Prepare for a career as a chiropractor
Choose the courses and experiences that can help you get into chiropractic schools.
Pre-Chiropractic Path
Students of many different majors are on the pre-chiropractor path at SUNY Plattsburgh. The PHPAC will help make sure that you are prepared to apply to chiropractic school.
Academics
Chiropractic schools have fewer definite prerequisites than other post-graduate professional schools. These are the general criteria:
- Competed 90 semester hours of a bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA.
- A minimum of 24 semester hours in life and physical sciences courses, half with labs.
- A well-rounded general education program, including courses in the humanities and social sciences.
- You can read more about these requirements here: http://www.chirocolleges.org/
Shadowing
Admissions committees at chiropractic school will expect that you have experience either working in a chiropractic office or shadowing a chiropractor. Plattsburgh has many board certified chiropractors. Shadowing opportunities can easily be arranged in conjunction with the chairman of the PHPAC.
Applying to Chiropractic School
There is no central application service for chiropractic schools; each school has its own timetable and deadlines. You can research the schools you are interested at chirocolleges.org.
Partner Programs
4+4 Guaranteed Admission Program with University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic
- Articulation Agreement
We have an articulation agreement with University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic that provides scholarships to qualified applicants.
This program is a standard 4+4 articulation program. The advantages are:
- The relationship between the University of Bridgeport and SUNY Plattsburgh ensures an easier application process. Graduating with a GPA of 3.0 or greater in one of the approved majors guarantees admission.
- There is scholarship money built into the program based on scores in science courses.
- Requirements
All matriculants who have completed the equivalent of three academic years of undergraduate study (90 semester hours) at an institution(s) accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or an equivalent foreign agency with a GPA for these 90 hours of not less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The 90 hours will include a minimum of 24 semester hours in life and physical science courses. These science courses will provide an adequate background for success in the doctor of chiropractic program (DCP) and at least half of these courses will have a substantive laboratory component.
The student’s undergraduate preparation also includes a well-rounded general education program in the humanities and social sciences, and other coursework deemed relevant by the DCP for students to successfully complete the DCP curriculum.
- Areas of Undergraduate Study
Students will matriculate at the SUNY Plattsburgh in a program of study leading to the Baccalaureate Degree or articulated course work required to satisfy all entrance requirements of University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic. Those programs should include the following and include the above federally mandated requirements for admission:
- Athletic training
- Behavioral biology
- Biology & related majors
- Biochemistry & related majors
- Biophysics
- Chemistry & related majors
- Earth sciences & related majors
- Exercise science & related majors
- Exercise physiology
- Health & human performance
- Kinesiology
- Nutrition
- Physics & related majors
- Psychology
- Sports sciences & related majors
- Scholarships
- Students will complete the course of study with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and earn a minimum of “C" (2.00) in all specified science courses (see note below). In addition, those students entering with a 3.0 cumulative GPA will be automatically awarded a onetime UBCC merit scholarship valued at $1,750.
- Students will complete the course of study with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and earn a minimum of “C+” (2.50) in all specified science courses (see note below). In addition, those students entering with a 3.0 cumulative GPA will be automatically awarded a onetime UBCC merit scholarship valued at $2,000.
- Students will complete the course of study with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and earn a minimum of “B” (3.00) in all specified science courses (see note below). In addition, those students entering with a 3.0 cumulative GPA will be automatically awarded a onetime UBCC merit scholarship valued at $2,500
- Application Process
- By their first two years at the college/university, or during the first year in the upper division of exercise science/exercise physiology/biology, students will submit a letter of intent to UBCC, Attn. Director of Graduate Health Sciences Admissions, University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic, 126 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604 identifying themselves as articulation students and identifying their desired date of entrance to UBCC.
- Students will apply for admission to UBCC one year in advance of their desired entrance date and complete all other application procedures including a satisfactory admission interview. The three required references should include one from a doctor of chiropractic and one from a faculty member at the college/university.
In recognition of students’ completion of the program including procedures outlines above, University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic shall consider the applications and accept all such students for the entrance date of their choice.
NOTE: Students who do not maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, but complete the program with a GPA of 2.5 or better, will receive appropriate special consideration for admission to UBCC, owing to their having completed the articulation sequence at the SUNY Plattsburgh.
Northeast College of Health Sciences 3+3 Program in Chiropractic Medicine
- About the Program
Uncompromising Excellence Since 1919
Northeast College of Health Sciences is among the best academic institutions in the country, providing outstanding healthcare education for more than 100 years. Northeast’s academic programs in health sciences like chiropractic, nutrition, human anatomy and physiology instruction and more share a deep dedication to training healthcare professionals who reimagine health and transform lives.
- Eligibility & Requirements
- Under this advisement sequence, students will matriculate at SUNY Plattsburgh for a minimum of three academic years (90 semester hours) in a program of study leading to a baccalaureate degree in an applicable health sciences major which includes course work required to satisfy all entrance requirements of Northeast. That program includes the anticipated plan of study by semester below.
- Students may acquire a portion of the required coursework necessary to satisfy all entrance requirements of Northeast through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Up to 20 semester hours of a candidate’s pre-professional requirements can be earned through the CLEP and certain other college proficiency examinations. These credits must be granted by an accredited, degree-granting institution (NOTE: science prerequisites cannot be satisfied through examination programs).
- Students will complete the outlined course of study at SUNY Plattsburgh with a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 3.0 and earn a minimum of “C” (2.00) in all specified courses (see note below).
- Scholarships
- Students entering with a 3.0-3.499 cumulative Grade Point Average from SUNY Plattsburgh will be automatically awarded a Northeast merit scholarship valued at $1,500.00.
- Students entering with a 3.5 or higher cumulative Grade Point Average from SUNY Plattsburgh will be automatically awarded a Northeast merit scholarship valued at $2,500.00.
These scholarships are non-renewable and dispersed equally between the first and second Northeast trimesters only.
- Application Process
- During their first year at SUNY Plattsburgh, students will submit their Letter of Intent to Northeast Admissions, 2360 State Route 89, Seneca Falls, NY, 13148 identifying themselves as articulation students and identifying their desired date of entrance to Northeast.
- Students must apply for admission to Northeast one year in advance of their desired entrance data and complete all Northeast application requirements.
- Students enrolled in the 3+3 program who successfully complete all courses during the first three trimesters at Northeast with a grade point average of 2.00 will receive a baccalaureate degree in an applicable major from SUNY Plattsburgh upon student-initiated submission of an official transcript from Northeast to SUNY Plattsburgh and timely completion of the SUNY Plattsburgh application for graduation and submission of appropriate fees.
- Suggested Semester Pathway
First Year SUNY Plattsburgh
Fall Semester (16 Credits) Course Number Course Title Credits BIO101 General Biology I w/lab 4 CHE111 General Chemistry I w/lab 4 MAT161 Introductory Statistics 3 PSY101 General Psychology 3 ENG101 College Writing 3 Spring Semester (17 Credits) Course Number Course Title Credits BIO102 General Biology II w/lab 4 CHE112 General Chemistry II w/lab 4 MAT221 Calculus for LM&SS 3 Gen Ed Elective 3 Gen Ed Elective 3 Second Year SUNY Plattsburgh
Fall Semester (17 Credits) Course Number Course Title Credits BIO203 General Biology 1 w/lab 4 BIOXXX Biology Elective 2 CHE241 Organic Chemistry I w/lab 4 PHY103 General Physics I w/lab 4 LIB101 Information Literacy 1 Spring Semester (18 Credits) Course Number Course Title Credits BIO208 Evolution 3 BIO305 General Genetics w/lab 4 CHE242 Organic Chemistry II w/lab 4 PHY104 General Physics II w/lab 4 Gen Ed Elective 3 Third Year SUNY Plattsburgh
Fall Semester (16-17 Credits) Course Number Course Title Credits BIO326 Anatomy & Physiology 1 w/lab 4 BIO380 Communicating Biology 3 BIO304 Ecology w/lab 4 CHE371 Biochemistry w/lab 4 BIOXXX Biology Elective 3 Spring Semester (15-16 Credits) Course Number Course Title Credits BIO327 Anatomy & Physiology II w/lab 4 BIO401 Cell Biology 3 BIOXXX Biology Elective 3 Gen Ed Elective 3 Gen Ed Elective 3