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DC - Doctor of Chiropractic

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COLLEGE OF CHIROPRACTICDoctorateDoctor of Chiropractic

General

General Information

Additional Information or Requirements

Program Requirements

Program Student Learning Outcomes

The Doctor of Chiropractic graduate meets the program’s mission based on its program objectives consistent with the Meta-Competency Outcomes from the Council on Chiropractic Education Accreditation Standards, January 2025.

  1. ASSESSMENT & DIAGNOSIS  

Assessment and diagnosis require developed clinical reasoning skills. Clinical reasoning consists of data gathering and interpretation; hypothesis generation and testing; and critical evaluation of diagnostic strategies. This dynamic process includes the collection and assessment of data through history, physical examination, imaging, laboratory tests, and case-related clinical services. 

  1. MANAGEMENT  

Management involves the development, implementation and monitoring of a patient care plan for positively impacting a patient’s health and well-being, including specific healthcare goals and prognoses. It may include case follow-up, referral, and/or collaborative care. 

  1. HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION  

Health promotion and disease prevention requires an understanding and application of epidemiological principles regarding the nature and identification of health issues in diverse populations and recognition of the impact of biological, chemical, behavioral, structural, psychosocial, and environmental factors on general health. 

  1. COMMUNICATION AND RECORD KEEPING  

Effective communication includes oral, written, and nonverbal skills with appropriate sensitivity, clarity and control for a wide range of healthcare-related activities, to include patient care, professional communication, health education, record keeping, and reporting. 

  1. PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND JURISPRUDENCE  

Professionals are expected to comply with the law and exhibit ethical behavior. 

  1. CULTURAL COMPETENCY   

Cultural competency includes the knowledge, skills, and core professional attributes needed to provide care to patients with diverse values, beliefs, and behaviors, including the tailoring of health care delivery to meet patients' social, cultural, and linguistic needs in an effort to reduce disparities in healthcare delivery.   

  1. CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT/MANIPULATION  

Doctors of chiropractic employ the adjustment/manipulation to address joint and neurophysiologic dysfunction. The adjustment/manipulation is a precise procedure requiring the discrimination and identification of dysfunction; interpretation and application of clinical knowledge; and the use of cognitive and psychomotor skills. 

  1. INTER-PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION  

Students have the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to function as part of an inter-professional team to provide patient-centered collaborative care. Inter-professional teamwork may be demonstrated in didactic, clinical, or simulated learning environments.     

 

Degree and Graduation Requirements

The Doctor of Chiropractic degree requires a minimum of 227.5 semester credit hours of coursework, which are as follows:

  • 61 Semester Credits in Basic Science

  • 53 Semester Credits in Chiropractic Sciences

  • 61.5 Semester Credits in Clinical Sciences

  • 46 Semester Credits in Clinical Internship

  • 6* Semester Credits in Electives (*must complete a minimum of 3 elective courses)

Co-Curricular Graduation Requirements: Service-Learning Opportunities and Assemblies

The Doctor of Chiropractic program requires that students participate in co-curricular activities as a component of their educational program. To qualify for graduation or to be considered for a community-based internship, a student must have participated in no less than 24 University-sanctioned activities in this category. Students are therefore strongly encouraged to complete the assembly credit requirement prior to entering clinic in trimester 8.

The 24 events (assembly credits) must consist of the following: 18 General and 6 Seminar credits. 

Students can track their progress toward fulfillment of this requirement on MyParker Assembly Credit Tracking. Additionally, students, faculty, and staff periodically attend Parker University Assembly to learn from experts in various fields including health care, education, philosophy, science, and business. All assemblies must be approved by the Dean of Student Affairs.

Curriculum

The DC curriculum at Parker University is drawn from three academic areas and the Chiropractic Clinics. Courses are identified by a department prefix, course number, and course title. While many of the courses in the basic sciences are taken during the first half of the course of study, a strong thread of chiropractic philosophy, principles and techniques is maintained throughout the entire curriculum. Clinical experience constitutes a substantial portion of student time during the last half of the course of study.

Doctor of Chiropractic

Department

Lecture Hours

Lab Hours

Total Credit Hours

Clock Hours

Basic Sciences - BASC

53

16

61

1035

Chiropractic Sciences - CHSC

38

30

53

1020

Clinical Sciences - CLSC

46

31

61.5

1155

Clinic Internship - CLIN

10

72

46

1230

Elective Courses (minimum required hours)

3

6

6

135

Total

150

155

227.5

4575

Course #

Course Name

Lecture Hours

Lab Hours

Total Credit Hours

Clock Hours

Trimester I

Trimester Total Hours

19

9

23.5

420

BASC 5101

Biology of Cells and Tissues

3

2

4

75

BASC 5104

Development and Applied Anatomy

4

2

5

90

BASC 5109

Principles of Biomedical Sciences

3

0

3

45

CHSC 5014

Success Strategies for Chiropractic Students

0

2

1

30

CHSC 5103

Foundations of Chiropractic

4

0

4

60

CHSC 5104

Introduction to Clinical Reasoning

2

0

2

30

CHSC 5105

Chiropractic Methods I

1

2

2

45

CLSC 5102

Fundamentals of Diagnostic Imaging

2

1

2.5

45

Trimester II

Trimester Total Hours

23

10

28

495

BASC 5105

Biochemistry I

3

0

3

45

BASC 5202

Gross Anatomy I

4

2

5

90

BASC 5204

Physiology I

4

2

5

90

BASC 5205

Microbiology/Immunology

5

2

6

105

CHSC 5203

Clinical Biomechanics/Motion Palpation

3

2

4

75

CLSC 5201

Clinical Psychology

3

0

3

45

CLSC 5202

Clinical Imaging I

1

2

2

45

Trimester III

Trimester Total Hours

21

10

26

465

BASC 5206

Biochemistry II

3

0

3

45

BASC 5301

Gross Anatomy II 

4

2

5

90

BASC 5303

Physiology II

4

2

5

90

BASC 5306

General Pathology

3

0

3

45

CHSC 5305

Exploring the Evolution of Chiropractic

2

0

2

30

CHSC 5306

Analysis & Adjusting Technique I

2

2

3

60

CHSC 5307

Extra Spinal Analysis & Tech. Upper Extremity

1

2

2

45

CLSC 5302

Clinical Imaging II

2

2

3

60

Trimester IV

Trimester Total Hours

22

10

27

480

BASC 5304

Public Health

2

0

2

30

BASC 6105

Neuroscience

4

2

5

90

BASC 6106

Systems Pathology

5

0

5

75

CHSC 6106

Analysis & Adjusting Technique II

1

2

2

45

CHSC 6107

Extra Spinal Analysis & Tech. Lower Extremity

1

2

2

45

CLSC 6103

Physical Diagnosis

3

2

4

75

CLSC 6105

Clinical Nutrition

4

0

4

60

CLSC 6106

Clinical Imaging III

2

2

3

60

Trimester V

Trimester Total Hours

17

16

25

495

BASC 6202

Pharmacology/Toxicology

2

0

2

30

CHSC 6207

Physiotherapy I

2

2

3

60

CHSC 6208

Full Spine Adjusting I

0

2

1

30

CHSC 6209

Analysis & Adjusting Technique III

1

2

2

45

CHSC 7400

Technique Elective #1

1

2

2

45

CLSC 6201

Clinical Orthopedics

2

2

3

60

CLSC 6204

Lab Diagnosis

3

2

4

75

CLSC 6205

Clinical Neurology

4

2

5

90

CLSC 6206

Clinical Imaging IV

2

2

3

60

Trimester VI

Trimester Total Hours

21

12

27

495

CHSC 6204

OB/GYN/Pediatrics

4

0

4

60

CHSC 6305

Physiotherapy II

3

2

4

75

CHSC 6307

Science & Philosophy of the VSC

4

0

4

60

CHSC 6308

Full Spine Adjusting II

0

2

1

30

CHSC 6310

The Business of Chiropractic

3

0

3

45

CHSC 7400

Technique Elective #2

1

2

2

45

CLSC 6303

Functional Assessment Principles

1

2

2

45

CLSC 6305

Differential Diagnosis

4

2

5

90

CLSC 6307

Clinical Imaging V

1

2

2

45

Trimester VII

Trimester Total Hours

14

16

22

450

CHSC 7103

Geriatrics

2

0

2

30

CHSC 7104

Documentation for the Chiropractic Practice

1 

2

2

45

CHSC 7107

Communications

1

2

2

45

CHSC 7108

Full Spine Adjusting III

0

2

1

30

CHSC 7400

Technique Elective #3

1

2

2

45

CLSC 7104

Emergency Care

3

2

4

75

CLSC 7106

Patient Management

4

2

5

90

CLSC 7107

Radiographic Examination

1

2

2

45

CLSC 7109

Clinic Readiness

1

2

2

45

Trimester VIII

Trimester Total Hours

7

20

17

405

CLIN 7200

Intermediate Clinical Integration*

2

12

8

210

CLSC 7105

Wellness Concepts

3

0

3

45

CLIN 7233

Clinic Development I

2

2

3

60

CLIN 7203

Internship I Practicum 

2

18

11

300

Trimester IX

Trimester Total Hours

3

26

16

435

CLIN 7333

Clinic Development II

2

2

3

60

CLIN 7303

Internship II Practicum 

1

24

13

375

Trimester X

Trimester Total Hours

3

26

16

435

CLIN 8103

Internship III Practicum 

3

26

16

435

Doctor of Chiropractic BLENDED Track

Course #

Course Name

Lecture Hours

Lab Hours

Total Credit Hours

Clock Hours

Trimester I

Trimester Total Hours

18

7

21.5

375

BASC 5101

Biology of Cells and Tissues

3

2

4

75

BASC 5104

Developmental and Applied Anatomy

4

2

5

90

BASC 5109

Principles of Biomedical Sciences

3

0

3

45

CHSC 5014

Success Strategies for Chiropractic Students

0

2

1

30

CHSC 5103

Foundations of Chiropractic

4

0

4

60

CHSC 5104

Introduction to Clinical Reasoning

2

0

2

30

CLSC 5102

Fundamentals of Diagnostic Imaging

2

1

2.5

45

Trimester II

Trimester Total Hours

20

8

24

420

BASC 5105

Biochemistry I

3

0

3

45

BASC 5202

Gross Anatomy I

4

2

5

90

BASC 5204

Physiology I

4

2

5

90

BASC 5205

Microbiology/Immunology

5

2

6

105

CLSC 5201

Clinical Psychology

3

0

3

45

CLSC 5202

Clinical Imaging I

1

2

2

45

Trimester III

Trimester Total Hours

20

6

23

390

BASC 5206

Biochemistry II

3

0

3

45

BASC 5301

Gross Anatomy II

4

2

5

90

BASC 5303

Physiology II

4

2

5

90

BASC 5304

Public Health 

2

0

2

30

BASC 5306

General Pathology

3

0

3

45

CHSC 5305

Exploring the Evolution of Chiropractic

2

0

2

30

CLSC 5302

Clinical Imaging II

2

2

3

60

Trimester IV

Trimester Total Hours

21

12

27

495

BASC 6105

Neuroscience

4

2

5

90

BASC 6106

Systems Pathology 

5

0

5

75

CHSC 5105

Chiropractic Methods I**

1

2

2

45

CHSC 5203

Clinical Biomechanics/Motion Palpation**

3

2

4

75

CLSC 6103

Physical Diagnosis**

3

2

4

75

CLSC 6106

Clinical Imaging III

2

2

3

60

CLSC 6204

Lab Diagnosis 

3

2

4

75

Trimester V

Trimester Total Hours

23

12

29

525

BASC 6202

Pharmacology/Toxicology

2

0

2

30

CHSC 5306

Analysis & Adjusting Technique I

2

2

3

60

CHSC 5307

Extra Spinal Analysis & Tech. Upper Extremity

1

2

2

45

CHSC 6204

OB/GYN/Pediatrics

4

0

4

60

CHSC 6207

Physiotherapy I

2

2

3

60

CLSC 6105

Clinical Nutrition 

4

0

4

60

CLSC 6201

Clinical Orthopedics

2

2

3

60

CLSC 6205

Clinical Neurology

4

2

5

90

CLSC 6206

Clinical Imaging IV

2

2

3

60

Trimester VI

Trimester Total Hours

17

18

26

525

CHSC 6106

Analysis & Adjusting Technique II

1

2

2

45

CHSC 6107

Extra Spinal Analysis & Tech. Lower Extremity

1

2

2

45

CHSC 6305

Physiotherapy II

3

2

4

75

CHSC 6310

Business of Chiropractic

3

0

3

45

CHSC 6311

Accelerated Full Spine Adjusting

0

4

2

60

CHSC 7103

Geriatrics

2

0

2

30

CHSC 7400

Technique Elective #1

1

2

2

45

CLSC 6303

Functional Assessment Principles

1

2

2

45

CLSC 6305

Differential Diagnosis 

4

2

5

90

CLSC 6307

Clinical Imaging V

1

2

2

45

Trimester VII

Trimester Total Hours

18

20

28

570

CHSC 6209

Analysis & Adjusting Technique III

1

2

2

45

CHSC 6307

Science & Philosophy of the VSC

4

0

4

60

CHSC 7104

Documentation of the Chiropractic Practice

1

2

2

45

CHSC 7107

Communications

1

2

2

45

CHSC 7108

Full Spine Adjusting III

0

2

1

30

CHSC 7400

Technique Elective #2

1

2

2

45

CHSC 7400

Technique Elective #3

1

2

2

45

CLSC 7104

Emergency Care

3

2

4

75

CLSC 7106

Patient Management

4

2

5

90

CLSC 7107

Radiographic Examination

1

2

2

45

CLSC 7109

Clinic Readiness

1

2

2

45

Trimester VIII

Trimester Total Hours

7

20

17

405

CLIN 7200

Intermediate Clinical Integration*

2

12

8

210

CLSC 7105

Wellness Concepts

3

0

3

45

CLIN 7233

Clinic Development I

2

2

3

60

CLIN 7203

Internship I Practicum 

2

18

11

300

Trimester IX

Trimester Total Hours

3

26

16

435

CLIN 7333

Clinic Development II

2

2

3

60

CLIN 7303

Internship II Practicum 

1

24

13

375

Trimester X

Trimester Total Hours

3

26

16

435

CLIN 8103

Internship III Practicum 

3

26

16

435

*CLIN 7200 is an elective course for those students who do not meet the NBCE prerequisite to enter IP1. This elective will extend the overall time for completion and total credits towards the DC degree.

**Ending in Fall 2026, blended students will have the option to complete the lecture component of these Tri 4 courses and then come to campus for three weeks before starting Tri 5 to complete the lab portion, or to complete all Tri 4 coursework on campus. Starting Winter 2027, students in the blended cohort will complete the first three trimesters (one academic year) in an online, asynchronous format and finish the academic program on campus.

The curriculum is subject to change for continuous quality improvement, as well as to be compliant with licensing and other regulatory requirements. Students will be notified of changes. Course offerings may be limited based on faculty availability and/or enrollment.

Credit Hours - the unit of measure for the valuation of courses

Clock Hours or Contact Hours - the actual number of hours a student is in a class, lab, or Chiropractic Wellness Clinic. “Clock Hour” is a 50-minute period. Note that two contact hours in the lab count for 1 credit hour, and 1 lecture hour counts for 1 credit hour.