Sports Medicine Emphasis for Chiropractic

Keeping Athletes, Weekend Warriors, and Fitness Enthusiasts in the Game

At Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU), students in the Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) program can pursue a unique Sports Medicine Emphasis—designed to prepare the next generation of leaders in chiropractic sports medicine.

This emphasis allows chiropractic students to deepen their knowledge and clinical skills in sports medicine while earning their DC degree. You’ll train alongside world-renowned faculty, residents, and alumni, providing hands-on care to athletes at all levels—from high school competitors to elite professionals.

Through immersive, integrated clinical experiences, SCU students gain exclusive access to real-world sports chiropractic settings that set them apart in the field. Upon completion, graduates receive a Certificate of Completion, and the emphasis is formally recognized on their academic transcript.

At SCU, we’re shaping the future of athletic healthcare—and we’re ready to help you turn your passion for sports and health into a profession.

Train Where Passion Meets Performance

SCU’s Sports Medicine Emphasis is more than a certificate—it’s a hands-on, real-world training experience built into your chiropractic education. You’ll gain the skills, confidence, and connections needed to excel in one of the fastest-growing areas of chiropractic practice.

Active Clinical Training in the HPO Center

As an SME student, you’ll work on campus in SCU’s cutting-edge Human Performance Optimization (HPO) Center, collaborating with faculty, residents, and athletic professionals in a setting designed to mirror the intensity of real athletic environments.

Immersive Experience with Real Athletes

From marathons and triathlons to high school football and Olympic-style martial arts, you’ll provide care at:

• Endurance events (marathons, triathlons, cycling)
• Strength and combat sports (weightlifting, taekwondo)
• School, collegiate, and professional athletic programs

Your sports chiropractic training will include sideline care, injury evaluation, and post-event recovery—skills you’ll carry into practice from day one.

Unmatched Access to Industry Leaders

Throughout the program, students network directly with Olympic doctors, professional team chiropractors, and other elite influencers in sports healthcare. SCU provides access to high-level mentorship you won’t find in other DC programs.

No Additional Time or Tuition

The Sports Medicine Emphasis is part of the DC program’s 22 required selective credits, so you can earn your Certificate of Completion without any additional time or cost.

Advanced, Evidence-Based Curriculum

Our sports medicine coursework is rooted in evidence-based practice and focused on real-world outcomes. You’ll learn how to evaluate, treat, and prevent athletic injuries—while optimizing performance through customized rehab and recovery plans.

Key focus areas:

• Sports chiropractic principles
• Clinical diagnosis & return-to-play protocols
• Strength and conditioning
• Sideline skills and emergency care
• Biomechanics
• Tactical sports medicine
• Tactical strength & conditioning (TSAC)
• Exercise prescription and recovery science

Present Your Knowledge to the Field

Take your skills to the national stage by attending and presenting at major industry conferences like:

• ACBSP Sports Symposium
• ACA Sports Injury Council Symposium
• CCA Sports Rehabilitation Symposium

You’ll also train with Dr. Joe Horrigan, SCU’s Executive Director of Tactical Sports Medicine, former Head Conditioning Coach for the LA Kings, and past President of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians. With decades of experience treating Olympic athletes, professional sports teams, and even A-list actors, Dr. Horrigan brings world-class sports medicine insight to SCU students through immersive teaching, real clinical mentorship, and elite-level connections you won’t find anywhere else.

Launch Your Career in Chiropractic Sports Medicine

SCU’s Sports Medicine Emphasis prepares you to lead—in clinics, on the sidelines, and across the evolving landscape of athletic care.