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Pre-Chiropractic Medicine

  • Cooperative
  • Erie, Pennsylvania
View Curriculum
  • GU Possibilities
    • Gannon University offers a diverse group of competitive affiliation programs with professional schools to provide qualified students with an advantage over students from other colleges at the time of application. A number of these programs allow the student to complete the undergraduate phase of the program in three years rather than four, although the majority of students choose to complete a bachelor’s degree prior to attending professional school.  
    • Gannon offers a chiropractic affiliation program with New York Chiropractic College (NYCC).  
    • Gannon graduates have pursued chiropractic degrees at the following institutions: New York Chiropractic College, Life University School of Chiropractic, National University of Health Sciences, Palmer College of Chiropractic and Southern California University of Health Sciences.  

    You Will Learn

    Chiropractors diagnose and treat neuromuscular disorders through manual adjustment and/or spinal manipulations. The goal of chiropractic medicine is to reduce pain and improve the functionality of the patient. Most chiropractors also spend time showing patients how to take charge of their own health through exercise, ergonomics and other therapies to treat back pain. Our small class sizes, high-quality academics and customized curricula collectively create a strong foundation for students preparing to apply to chiropractic school. Students are able to complete the necessary prerequisite coursework and major in a program of their choosing (most commonly biology, chemistry or biochemistry). Students are provided with expert advising and numerous resources as they work toward becoming a competitive professional school applicant.

    You Will Experience

    Gannon University’s pre-chiropractic students have the opportunity to become well-rounded leaders both in and out of the classroom. Their involvement in service and scholarship activities prepares them for a career in the health professions. Pre-chiropractic students are eligible to participate in:

     

    • Gannon faculty-led research.
    • Gannon University Pre-Health Club.
    • Health Professions Theme Community, a residency enrichment program located in North Hall.
    • Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), a program sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
    • shadowing opportunities coordinated by the Career Exploration and Development Office.
    • unique courses including Community Health Coaches (course and internship), Medical Practice and Training and an MCAT prep course.
    • workshops reviewing the application process, personal statements, interviewing, etc.

     

    You Will Achieve

    There are many specific career paths stemming from chiropractic medicine. Such opportunities include, but are not limited to, the following:

     

    • chiropractic pediatrics  
    • chiropractic physiological therapeutics and rehabilitation  
    • chiropractic acupuncture  
    • diagnosis and internal disorders  
    • diagnostic imaging  
    • neurology  
    • nutrition  
    • occupational health  
    • orthopedics  
    • sports medicine  

     

    You Will Earn

    Estimates show that the job outlook will continue to increase much faster than average for chiropractors (17-percent growth) through 2024. The median annual salary for these healthcare professionals in 2015 was:

    • Chiropractor: $64,440  
    All salary information is compiled from data gathered from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov) and/or PayScale (payscale.com).

     

    You Will Study

    Example Course Descriptions

    Gannon University has a long history of assisting qualified and motivated students to successfully achieve acceptance into chiropractic school. Students may pursue a major of their choice in which they will receive expert advising. They take a balanced and rigorous course load that includes the fundamental science courses chiropractic schools require as prerequisite coursework.

    Curriculum highlights include hands-on laboratory experiences for most biology and chemistry courses, which are conducted in small interactive group settings of 20-30 students. Some of these courses include:

    BIOL 368 and BIOL 369: Animal Physiology and Lab 

    This course deals with the normal functioning of the body (primarily human body) and its component parts. The course focuses on physiological mechanisms involved in neuronal and chemical signaling, movement, metabolism, respiration, circulation, excretion, etc. The principles and concepts learned in the lecture class are reinforced through hands on experience in the lab.

    BIOL 365 and BIOL 366: Human Gross Anatomy and Lab 

    The Human Gross Anatomy course is lecture-based and uses a regional approach to study the human body. It is taken simultaneously with Human Gross Anatomy Lab. Dissection of human cadavers by students is a key component of the lab. In addition, learning is facilitated through the use of anatomical models.

    CHEM 366: Structural Biochemistry 

    This course focuses on a systematic study of the biologically important compounds including the amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, enzymes, carbohydrates and lipids. Emphasis is placed upon the structure, properties, syntheses, reactions and functions of these compounds.

    Liberal Studies Core

    The Liberal Studies Core Curriculum is one reflection of Gannon University's commitment to its Catholic identity. The Core's design offers students a defined, integrated, shared experience as the foundation for their undergraduate program.

  • Receive hands-on learning through real-world courses, projects and valuable internship experiences that prepare you to become a professional in the field.
  • 13:1Enjoy a personalized experience inspired by Gannon’s faculty experts and a low student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1.
  • Apply for generous financial aid packages and scholarship awards.