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Chiropractic classes form the backbone of your journey to becoming a skilled and confident healthcare professional. In a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) program, you’ll dive into a challenging yet rewarding curriculum designed to prepare you for real-world success. From mastering anatomy and physiology to learning advanced adjustment techniques, every course builds your expertise in evidence-based, patient-centered care.
At SCU, we’ve spent over 110 years redefining chiropractic education. Our integrative, evidence-based approach blends cutting-edge knowledge with hands-on experience, preparing you for the real world from day one. Knowing what to expect in your classes helps you hit the ground running, ready to build a career that’s as impactful as it is rewarding.
Year 1 of your chiropractor classes is all about laying the foundation for your future success. This is where you’ll dive into the fundamentals, from understanding how the human body works to learning the basics of chiropractic adjustments. With hands-on training, cutting-edge tools, and expert guidance, it’s an exciting first step toward becoming a skilled chiropractor.
Year 1 kicks off with a deep dive into the structures and functions of the human body, especially the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. At SCU, you’ll take things further with hands-on learning in our cadaver lab, where you’ll gain insights you simply can’t get from a textbook. Plus, advanced tools like SynDavers and Complete Anatomy make learning interactive, helping you see and understand the body like never before.
How does the body move? How does posture and mechanics influence health? These are the questions you’ll explore in biomechanics and kinesiology. This course gives you the foundation to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal issues, setting you up to help patients move better and feel stronger.
This is where you’ll start learning the art of chiropractic care! In your first techniques class, you’ll practice foundational adjustments and manual therapies. With the help of Force Sensing Tables, you’ll get real-time feedback on pressure and force, so you can perfect your skills right from the start.
Your second year of chiropractor classes is all about diving deeper into the science of diagnosis and care. From mastering diagnostic imaging to understanding disease processes, you’ll gain the tools to provide precise, evidence-based treatments. At SCU, you’ll also learn to collaborate with other healthcare professionals, reflecting the integrative approach at the heart of modern chiropractic care.
In year 2, you’ll become proficient in using advanced imaging tools like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. These non-invasive technologies are key to diagnosing complex conditions and tailoring treatment plans to individual patients. You’ll also learn how to seamlessly integrate imaging results into your care strategies, ensuring precise, patient-centered outcomes.
This course takes you inside the body’s response to disease. You’ll explore how illnesses affect various systems, with a focus on recognizing signs and symptoms critical for accurate diagnoses. By the end of year 2, you’ll have a solid grasp of the connection between pathophysiology and effective treatment planning.
Modern healthcare thrives on teamwork, and at SCU, we prepare you to excel in collaborative settings. Courses in interprofessional education teach you how to work alongside professionals from complementary and conventional disciplines, creating whole-person care plans that address patients’ physical, mental, and emotional needs.
Year 3 is where your chiropractic training reaches new heights. You’ll go beyond the basics to master advanced spinal adjustments tailored to diverse patients while integrating holistic approaches like functional medicine into your care. It’s all about becoming a chiropractor who can treat, prevent, and truly transform lives.
This year, you’ll focus on developing specialized techniques that cater to different patient populations. Whether you’re working with athletes, children, or older adults, you’ll refine your ability to adapt adjustments to meet each individual’s unique needs. SCU’s emphasis on precision ensures you’re not just practicing adjustments—you’re perfecting them.
Chiropractic care isn’t just about adjustments—it’s about supporting patients’ overall wellness. In this course, you’ll learn how to incorporate nutrition, lifestyle counseling, and stress management into your treatment plans. With a focus on prevention, you’ll help patients achieve long-term health while addressing their immediate concerns.
In Years 3 and 4, you step out of the classroom and into the clinic, where theory meets practice. These final years are all about working directly with patients, refining your diagnostic and treatment skills, and building confidence as a future chiropractor.
This is where you’ll truly put your skills to the test. SCU offers opportunities to work with diverse patient populations in SCU Health Clinics and partner sites. Specialized rotations allow you to explore areas like pediatrics, sports medicine, integrative medicine, and more. With access to over 500 private practices, you’ll gain exposure to a variety of settings and conditions, preparing you for any chiropractic career path.
Being a great chiropractor means mastering every step of patient care. In these years, you’ll learn to take comprehensive patient histories, perform physical exams, and design personalized treatment plans. SCU’s interdisciplinary approach means you’ll also collaborate with healthcare teams to provide holistic, whole-person care.
Years 3 and 4 are where you truly transform from a student into a practitioner. With hands-on experience and expert mentorship, you’ll graduate ready to take on real-world challenges and make a lasting impact on your patients’ lives.
At SCU, we’ve been trailblazers in chiropractic medicine for over 110 years. As one of the first chiropractic colleges in the U.S., we’ve spent more than a century perfecting what it means to educate and empower future chiropractors. Today, our Doctor of Chiropractic program blends evidence-based education, hands-on experience, and cutting-edge tools to get you ready for an impactful career.
At SCU, your education is all about you. Our program offers electives in areas like Sports Medicine, Functional Medicine, and more, so you can focus on what interests you most. If athletes are your passion, our Sports Medicine emphasis gives you hands-on experience working in exciting settings like marathons, weightlifting competitions, and college athletic departments.
With SCU you’ll:
We also teach you how to collaborate with other healthcare professionals, blending conventional and complementary approaches to provide whole-person care. By the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to help your patients not just feel better but truly thrive.
Chiropractic care is a fulfilling way to change lives, starting with yours. Through a blend of evidence-based education, hands-on training, and cutting-edge resources, SCU’s chiropractor classes prepare you to excel in this dynamic, impactful field. From foundational anatomy to advanced techniques, every course is designed to build your confidence and expertise.
At SCU, you’re not just another student—you’re part of a legacy of innovators and healers. With customizable pathways, state-of-the-art tools, and unparalleled clinical opportunities, you’ll graduate ready to transform lives and lead in the profession. Ready to take the next step? Learn more about admission requirements and apply today.
Not necessarily! At SCU, you can enroll in our Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) program with 90 undergraduate credits, provided you’ve completed the necessary prerequisites like biology and chemistry. However, a bachelor’s degree is required to practice chiropractic in most states. That’s why we offer programs to help students complete their bachelor’s degree, ensuring you meet all licensure requirements and are fully prepared for your career.
Most Doctor of Chiropractic programs take 3–4 years to complete after your undergraduate studies. This timeline includes classroom instruction and hands-on clinical training.
Core chiropractic classes include anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, diagnostics, and spinal adjustment techniques. These foundational courses build the skills and knowledge necessary for effective, evidence-based patient care.
Clinical rotations offer hands-on experience treating real patients under expert supervision. You’ll refine your diagnostic and adjustment skills while learning to manage a variety of conditions in diverse healthcare settings.
Absolutely! Chiropractors can pursue specializations in sports medicine, pediatrics, chiropractic neurology, functional medicine, and more. Specializations allow you to tailor your practice to your interests and patient needs.