Cal U now offers dual degree programs in conjunction with three of the nation's top chiropractic colleges.
Students seeking careers as chiropractors now have a more efficient and affordable route to earning both a B.S. in Biology and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree.
Cal U now offers dual degree programs in conjunction with three of the nation's top chiropractic colleges: Palmer College of Chiropractic, the first and largest chiropractic college, with campuses in Davenport, Iowa; San Jose, California; and Port Orange, Fla.; New York Chiropractic College, in Seneca Falls, N.Y.; and Logan University in Chesterfield, Mo., a longstanding Cal U partner.
The National Institutes of Health describes chiropractic as "a healthcare profession that focuses on the relationship between the body's structure - mainly the spine - and its functioning." This complementary therapy often includes spinal manipulation and other nonsurgical treatments to address problems such as lower back pain, neck and shoulder pain, and headaches.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for chiropractors to grow by 10 percent between 2016 and 2026, faster than the average for all occupations, as people of all ages become interested in this form of complementary medicine.
About the programs
Cal U's "3+3" dual degree programs allow students to earn a bachelor's degree at Cal U while transitioning into the Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) program at Palmer, NYCC or Logan.
Under the agreements, students enroll in Cal U's B.S. in Biology program with a pre-professional concentration, where they take approved courses in chemistry, cellular and molecular biology, genetics, human anatomy, microbiology and human physiology, along with other science and general education courses.
After completing a minimum of 90 credits during three years of study at Cal U, qualifying students transfer to Palmer, NYCC or Logan to begin their chiropractic education.
Approximately 30 credits earned in their first year of chiropractic study are accepted at Cal U, completing the requirements for the B.S. in Biology degree.
Students then complete about two more years of study at Palmer, NYCC or Logan to earn the Doctor of Chiropractic degree.
Graduates with a D.C. degree are prepared for career opportunities as solo practitioners or members of a group practice, as sports team or corporate chiropractors, or as chiropractic educators or researchers.
Professional edge
Earning the B.S. in Biology is also an important milestone, since many states require chiropractors to hold a bachelor's degree, in addition to their chiropractic credential, in order to be licensed to practice.
Earning both the B.S. and D.C. degrees gives students maximum flexibility as they begin their careers.
"The dual degree program saves students time and money by shortening the time it takes to earn a chiropractic degree," says Terrie Greene, executive director of Cal U's Office of Articulation and Transfer Evaluation.
"The pre-professional program at Cal U is an efficient and cost-effective first step toward a career as a chiropractic healthcare professional."
Cal U is enrolling students now for the dual degree program in pre-professional biology/chiropractic. Undergraduates who select Cal U's pre-professional concentration also can prepare to enter a variety of professional health science schools to study medicine, dentistry, podiatry, pharmacy, osteopathy, optometry, veterinary science or physical therapy.
For details about the dial degree programs, students may contact Cal U's Office of Articulation and Transfer Evaluation at transfer@calu.edu or 724-938-5939.