It is the policy of Cleveland Chiropractic College to select the most promising and qualified candidates for admission. It is preferred, but not required, that candidates complete a bachelor’s degree prior to entering the Doctor of Chiropractic program.
Students may pursue a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology degree at Cleveland Chiropractic College while concurrently completing the Doctor of Chiropractic program. Please note the admissions requirements and acceptance procedures in the Bachelor of Science degree program section of this catalog. Applicants for the concurrent degree should declare their intentions to pursue this degree as soon as possible and no later than the end of the fourth trimester of the D.C. program.
The prerequisites for consideration of acceptance into the Doctor of Chiropractic program are in compliance with the standards, policies and guidelines of the Council on Chiropractic Education. Prior to matriculation, applicants must have completed at least ninety (90) or more semester credit units, or the equivalent number of credits in quarter hours, applicable to a bachelor’s degree, with a minimum GPA of at least 2.50 on a 4.00 scale. A grade of “C” (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better is required in the 90 semester units.
If an applicant has been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, the applicant may be denied acceptance to the College without further reason. If the applicant should be granted acceptance, the applicant acknowledges that he/she may not be able to obtain licensure in a/any state upon graduation, based on his/her criminal record, and agrees that the College will not be held liable in the case of failure to achieve licensure. Failure to disclose a misdemeanor or felony to the College is grounds for dismissal from the College.
Of these required 90 total semester units, a minimum of 48 semester units must be completed in the following subject areas:
I. Biological/Physical Science Courses
- Biological Sciences* . . . . . . . . . .6 semester units or 9 quarter units
- Chemistry**. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 semester units or 18 quarter units
- Physics and related studies***. . .6 semester units or 9 quarter units
* The biological science requirements must include pertinent lab experiences that cover the range of material presented in the didactic portion of the course(s).
** At least three semester hours of chemistry must be general or inorganic chemistry and at least six semester hours of chemistry must be organic and/or biochemistry. At least six semester hours of chemistry must include pertinent related laboratory experiences which cover the range of material presented in the didactic portions of the courses.
*** This requirement may be met with either two unduplicated physics courses (of which one must include a pertinent related laboratory which covers the range of material presented in the didactic portions of the course), or three semester hours in physics (with laboratory) and three semester hours in either biomechanics, kinesiology, statistics or exercise physiology.
II. General Education Courses
- English/Language Skills. . . . . . . . .6 semester units or 9 quarter units
- Psychology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 semester units or 4.5 quarter units
- Social Sciences or Humanities . 15 semester units or 22.5 quarter units
NOTE: Students who hold a professional degree in a health science discipline at the baccalaureate level or above with a cumulative GPA of 2.50, or those who hold a B.S./B.A. degree with a 3.25 cumulative GPA, may be admitted based upon evidence that their academic preparation substantially meets the above requirements.
Suggested Prerequisites for Admission
- Biological/Physical Sciences: Animal/vertebrate/general biology, zoology, anatomy, physiology, cell biology, microbiology.
- General or Inorganic Chemistry: General or inorganic chemistry with labs in a sequence leading up to organic chemistry.
- Organic Chemistry: Usually titled Organic Chemistry I and II.
- Physics: These courses can be an algebra/trigonometry-based sequence and need not be calculus-based. Can be titled General or Principles of Physics I and II.
- Psychology: Usually titled General or Introductory Psychology.
- English/Language Skills: Composition and speech courses (e.g., English 101, English 102, Speech 101, etc.).
- Humanities: Art/art history, cinema/film, classics, drama, fine arts, foreign language, journalism (intro only), linguistics, literature, logic, music, philosophy, radio & television, religious studies, theatre.
- Social Sciences: Anthropology (not physical), child development, economics, education (history of education), geography (not physical), government, history, minority studies, political science, psychology, sociology.
- Remedial courses such as MATH 051, MATH 091 and ENGL 051 cannot be used to fulfill these requirements.
- Health Science or medical terminology is strongly recommended.