Center for Health Professions

Chiropractic Medicine

photo of a medical student with a patient

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Professional Overview

Chiropractic medicine focuses on the relationship between the body's main structures—the skeleton, the muscles, and the nerves—and the patient's health. Chiropractors believe that health can be improved and preserved by adjusting these structures, particularly the spinal column. Most patients seek chiropractor care for back pain, neck pain, and joint problems. 

Chiropractic schools are graduate-level programs and are four years in length. Continuing education programs in specialty fields ranging from sports injuries and occupational health to orthopedics and neurology are available. 

General Pre-Chiropractic Prerequisite Coursework; Wright State Specific Courses 

Most medical schools require the following prerequisites:  

  • One year of English (ENG 1100, ENG 2100, or 2130)  
  • One semester of psychology (PSY 1010) 
  • One semester of social science/humanities (15 semester hours*)  
  • One year of general biology with labs (BIO 1120, BIO 1150)  
  • One year of general chemistry with labs (CHM 1210, CHM 1220)  
  • One year of organic chemistry with labs (CHM 2110, CHM 2120)  
  • One year of physics with labs (PHY 1110, PHY 1120) 
  • Thirty (30) additional semester hours of upper-division credit hours. 
  • Mathematics: Strongly recommend one course in statistics (STT 1600 or STT 2640), and one course in calculus, (MTH 2240 or MTH 2300)

* Social science/humanities courses, including economics, education, history, political science, psychology, anthropology, art/drama/music/film history or appreciation, languages, literature, English, logic, philosophy, and religion. 

Note: Individual requirements vary by school. It is important to research individual health professions programs for specific requirements. Contact the pre-health advisor for assistance. 

Academic Major 

Any major is acceptable if you complete the required prerequisite coursework, recommended extracurricular activities, and present a strong application to chiropractic school. Chiropractic schools seek students who have demonstrated they can do well, particularly in prerequisite courses, and followed their academic interests. 

Pre-chiropractic students often major in one of the following since many of the prerequisite courses are part of the major’s academic requirements: 

  • Biological science
  • Biochemistry 
  • Chemistry 
  • Neuroscience 
  • Physics 
  • Psychology 
  • Public health 
  • Sports science 

Presenting a Competitive Application 

You should check directly with the schools you plan to apply to for application requirements, information, and timelines. Admissions to health professional schools tend to be competitive. General admissions expectations include: 

  • Strong academic performance (3.4 or higher) in both your cumulative and prerequisite courses. 
  • Most chiropractic schools do not require the GRE or MCAT, etc., for admittance into their programs. However, you should consult individual schools for specific testing requirements. 
  • Chiropractic schools require extensive familiarity with chiropractic medicine to gain an appreciation for and understanding of the profession. You should: 
    • Shadow several chiropractors to gain a realistic perspective of the profession. 
    • Gain direct patient and/or clinical exposure/experience in several unique and diverse settings and several types of patients. 
    • Get involved in community services, volunteer experiences, and co- and extracurricular activities on campus. 
    • Seek leadership responsibility, such as employment, church, community, and school organizations, including coaching, tutoring, and mentoring. 
    • Conduct research (however, not required) to help you understand scientific literature, how research is conducted and distinguish credible research. 
    • Demonstrate the ability to balance school and responsibilities outside the classroom, confirming your ability to handle the difficult demands of chiropractic school 
    • Exhibit strong interpersonal skills, the ability to work in teams and among a diverse group of people, and a desire to help others; communicate and listen effectively and possess skills to express your thoughts and ideas. 

Note: While there is no minimum number of hours for each experience, most applicants demonstrate considerable experience.