There is no major called “pre-chiropractic”, nor is there any particular major which is required for admission to chiropractic, schools. Bradley University offers a wide range of excellent majors, courses and opportunities which prepare students well for admission to chiropractic schools. Students should choose a major based on their personal interests and abilities, and then meet with both their Academic (within their major) and Pre-Health Advisor regularly to ensure that they are taking the necessary courses (and at the right time) to meet their major and graduation requirements, as well as required and recommended courses for admission to chiropractic schools. These pre-requisites can be taken as part of the major, Bradley Core, or free electives towards graduation, thus allowing students flexibility with their choice of major, and the ability to customize their pre-chiropractic plan.
The following majors and minors are most popular among pre-chiropractic students, because they incorporate many of the pre-requisite courses into the major requirements:
Majors
Minors
Chiropractic prerequisites vary greatly between programs, but are often quite flexible. At minimum, students must complete 24 credit hours of life/physical sciences and 90 credits overall. (A bachelor’s degree is highly recommended, but not required by all programs.) Below are listed the most common pre-requisites for chiropractic colleges and the Bradley courses which will satisfy them. Be aware that each chiropractic college may establish their own specific pre-requisites which may vary from this list, so it is your responsibility to carefully research the admission requirements for programs to which you plan to apply. Pre-requisite courses may be taken as part of a Bradley major, minor, Bradley Core or free electives. Work with your academic and pre-health advisors to plan the best timing and sequence for completing pre-requisites for chiropractic colleges. All science courses should be taken with labs unless otherwise noted.
See ACC Academic Requirements and individual Chiropractic college websites for program-specific requirements.
Competitive applicants to chiropractic colleges are well rounded and have pursued a wide range of experiences to develop not only their scientific background and skills, but also interpersonal, teamwork, and leadership skills, and professionalism. Most chiropractic colleges like to see some job shadowing or experience in one or more chiropractic settings so you have some idea what the doctor-patient relationship is like, and have an opportunity to explore and appreciate their unique approach to patient care and managing a clinical practice. But there is no set number of hours required – it’s more about quality than quantity of experience.
Volunteering and community service, whether or not it is in a healthcare setting, demonstrates your commitment to serving others, as you will as a future chiropractor.
Get Involved
Becoming a leader in a student organization, job, etc. gives you experience working with teams, communicating, and working together to share responsibility for accomplishing shared goals. Consider joining organizations such as HSO or Alpha Epsilon Delta honor society, and working your way toward an executive board or other leadership role.
Most Chiropractic programs do not require any entrance exam, but requirements vary by school.
Resources for prospective Chiropractic students:
Applications:
Entrance Exam:
Since 2013, Bradley graduates have been accepted to and continued their education and training at many Chiropractic colleges around the Midwest and across the US. We are proud of the success and accomplishments of our alumni.
Chiropractic Schools
Offers also received from: Palmer College of Chiropractic, Logan University