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UND offers excellent preparation for any chiropractic school.  The Pre-Chiropractic track of the Pre-Medicine Program offered through the College of Arts and Sciences sets guidelines and timetables for UND students to successfully complete the prerequisite coursework and other requirements relating to chiropractic schools.

This program is not a major and does not lead to a degree from UND!  Pre-Chiropractic students planning to complete an undergraduate degree at UND must choose a major and meet the University Graduation Requirement of 125 semester credits.  These credits are to include: 

1.  General Education Requirements(GERs) for freshman students entering UND before Fall 2008 and transfer students entering UND before Fall 2009
OR
Essential Studies Requirements for freshman students entering UND in the Fall of 2008 (or later) and transfer students entering UND in the Fall of 2009 (or later)
 
2.  36 upper divisional credits
3.  Specific requirements of a major as determined by the department responsible for that major
4.  Any prerequisites for chiropractic school(s) as outlined by the Pre-Chiropractic track of the Pre-Med Program

We encourage you to meet with the Health Sciences Advisor, Mrs. Kimberly Ruit, as early in your UND undergraduate education as possible.  Mrs. Ruit can help in all aspects of your undergraduate preparation for chiropractic school:  from scheduling to study skills, to interview preparation.  Together, you can plan the undergraduate curriculum that is right for you.


 

Competitive Applicant Profile
No matter what chiropractic school a student chooses to attend, there are 5 areas that will be scrutinized by any Admissions Committee when reviewing applications.  It is therefore very important that the student is well prepared in order to present his/her best possible application.  The table below summarizes these areas:
 
Academics Degree needed?  Most schools require 90 semester hours - a few require or prefer a degree.

Major?  For schools requiring a degree, any major is fine as long as prerequisite coursework is done.

GPA?  National average is 3.00.

Physical 
Qualifications
Physical strength and coordination are essential in the performance of chiropractic techniques.
Letters of 
Recommendation
2-3 are generally required - preferred authors are professors or chiropractors.
Relevant 
Life Experiences
Essential!!!!!  Especially experiences that include contact with patients or clients in a chiropractic office.
State of Residency North Dakota does not have a school of chiropractic medicine, nor does the state provide funds through WICHE or PSEP to chiropractic students.  Most chiropractic schools do not have a residency requirement.
Legal Record

Keep your legal record and personal image squeaky clean!!

1. Background checks

a. More and more health professional schools are now doing background checks on all matriculants and/or applicants.

=> If you have been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor of a violent or sexual nature, you will be prohibited from professional health care practice in many states, so health professional schools will not accept you.

=> All other misdemeanors (underage drinking, drug possession, etc.) will also show up on background checks (even if they happened before you were 18). Having just one of these can definitely hurt your chances of acceptance into a health professional school!

b. UND's medical school will ask you to list any violations beyond a simple parking ticket on their application! You will have to disclose everything – no matter how old you were!!

The legal drinking age in North Dakota is 21. Illegal drugs are just that – illegal at any age. Stay away from alcohol and illegal drugs and any activities or instances where they may be present!! Why risk it? Is it worth ruining your future?  

2. MySpace, Facebook, etc.

a. As more and more companies and schools use the internet to research potential employees and students, it is essential that you make sure comments posted by you and about you are wholesome, reflect good character, and show maturity.

=> Limit visitors to your site to friends only.
=> Regularly check and remove any unwanted postings by others

b. Be sure pictures are in good taste and not incriminating.

=> Regularly check and remove any unwanted postings or tags by others.
=> At UND, students may be written up by their RA's for university conduct violations with evidence provided by just a picture!


 

Sample Pre-Chiropractic Schedule
All chiropractic schools have required coursework that must be completed successfully by prospective students.  Almost all of the U.S. chiropractic schools now require 90 credits (3 years of study) for admission (only National University of Health Sciences, in Illinois, currently requires a degree).  Additionally, several schools require that 30 of those credits be upperdivisional.  Several chiropractic schools also allow students to complete a bachelors degree while finishing their DC degree.  There are currently12 states that require you to have a bachelors degree, along with the DC degree, before you may practice within their borders.  These states are listed in a table on the Bulletin Board section of this page.

Table 1 suggests a schedule for finishing the most common pre-chiropractic requirements in 3 years.  If, however, you plan to finish a degree at UND, you may spread the pre-chiropractic requirements over 4 years (Table 2).

Table 1. Three-year Pre-Chiropractic plan:
Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
Fall Bio 150, 150L
Chem 121, 121L
Math 103
Engl 110
Chem 341, 341L
Anat 204

Physics 211, 211L 

PEXS 332? (Biomechanics can replace Physics 212 at some schools)

PEXS 442? (Exercise Physiology can replace Physics 212 at some schools)

 
Spring Bio 151, 151L
Chem 122, 122L
Psych 111
Engl 120

Chem 342, (342L?)
Physio 301

Physics 212, (212L?)
Biochem 301 (?)

 

Table 2. Four-year Pre-Chiropractic Plan:
Freshman Sophomore* Junior Senior
Fall Bio 150, 150L
Chem 121, 121L 
Math 103
Engl 110
Chem 341, 341L 
Anat 204
Elective**
Physics 211, 211L
Elective**  

PEXS 332? (Biomechanics can replace Physics 212 at some schools)

PEXS 442? (Exercise Physiology can replace Physics 212 at some schools)

Spring Bio 151, 151L
Chem 122, 122L
Psych 111
Engl 120
Chem 342, (342L?)
Physio 301
Elective**
Physics 212, 212L?
Biochem 301, (303?)
Elective**
Elective**

*Please note: your second year classes will differ from those listed if you plan to be a biology or chemistry major.
**Electives: Bio 369, 369L (Histology), Bio 315 (Genetics), MBio 302, BAdm 101, Nutr 240, Medical Terminology (Med 205)

Remember...admission to chiropractic school is selective.
It is imperative that you take your studies very seriously from the first day of your freshman year!!


 

Bulletin Board

Welcome New and Returning Students!

Don't forget to check in with Mrs. Ruit this year to make sure you are on track with your program!
 

 

Freshman Pre-Health Student Orientation Meeting
Date: August 25, 2008
Time: 7:00pm
Place: Reed Keller Lecture Hall, UND Medical School

Come meet Mrs. Ruit, the Health Sciences Advisor, and find out what you need to know to be a successful Pre-Chiro student!

 

 

Should I Get a BS? Take Notice!!!

All chiropractic schools in the United States (except National University of Health Sciences, IL) require a minimum of 90 semester credits for entry.  NUHS requires a bachelors degree.

Be aware that some states require you to have a bachelors degree, along with the DC degree, before you may practice within their borders.  It is strongly recommended that anyone interested in becoming licensed in a particular State or Province contact the Board office or the Secretary of the respective board to secure current and complete details before matriculating in any school.

States requiring a bachelors degree in order to be licensed as a Chiropractor:
Florida Tennessee
Kansas West Virginia
Maryland Wisconsin
Montana Alabama - required beginning January of 2010
North Carolina Ohio - required beginning June of 2010
Rhode Island South Dakota - required beginning January of 2011
   
States where requiring a bachelors degree in order to be licensed as a Chiropractor is under consideration:
Vermont Virginia

 


 

Pre-Chiropractic Links
Check out these links to sites of interest for pre-chiropractic students:
 

Natural Healers
This site provides a listing of all chiropractic schools, with links to the individual school homepages.

American Chiropractic Association
This site provides information on the profession, research, etc.

International Chiropractors Association

Council on Chiropractic Education
This site provides a list of chiropractic programs and institutions, as well as general information on chiropractic education.

Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards
This site provides information on State education and licensure requirements.

National Board of Chiropractic Examiners
This site provides information on the national chiropractic licensing exam.

The Chiropractic Resource Organization
This provides a wealth of information about the profession, schools, job opportunities, etc.

ChiroWeb
This site provides lots of information and links for prospective chiropractic students, current students, chiropractors, patients, etc.

 

 

Mrs. Ruit's Office Hours for 2008-09

 
August 25, 2008 - December 19, 2008
January 12, 2009 - March 13, 2009
March 23, 2009-
May 15, 2009
Summers
(Out of the Office)
Tuesdays
9am - 2pm
9am - 2pm
9am - 2pm
None
Wednesdays
12 - 2pm
None
12 - 2pm
None
Thursdays
9am - 2pm
9am - 2pm
9am - 2pm
None

Mondays
(During Early Registration dates)

9am - 12pm
(Nov 4-26, 2008)

**

9am - 12pm
(April 2009)

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Pre-Health Advising is by appointment only.

Appointments with Mrs. Ruit can only be made by calling 701-777-2749 during regular weekday business hours.

No e-mails for scheduling appointments please!

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University of North Dakota
Pre-Health Programs
College of Arts and Sciences
PO Box 8038
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND 58202-8038
Toll Free: 1-800-CALL-UND
Tel: 701-777-2749
Fax: 701-777-4397
E-mail (school year only): kim_ruit@und.nodak.edu