| 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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;
- 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;
- Ability to determine depth and intensity of manual pressure and force,
as applied in the performance of common chiropractic and adjunctive
procedures and techniques;
- 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;
- 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
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