonstrate sufficient maturity to undertake a health care profession and meet all additional qualifications.

4. Admission application

Complete an application

Responsibility of Applicant: It is the responsibility of the applicant to be aware of the admission requirements and to ensure that they are met prior to enrollment. If Northwestern determines at any time that requirements are not met in full, the student will not be allowed to enroll or to continue at Northwestern.

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