Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)

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The doctor of chiropractic (DC) is a rigorous 12-quarter professional program, offered through the College of Chiropractic.

Mission Statement

To prepare students as competent chiropractic physicians who apply evidence-informed, patient-centered strategies with professionalism and integrity.

Graduation Requirements - DC

The DC degree is conferred upon an individual who has fulfilled the following requirements:

• Successful completion, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, of all required coursework.
• Successful completion of all quantitative and qualitative clinic competency requirements.

The DC program must be completed within six calendar years of the date of matriculation, including temporary withdrawals and any other period of non-enrollment. Students who have transferred from another DC program must earn the final 25% of the total credits required for the DC program at UWS.

Admission to the DC

Application Procedure

UWS admits new students into the DC program in fall (October) and winter (January) academic terms. Prospective students are encouraged to begin the formal application process up to 12 months in advance of their anticipated entry date. It is not necessary for candidates to have completed all prerequisites prior to application. Refer to the DC program admissions page for detailed information. Applicants should carefully review the program’s selection criteria to ensure they are making the best possible presentation of their qualifications. The application for admission is available on the UWS website.

Applicants must meet specific entry requirements for the doctor of chiropractic (DC) program:

• Complete online admissions application.
• Official transcripts from all prior colleges and universities attended.
• Two letters of recommendation.
• One essay (250-500 words).
• Current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Application fee.

Doctor of Chiropractic Entrance Requirements

*Applicants who are in entrance requirements 1 or 2 are highly encouraged (not required) to have completed 36 quarter credits (24 semester credits) in the Physical and Life Sciences. Students desiring to earn bachelor’s in human biology at UWS must meet the physical and life sciences requirement for the degree - see the Human Biology section of this catalog.

Recommended Prerequisite Coursework (options 1 and 2) / Required Coursework (option 3):

Applicants who have not met the 90/135 credits can be admitted on a contingency status. The credits must be completed prior to starting the program. Highly recommended prerequisite coursework for the ideal DC applicant can be found here.

UWS recommends a pre-medical foundation as the best preparation for the DC curriculum. Such courses typically include a full year sequence of biology, general chemistry, organic and/or biochemistry, and physics with related labs.
Major: Although the majority of UWS DC students have completed undergraduate programs in biology, chemistry, kinesiology or zoology, there is no “best” major for continuing into chiropractic study. Your choice of major should be guided primarily by your own intellectual interests and aptitudes.

Credit Conversion:

• 1 quarter credit = .67 semester credits
• 1.5 quarter credits = 1 semester credit
• 5 quarter credits = 3.33 semester credits

International applicants must fulfill the International Student Admission Requirements.

Technical Standards

UWS requires students to demonstrate the physical, cognitive, emotional, professional and social capacity to be competent practitioners in a respective course of study. Applicants should review Policy 1206 Technical Standards to determine whether they are able to meet the standards of the program in which they intend to enroll with or without reasonable accommodations.

If students demonstrate documented need for accommodation in any of these areas, the university will determine the extent to which it can reasonably accommodate the student’s needs. Contact [email protected] for information about requesting accommodations. Regardless of disability status or accommodation, all students must successfully complete the requirements of their program to earn the degree.

International Students Studying in the U.S.

International students accepted into the DC program must meet U.S. Department of Homeland Security guidelines for studying in the U.S. prior to enrolling at UWS. Students should initiate this process with plenty of lead time, preferably several months before leaving home. Questions about enrolling as an international student should be directed to the Office of Admissions.

Prerequisites

DC admission requirements are guided by the admissions standards established by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). UWS admission requirements also reflect institutional expectations of candidates. Applicants are highly encouraged to have undergraduate preparation similar to other first professional healthcare professions. Applicants should also be aware that individual state and provincial licensing boards may have different educational requirements for licensure. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure understanding of and ability to meet eventual requirements for licensure. In compliance with the U.S. Department of Education, University of Western States (UWS) provides information pertaining to professional licensure and certification for all relevant programs.

Students also desiring to complete the BS, human biology program will need to complete the appropriate amount of life and physical sciences, general education (humanities and social sciences), and electives needed to earn the degree. Please see the Human Biology section for more details.

Only coursework with a letter grade of C or higher will be considered. If more than one course is taken to fulfill the requirement, the course content must be unduplicated.

Students entering the doctor of chiropractic program are required to have 135 quarter credits / 90 semester credits of undergraduate coursework. As part of the 135 quarter credits / 90 semester credits, students are encouraged to have 36 quarter credits / 24 semester credits in the physical and life sciences if in admissions option 2 and required if admissions option 3 with at least half of the courses containing a lab component.

The physical and life sciences credits must be completed within the last seven years. The seven-year requirement may be waived for applicants who have completed at least a bachelor’s degree with a 3.00 GPA, or under other circumstances as determined by the dean of the College of Chiropractic. All courses must be completed with a “C” grade or higher.

For domestic students, all undergraduate courses must be taken at an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and must be transferable at the baccalaureate level.

Total Credits

All DC matriculates must have completed the equivalent of three academic years of undergraduate study (90 semester or 135 quarter hours) of appropriate pre-professional education courses at an institution(s) accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or an equivalent foreign agency. Matriculates must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the 90 semester or 135 quarter hours.

Credit by Examination

UWS recognizes undergraduate credits in the humanities and social sciences completed by examination. Testing programs include, but are not limited to, the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), DSST, NY Board of Regents College Examinations, or college challenge exams. For acceptance, courses and credit hours must be listed on a transcript from an accredited institution.

Credit by examination is not allowed for biology, chemistry or physics courses completed to satisfy the minimum entry requirements in those areas. With approval by the dean and the instructor of the course, exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

Age of Course Credits

UWS recommends that the required life and physical sciences coursework be completed within the seven years prior to entry into the DC program. When the age of coursework is an issue, consideration is given on an individual basis; job-related experiences in biology or organic chemistry may be assessed as a compensating factor.

Transfer Credit and Course Association

Applicants for admission who desire to transfer from other chiropractic or health profession programs are considered for admission. Credits must be earned within the past five years to be eligible for transfer. Credits earned in the UWS doctor of naturopathic program are considered for course association. A student must complete the final 25% of credits and all clinical internship courses in the UWS doctor of chiropractic program. Courses used to meet specific UWS admission requirements are not eligible for transfer credit. Additionally, some courses must be completed at UWS and are not eligible for transfer. See Policy 2007 Transfer Credit for additional conditions related to credit transfer.

Program of Study for DC Transfer Students

Applicants are required to complete an application for admission prior to a transfer evaluation request. Applicants must identify those courses they wish to transfer and the potential match to the UWS chiropractic courses and provide additional information as detailed in Policy 2007 Transfer Credit for additional information.

Graduation requirements are set by UWS in compliance with the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) and stipulate specific numbers of both credit and instructional hours.

The College of Chiropractic dean’s office, in consultation with the appropriate faculty members, will assess individual courses for transfer credit. The registrar enters all accepted transfer credit onto the student record and maintains a copy of remaining course and graduation requirements needed for each transfer student (degree audit). The dean’s office and the registrar work together in creating a specific enrollment plan to meet the transfer student’s outstanding requirements.

Normal Course Load and Progress - DC

The DC program is highly structured, by design, to ensure logical and effective accomplishment of required abilities and competencies. Therefore, under Policy 1226 Normal Course Load and Modified Schedules, students are expected to enroll in a full course load every term until all requirements for graduation have been completed. In some instances, courses must be taken in sequence, including any courses where patient care is delivered. Deviation from the prescribed sequence of academic progress is achieved only through approval of the dean. Students in the doctor of chiropractic program enrolled in a non-standard course load should refer to Policy 1226 Normal Course Load and Modified Schedules.

Background Checks

To help create a safe campus community for patients, students, employees, guests and others, University of Western States requires background investigation and verification reports for all chiropractic students. See Policy 1009 Student Background Investigation and Verification Reporting Requirement for additional information.

Identification Requirement

Students accepted into any program with a start date on or after January 1, 2025, must provide identification as part of the admissions process. A student accepted into a program, who does not provide approved identification prior to the start of the term, is not permitted to start the program until identification is received. Acceptable forms of ID can be found at Policy 2001 Admission Requirements.

Financial Aid - DC

Canadian Student Aid

Canadian students are eligible to apply for aid from Canada while attending UWS. Students need to contact their province to identify the appropriate application to qualify for federal and/or provincial financial aid. Canadian students apply each year by completing an application online through the student financial assistance website of the home province or territory. Students can go to the Canadian government website to start the process of applying for aid available through their own province. Students are encouraged to complete paperwork in a timely manner. In addition, some Canadian students elect to access a student line of credit from a Canadian bank. Some lending institutions offer loan funding specifically for chiropractic study. It is the student’s responsibility to secure and maintain eligibility for continued aid from their home country/province.

Other Countries

International students often receive government-funded loans and grants from their countries of origin and may also utilize educational lines of credit and other alternative sources of loans to cover their educational expenses at UWS. For assistance in determining what types of federal aid are available from a specified home country, contact the country’s education department. For information about lines of credit or alternative loans, students should research the available options at banks and other financial institutions of their country. For proof of enrollment, contact the Office of the Registrar.

Professional Responsibilities of Students

Chiropractic is a licensed profession in all 50 states and the Canadian provinces. When a profession is licensed in Oregon, as in most states, only those individuals who have a valid license or are operating under the direct supervision of a licensed UWS faculty member are allowed to practice. An individual is likewise forbidden to make it appear that they are licensed, if they are not in fact licensed, or to mislead the public in any way regarding the issue of licensure or competence to practice the licensed profession.

Students need to be acutely aware of this legal boundary and conduct themselves accordingly, both on and off campus. It is illegal for students to diagnose or engage in any form of treatment of individuals unless they are being supervised under the authority of the university or a duly designated agent of the university. This usually means that evaluation and care are being pursued in university facilities or under the direct supervision of a licensed chiropractic physician who is a faculty member at UWS.

Licensure

Chiropractic Licensure

The doctor of chiropractic program is designed to offer students chiropractic education sufficient to qualify for licensure in all 50 states and in many international jurisdictions. Licensure regulations vary by state, province, or country and are subject to change.

It is the student’s responsibility to verify the specific licensure in the jurisdiction(s) where they intend to practice, particularly regarding pre-chiropractic educational prerequisites and documentation. Students should contact the appropriate chiropractic examining boards and confer with the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards website for the current requirements. Additional details are available on the UWS Professional Licensure Disclosure webpage.

In accordance with CCE Policy 56, UWS student licensing exam performance is available on the university website.

United States Licensure Exams

The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) is recognized throughout the United States. Its stated purpose is to evaluate the entry-level competencies of applicants for chiropractic licensure. DC graduates must pass NBCE Parts I, II, III, and IV to become eligible to take additional state-required chiropractic licensing exams. UWS does not require students to take the national board examinations. However, failure to do so will make a student ineligible for licensure in most states. National board scores cannot be used to replace grades earned in courses at UWS. Additional details regarding the national board examinations are available in the Office of the Registrar, the university library, or directly from the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners in Greeley, Colorado.

Canadian Licensure Exams

The Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board (CCEB) is recognized throughout Canada. Its stated purpose is to administer qualifying licensing requirements for chiropractors in Canada. DC graduates must pass Part A, Part B, and the Clinical Skills Examination (CSE) to take additional provincial-required chiropractic licensing exams. UWS does not require students to take the national board examinations. However, failure to do so will make a student ineligible for licensure. CCEB board scores cannot be used to replace grades earned in courses at UWS. Additional details regarding the Canadian board examinations are available in the Office of the Registrar or directly from the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board in Calgary, Alberta.

Program Learning Outcomes - DC

As a result of success in the program, the student will be able to:

1. Perform appropriate patient assessments and formulate a diagnosis/es.
2. Execute and update appropriate case management plans.
3. Promote health, wellness, safety and disease prevention including public health issues relevant to patients.
4. Communicate effectively and appropriately in patient care and professional interactions including producing, updating and protecting accurate patient records and relevant documentation.
5. Demonstrate ethical conduct and knowledge of the legal responsibilities of a health care provider and clinical practice owner or employee.
6. Critically access, appraise, and apply scientific literature and other health information resources to provide effective patient care.
7. Deliver safe, appropriate and effective treatments including spinal manipulation.
8. Communicate and collaborate with other healthcare professionals regarding patient care.
9. Integrate knowledge of basic and clinical science.

Curriculum Sequence - DC

The three-letter abbreviation that begins each course designation indicates its academic area.