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Admission to the College

Northwestern admits as students, men and women of good character, who are qualified by previous education and experience to meet its academic challenges and to become practicing Doctors of Chiropractic. New students are admitted at the beginning of each trimester of the academic year: September and January. Transfer students may also be admitted at those times. (See “Transfer Application” section.)

Applications for admission, as well as current tuition and fees, are available online or may be obtained by contacting the Office of Admissions. The application for admission must be accompanied by a nonrefundable application processing fee of $50 (U.S. dollars).

Entrance Requirements

The following minimum requirements for admission apply to all candidates seeking admission to Northwestern College of Chiropractic and are consistent with the standards set forth by the Council on Chiropractic Education:

1. Applicants must have completed three academic years (90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours) of college credit acceptable toward a baccalaureate degree (see required distribution in next column). Pre-chiropractic courses must be completed at a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, or an equivalent foreign institution. No more than 20 semester hours may be acquired through CLEP examinations or challenging of courses, and only in courses other than required science courses. All science courses must be taken for letter grade.
2. Specific course distribution requirements and examples of acceptable courses are as follows:
   

   Subject	Minimum Semester Credits	Minimum Quarter Credits
   Biology (with labs): One academic year Animal/Vertebrate General Biology/Zoology, Anatomy, Physiology, or 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). The second trimester may be completed by taking Organic Chemistry II or Biochemistry (with lab). You will need a minimum of six semester credits. Most students will attain 8 to 10 semester credits after taking both lectures and labs.	6	9
   Physics/Quantitative Sciences/Biomechanics: one academic year First semester in an algebra or trigonometry-based General Physics I, with lab. Second semester may be completed by taking General Physics II or by taking 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
   Psychology General Psychology, Principles of Psychology, or Introductory Psychology	3	4.5
   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
   Humanities or 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

   
   Only courses completed with a grade of C or better (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) will be accepted. A grade of C is not acceptable if the awarding college states that the numerical equivalent is less than 2.0. All coursework must be applicable to bachelor’s degree requirements in a regionally accredited undergraduate institution; remedial or developmental courses will not be accepted.
   
   As indicated in the table of course requirements, Northwestern requires that students complete one academic year in each distribution within the natural and physical sciences. In other words, students will complete two semesters or three quarters in sequence. Science courses must be taken in the logical sequence– for example, General Chemistry I must be taken before General Chemistry II. In most cases, students will complete 8 to 10 semester credits (12 to 15 quarter credits) in each distribution during a one-year sequence. All science courses should be foundation courses designed for science majors. Survey courses intended for non-science majors will not be accepted.
   
3. Applicants must have earned a cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) of at least 2.5 and a science G.P.A. of at least 2.00. All course work is counted toward the cumulative G.P.A. and all science courses are included for the science G.P.A., not just selected course work. Applicants should realize that these are minimum grade points. To ensure acceptance, a more competitive grade point is desirable.
   
4. For prospective chiropractic students who are interested in completing their undergraduate science prerequisites, Northwestern offers courses through the
   Pre-Professional Program. Several of the courses are offered in an accelerated format which allows students to complete a full-year of courses in only one trimester (15 weeks). Priority for enrolling in these courses is given to students who have already applied to Northwestern College of Chiropractic.

Qualifications

A student must possess the following abilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, for completion of the Doctor of Chiropractic degree program:

1. Ability to use both upper extremities in the performance of common chiropractic procedures and techniques, including but not limited to: positioning patients; palpating; feeling with hands; pushing; pulling; thrusting with hands and wrists; grasping; and lifting up to 10 pounds;
2. Ability to perform in all laboratory and clinical settings without posing a threat to herself/himself, to the safety and well-being of fellow students, or to patients;
3. Ability to determine depth and intensity of manual pressure and force, as applied in the performance of common chiropractic and adjunctive procedures and techniques;
4. Ability to see and hear, with or without reasonable accommodation, sufficient that the student can identify histologic, cytologic, microbiologic and pathologic structures through a microscope; receive and record patient histories; provide instructions to patients; provide routine patient safety services; perform stethoscopic and other auscultatory examinations; and read and interpret all forms of diagnostic imaging;
5. Ability and willingness to receive chiropractic and adjunctive treatment. Much of the technical instruction in the programs requires reciprocal application of chiropractic and adjunctive techniques. In reciprocal laboratory experiences, receiving techniques is necessary in order to learn proper procedures, and to receive and provide learning feedback. Reciprocal application of technique is also useful for developing sensitivity to client needs. The College may temporarily excuse a student from receiving chiropractic treatment provided that there is a specific medical contraindication, as determined in writing by a licensed health care professional.

All students, with or without reasonable accommodation, must carry out laboratory assignments, including microscopic work and X-ray interpretation. Qualified persons with disabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, must be able to pass oral, written, and practical examinations and meet all of the clinical requirements of the University.

It is in the best interests of both the student and the University to assess the degree of limitation caused by disability. However, the University will make the final determination of whether or not an individual meets all qualifications for study at the University.

Persons who have been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor of a violent or sexual nature will be prohibited from professional health care practice in many jurisdictions. Northwestern Health Sciences University will deny admission to applicants with such convictions. The University conducts a criminal background check on all massage therapy applicants.

Responsibility of Applicant

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

The Office of Admissions personnel are available to help prospective students plan their pre-chiropractic curricula.

Minnesota Immunization Requirement

All students born in 1957 or later must comply with the Minnesota State College Immunization Law (Minn. Stat. 135A.14). An admitted student must show proof of DPT immunization within the last 10 years, as well as measles, mumps and rubella immunization after his/her first birthday. However, exemptions are permitted for philosophical or medical reasons. Further information is included with letters of acceptance to Northwestern.

Some clinical environments outside the University Clinic system may establish immunization and/or health screening requirements exceeding the Minnesota State College Immunization Law. In addition, some clinical environments outside the University Clinic system may not accept placement of interns who have not received or are not in the process of receiving certain immunizations and/or health screenings.

Transfer Application

Advanced Placement

Foreign Applicants