Pre-Chiropractic

Make a difference in people’s daily lives by becoming a chiropractor. At the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, you’ll experience a rigorous curriculum and unique learning opportunities that will prepare you well for a career in the chiropractic field.

Pre-chiropractic is not a major at UW-Eau Claire, but rather a declaration of your intention to continue your education and become a chiropractor. No specific undergraduate major is required for a career in chiropractic, giving you the opportunity to select an academic program that fits your interests and goals. Most UWEC students choose to major in rehabilitation science, exercise science or biology.

Certain courses, skills and experiences are also favored when applying for graduate school. Most accredited chiropractic colleges expect involvement in extracurricular activities, volunteer work, observations or job shadowing and direct work experience with a licensed chiropractor. You’ll find direct access to those opportunities here, especially with the help of our exceptional faculty and career advisors — as well as pre-health peer advisors. This incredible team behind you is aware of the academic requirements most graduate schools expect and will ensure you gain the knowledge and experiences necessary for acceptance into your school of choice.

Chiropractors provide professional health care and aid for a variety of ailments. Typically, they provide therapy by manipulating the spine to assist with pain management. Approaching health with a holistic approach, chiropractors improve patients’ lives from the inside out. 

After earning your undergraduate degree from UWEC, your next step toward becoming a chiropractor is earning your doctor of chiropractic (D.C.) degree. The university’s success rate at preparing students who gain admission to graduate schools is outstanding. Previous students have gone on to attend Northwestern Health Sciences University, Palmer College of Chiropractic, National University of Health Sciences, Logan University and Life University.

What can I do with a D.C.?

Doctors of chiropractic — often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians — practice a drug-free approach to health care. Responsibilities include patient examination, wellness promotion, health assessment, diagnosis and treatment. As a chiropractor, you’ll use broad diagnostic skills and be trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling. A doctor of chiropractic is a part of the health care community, often consulting with or referring to other health care providers.

The pre-chiropractic curriculum at UWEC prepares students for entrance into their chosen chiropractic school. This includes completion of all prerequisite courses, observation or work experience with a licensed chiropractor, and competitive overall and science GPAs. Students are also prepared to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), which is required for admission to some chiropractic programs. The exam consists of three sections: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing. It is often taken in the spring semester or summer following the junior year. 

What classes do pre-chiropractic students take?

Students interested in a career in chiropractic may focus on these topics during their undergraduate career:

• Human anatomy and physiology
• Biomechanical kinesiology
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Exercise physiology
• Anatomical kinesiology
• Physics
• Psychology
• Math
• English

Learn more about pre-chiropractic in the UWEC course catalog.

A few majors that would best support a career in chiropractic care include: