The Doctor of Chiropractic program at Keiser University prepares graduates to truly make a difference by helping patients’ relieve pain, improve their mobility, and guide them to lead healthier lives. The program combines traditional lectures with small-group learning, weekly conferences and seminars, laboratory and experiential sessions, and clinical training opportunities — all with an emphasis on case-based relevancy for chiropractic practice, a profession dedicated to excellence in spine care.
Program Objectives
Keiser University’s Doctor of Chiropractic program prepares students to:
- Utilize history taking, physical examination, diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing to collect data, and apply clinical reasoning skills to assess those data in order to arrive at a diagnosis.
- Develop, implement, and document a patient care plan which includes specific therapeutic goals and prognoses.
- Assess the need for health promotion and disease prevention strategies to address the needs of patients and communities.
- Develop effective interpersonal and communication skills for a wide range of healthcare related activities including patient care, professional collaboration, health education, as well as the documenting and reporting of healthcare information.
- Understand, comply with, and rigorously implement accepted standards of professional ethics and jurisprudence.
- Locate, critically appraise, and utilize relevant scientific literature and information to assess and improve patient care practices.
- Independently and competently select and perform chiropractic manual and manipulative procedures.
- Apply the values and principles of team dynamics to perform effectively in healthcare delivery and leadership teams.
Program Mission and Vision
Our vision is to be the nation’s leading school of chiropractic medicine. This vision implies a dual charge: to prepare Doctors of Chiropractic to serve the citizens of Florida and beyond, through excellence in care, education and research; and, to provide national and international leadership as an exemplar of chiropractic medical education. Our vision will be realized to the extent that others follow us.
Our mission is to graduate caring, critically-thinking Doctors of Chiropractic focusing on spine-care, who will serve the needs of Florida’s citizens and beyond, to a diverse global society. Our graduates are committed to the highest standards of professional ethics; life-long learning; and, inter-professional collaboration as team members in the delivery of health care. We provide leadership to the chiropractic profession through excellence and innovation in education, research and patient care.
Email us or call the West Palm Beach Office of Admissions at 1-561-471-6000 or toll free at 1-888-534-7379 for more information regarding our Doctor of Chiropractic program!
Graduate Division Courses
Doctor of Chiropractic Core Courses (216.0 credit hours)
| Molecules and Cells | 2.0 credit hours |
| Biochemistry 1 | 3.0 credit hours |
| Physiology 1 | 3.0 credit hours |
| Biochemistry 2 | 3.0 credit hours |
| Physiology 2 | 3.0 credit hours |
| Gross and Spinal Anatomy 1 | 8.0 credit hours |
| Histology | 2.0 credit hours |
| Gross and Spinal Anatomy 2 | 5.0 credit hours |
| Gross Anatomy 3 | 5.0 credit hours |
| Embryology and Genetics | 1.0 credit hour |
| Neuroscience | 6.0 credit hours |
| Pathology 1 | 3.0 credit hours |
| Chiropractic Therapeutics 1 | 3.0 credit hours |
| Principles of Chiropractic Practice 1 | 1.0 credit hour |
| Chiropractic Therapeutics 2 | 5.0 credit hours |
| Principles of Chiropractic Practice 2 | 1.0 credit hour |
| Chiropractic Therapeutics 3 | 5.0 credit hours |
| Principles of Chiropractic Practice 3 | 1.0 credit hour |
| Clinical and Professional Development 1 | 1.0 credit hour |
| Clinical Case Conference 1 | 1.0 credit hour |
| Clinical and Professional Development 2 | 2.0 credit hours |
| Grand Rounds | 1.0 credit hour |
| Clinical and Professional Development 3 | 1.0 credit hour |
| Grand Rounds | 1.0 credit hour |
| Pathology 2 | 3.0 credit hours |
| Clinical Microbiology and Immunology | 4.0 credit hours |
| Diagnostic and Clinical Sciences 1 – Examination | 5.0 credit hours |
| Diagnostic and Clinical Sciences 2 – Introduction to Orthopedics | 3.0 credit hours |
| Diagnostic and Clinical Sciences 3 – Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis | 3.0 credit hours |
| Diagnostic and Clinical Sciences 4 – Orthopedics | 3.0 credit hours |
| Diagnostic and Clinical Sciences 5 – Clinical Laboratory Seminar | 1.0 credit hour |
| Diagnostic and Clinical Sciences 6 – Neurology | 3.0 credit hours |
| Diagnostic Imaging 1 Technique | 3.0 credit hours |
| Diagnostic Imaging 2 Technique | 2.0 credit hours |
| Chiropractic Therapeutics 4 | 5.0 credit hours |
| Principles of Chiropractic Practice 4 | 1.0 credit hour |
| Chiropractic Therapeutics 5 – Clinical Nutrition | 3.0 credit hours |
| Chiropractic Therapeutics 6 | 5.0 credit hours |
| Chiropractic Therapeutics 7 – Physiological Therapeutics | 3.0 credit hours |
| Chiropractic Therapeutics 8 | 4.0 credit hours |
| Chiropractic Therapeutics 9 – Rehabilitation | 3.0 credit hours |
| Clinical and Professional Development 4 | 2.0 credit hours |
| Grand Rounds | 1.0 credit hour |
| Clinical and Professional Development 5 | 2.0 credit hours |
| Clinical Practice 1 | 4.0 credit hours |
| Grand Rounds | 1.0 credit hour |
| Clinical and Professional Development 6 | 2.0 credit hours |
| Clinical Practice 2 | 4.0 credit hours |
| Grand Rounds | 1.0 credit hour |
| Diagnostic and Clinical Sciences 7 – Orthopedics | 3.0 credit hours |
| Diagnostic and Clinical Sciences 8 – Systems Disorders | 5.0 credit hours |
| Diagnostic and Clinical Sciences 9 – Emergency Care | 1.0 credit hour |
| Diagnostic and Clinical Sciences 10 – Women’s Health and Chiropractic Pediatrics | 3.0 credit hours |
| Diagnostic and Clinical Sciences 11 – Pharmacology | 1.0 credit hour |
| Diagnostic and Clinical Sciences 12 – Systems Disorders | 5.0 credit hours |
| Diagnostic and Clinical Sciences 13 – Chiropractic Geriatrics | 3.0 credit hours |
| Diagnostic and Clinical Sciences 14 – Public Health | 1.0 credit hour |
| Diagnostic and Clinical Sciences 15 – Topics in Contemporary Healthcare | 1.0 credit hour |
| Diagnostic Imaging 3 Technique and Interpretation | 3.0 credit hours |
| Diagnostic Imaging 4 Interpretation | 3.0 credit hours |
| Diagnostic Imaging 5 – Interpretation | 1.0 credit hour |
| Chiropractic Therapeutics 10 – Nutritional Therapy Seminar | 1.0 credit hour |
| Chiropractic Therapeutics 11 | 1.0 credit hour |
| Principles of Chiropractic Practice 5 | 1.0 credit hour |
| Clinical and Professional Development 7 | 1.0 credit hour |
| Clinical Practice 3 – Pre-clerkship | 5.0 credit hours |
| Grand Rounds | 1.0 credit hour |
| Clinical and Professional Development 8 | 2.0 credit hours |
| Clinical Practice 4 – Clerkship | 6.0 credit hours |
| Grand Rounds | 1.0 credit hour |
| Clinical and Professional Development 9 | 1.0 credit hour |
| Clinical Practice 5 – Clerkship | 10.0 credit hours |
| Grand Rounds | 1.0 credit hour |
| Clinical Practice 6- Externship and/or Preceptorship | 15.0 credit hours |
Admission Requirements
Doctor of Chiropractic Requirements
Candidates for admission to the DC program are required to hold at least a Baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher. Exceptional applicants with three years of undergraduate study (90 semester hours) will be considered for admission if spaces are available. Such students will be required to complete their Baccalaureate degree from Keiser University before graduation from the DC program.
You should meet or exceed these expectations:
- Credits earned: Minimum 90 semester credits at bachelor’s degree level
- Well-rounded general education coursework which includes required coursework in life and physical sciences; humanities; social and behavioral sciences; and communications and languages
- 3.0 GPA or greater on a 4.0 scale* (Note: only course work which resulted in a final grade of “C” or higher will be considered for admission)
- A Minimum of 24 semester* hours of coursework in life and physical sciences, a minimum of half of which must have a substantive lab component
- Life and Physical Science Coursework includes Biology (human anatomy, physiology, embryology, genetics, microbiology, immunology, cellular biology, exercise physiology, kinesiology) Chemistry (general chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology/pharmacology, and nuclear medicine) and Physical Sciences (physics, and biomechanics)
- No fewer than 6 credits must be earned in human-based life science coursework (examples include but are not limited to: Anatomy & Physiology, Kinesiology, Human Biology, Biomechanics, Human Growth and Development, Pathology and appropriate coursework in applied Biology)
- As the goal of this requirement is for each student to possess a strong understanding and recollection in foundational coursework, the university reserves the right to consider the age of prior coursework and may not find coursework of significant age acceptable for purposes of this determination
*AATP Track: Applicants with less than 24 semester credits in life and physical sciences and/or a cumulative GPA below 3.0 (but not less than 2.75) may be considered under an alternative admissions track plan (AATP). This point of entry requires a more extensive review of the applicant's enrollment factors by both academic and admissions personnel. Decisions for admission are made on a case-by-case basis by the Vice President and/or Dean of the College of Chiropractic Medicine. The AATP admission standard is designed to allow students with various academic backgrounds to enroll in chiropractic school based on the academic achievements they already possess. Prospective students will be encouraged to contact admissions for additional information. Availability for this track is limited and admission decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Note: Students admitted under the AATP standard will have an individual academic plan and their progress will be monitored throughout the course of the program to ensure their success.
NOTE: A bachelor’s degree is not required for admission, although some states do require a bachelor’s degree to practice. A bachelor’s degree is necessary and part of the requirements to complete the DCP at Keiser University.
Required Documents for Admission
In addition to meeting the criteria listed above, the student’s application must also include:
- Submission of a completed Chiropractic College Application
- Submission of official transcripts from ALL previously attended post-secondary institutions.
- Two letters of recommendation
- A one-page personal statement describing intent to pursue the Doctor of Chiropractic degree
- An applicant who is from a country where American English is not the primary language or whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited US institution, must submit a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based test) or 213 (computer-based test)
- An interview (in person or by telephone) with the Vice President and/or DCP faculty
- If on the AATP track, the AATP track admission paperwork signed by student and Vice President and/or Dean of the College of Chiropractic Medicine
- Successful background check
Accreditation
The Doctor of Chiropractic degree program at the Keiser University College of Chiropractic Medicine is awarded programmatic accreditation by The Council on Chiropractic Education, 8049 North 85th Way, Scottsdale, AZ, 85258-4321, Phone: (480)443-8877, Website: www.cce-usa.org.