Doctor of Chiropractic – Phoenix Metro Campus

Admissions Requirements

Discover Your Path To Success: Pathways For Every Student

If you have 90 undergraduate credits or more and meet other admission standards, you are eligible for the Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) program. Students who do not meet the 90 credits can enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Chiropractic Sciences Concentration which only requires 57 credits and provides another pathway to the DC program.

Prerequisite Entrance Requirements

To apply for the Doctor of Chiropractic degree, applicants must meet one of the following pathways. All candidates must hold a degree or completed credits from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or a comparable foreign agency. If applicants do not fully meet these criteria, they may still be considered for admission with the Dean’s approval, with exceptions made on a case-by-case basis.

• Pathway 1: The Bachelor’s Degree Pathway
  • A bachelor’s degree.
  • 6 credits* in Anatomy & Physiology and Chemistry with a grade of C or higher taken within the last seven years.
• Pathway 2: The 3.00 GPA Pathway Without a Bachelor’s Degree
  • A minimum of 90 credits (135 quarter credits) of undergraduate coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale for the 90 semester credits.
  • 6 credits* in Anatomy & Physiology and Chemistry with a grade of C or higher taken within the last seven years.
• Pathway 3: The 2.75 GPA Pathway Without a Bachelor’s Degree
  • A minimum of 90 credits (135 quarter credits) of undergraduate coursework that includes the following:
  • A cumulative GPA between 2.79 and 2.99 on a 4.00 scale for the 90 semester credits and a minimum of 24 credits (36 quarter units) of life and/or physical sciences.
  • 6 credits* in Anatomy & Physiology and Chemistry with a grade of C or higher taken within the last seven years.
  • Note: Students admitted through Pathway 3 are automatically enrolled in the 12-term curriculum track and required to participate in the Advising Program. Those students cannot switch to the 10-term track.
• Additional requirements, for all Pathways:
  • Successful admission interview.
  • Meet the physical and technical requirements to successfully complete the program, with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Recommended requirements, for all Pathways:
  • SCU recommends that students have a well-rounded general education background in the life and physical sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Additionally, all students who have not recently taken chemistry and/or anatomy and physiology are encouraged to complete the self-paced, zero-credit online modules offered by SCU.
• * Clarification for the 6 credits in Anatomy & Physiology and Chemistry:
  • The 7-year requirement is waived for applicants who have completed a bachelor’s degree with a 3.00 GPA.
  • 3 credits (4.5 quarter credits) in Anatomy & Physiology (human anatomy and physiology in any single or multiple course combination accepted or other biological sciences like Biology and Genetics).
  • 3 credits (4.5 quarter credits) in Chemistry (e.g., General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Biochemistry accepted).
  • Applicants who do not meet the Anatomy & Physiology and/or Chemistry requirements may be admitted on a contingent basis and must complete these courses or enroll in a competency-based, self-paced, zero-credit online module(s) offered for free by SCU.
  • Anatomy & Physiology requirements must be successfully completed before the start of the first week of the chiropractic program.
  • Chemistry requirements must be completed before the end of the first term of the chiropractic program.

Need Prerequisites?

Students who are missing a prerequisite course requirement or are looking to improve their GPA can choose to take an SCU Accelerated Science course and complete the requirements in as little as five weeks. SCU’s Accelerated Science courses are prequalified and guaranteed acceptance for this program. Click here to learn more.

Transfer Credit Eligibility/Advanced Standing

In addition to meeting the University’s requirements for transfer credit, the following requirements apply to students receiving Advanced Standing for the Doctor of Chiropractic program:

• Transferred course hours must be equivalent to 75% or more of total course hours, otherwise a course must be retaken in its entirety.
• Students may receive transfer credit for up to 75% of the total program (maximum 167 credits).
• Students transferring from another graduate institution must submit a completed and signed Transfer in Good Standing Form directly to SCU by the original institution.
• Credits used towards admissions requirements cannot be used for Advanced Standing, if applicable.

Admissions Process

• Submit prior educational information to your Admissions Advisor.
• Complete an admission interview.
• Meet the physical and technical requirements to successfully complete the program, with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Application Deadlines:
  • To ensure an admission decision before the desired start term, applicants are encouraged to submit their application, all application documents, and supporting documents as soon as possible to be reviewed by the admissions committee.
  • SCU admits students on a rolling basis.

No Need to Complete Your Undergraduate Degree or Have 90 Credits

• Have you completed some college but need to finish your bachelor’s degree? SCU provides an accelerated pathway opportunity for students who are looking to complete their bachelor’s degree and enter the Doctor of Chiropractic program Pathway 1. The accelerated path to becoming a DC through the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS) Chiropractic Sciences concentration degree completion program saves students money. Students money by earning credit hours that can be applied towards both the bachelor’s and doctoral degrees.  The BSHS program only requires 57 credits for admissions.
• For additional information please visit the BSHS program page.

Accessibility and Disability Services

Students seeking reasonable accommodations or support services while enrolled at SCU can do so through the Student Services Office (SSO). We encourage you to register with SSO as early as possible to allow sufficient time for the approval and notification process.