Doctor of Chiropractic Degree

What is Chiropractic Medicine?

Chiropractic medicine is a comprehensive health care profession that addresses the wide variety of factors that impact upon human physiology. Chiropractic physicians specialize in natural, non-invasive health care and are trained to use a full range of medical diagnostic tools and a wide array of effective treatment options in patient care.

Chiropractic Philosophy

At National University, students are broadly educated and extensively trained in evidence based medicine to provide whole health healing to patients. During the course of study at National University, students study in an integrative learning environment alongside other natural health care focused professions. Students are well prepared to become first-contact, primary care physicians, ready to diagnose, treat and manage a wide range of patients and conditions.

Chiropractic Treatments

Treatment modalities can include performing adjustments, nutritional and lifestyle counseling, physical rehabilitation therapy or providing supplements including vitamins and natural herbal medicines. National University graduates are extensively trained as thorough diagnosticians to identify the appropriate treatment for their patients. 

Chiropractic Careers

While many chiropractic physicians are self-employed, others work in integrated health care settings such as hospitals or clinics, or in education and research. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of chiropractic physicians is projected to grow at an average of 28% between 2010 and 2020. That's faster than the average for all other occupations!

Program Overview

You can earn your Doctor of Chiropractic degree in as little as ten trimesters. Students attend school year round and may complete the program in three years and four months. Trimesters are divided into three phases: Basic Sciences, Clinical Sciences and Clinical Practice.

Integrative Medicine

We believe in bringing together professionals from a broad range of medical specialties for the benefit of patients and the health care industry as a whole.

Broad-Scope, Patient-Centered Care

We prepare our students to evaluate and address the full range of factors affecting human health. You'll learn to diagnose and treat each of your patients based on a thorough evaluation of their unique health history and profile. You won't base your care on just one symptom or one type of treatment, instead you'll learn to think in terms of "whole health healing." You'll draw from a wide range of healing modalities and work together with experts from other medical fields whenever it will benefit your patient.

Outstanding Facilities

Students are taught in modern classrooms utilizing state-of-the-art technology such as SMART boards. Well-equipped laboratories, such as our gross anatomy laboratory housing over 40 human cadavers, allow you to learn by hands-on dissection rather than prosection or virtual instruction. Active learning continues in our Training and Assessment Center where you will work with "standardized patients"  to develop your clinical and communication skills. Learn more »

Teaching Adjustment Techniques

As a student at National University, you will learn a variety of chiropractic techniques through our diversified technique curriculum, which includes training in flexion-distraction technique. Learn more »

Strengths

Consider National University for its distinct advantages and be well-prepared for the career that awaits you.

Rigorous Medical Education

The chiropractic program at National University emphasizes broad-scope, science based teachings through Evaluation & Management courses. These unique courses focus on pairing the knowledge learned in the basic science courses with the clinical reasoning and interpersonal skills needed to treat patients. 

We train students to work effectively with other health care professionals such as MDs, DOs, NDs and more. With such a thorough education in the basic and clinical sciences, graduates will speak the same language as those in other health care fields.

Primary Care Focused

Students in the chiropractic program at National University are trained to become primary care physicians, focused on providing patient-centered care and whole health healing. Central to the chiropractic curriculum at National University is thorough training in diagnosis and a focus on the complete health care of a patient and not merely specific issues or symptoms.

Learning Beyond the Lecture

Students are exposed from the beginning of their education to unique hands-on learning opportunities including a year working in the gross anatomy laboratory on full dissection (rather than prosection or virtual dissection) of a human cadaver. During their clinical science studies, students work in the Training and Assessment Center on simulated patients and have the opportunity to intern in a wide-variety of settings prior to graduation.  

Collaborative Learning Opportunities

Students have the opportunity to learn in the classroom as well as treat patients collaboratively within an integrative clinic, with students in other health care programs. The institutional focus at National University is on collaborative learning and encourages students to become colleagues rather than competitors, preparing them for future careers in integrated health care.

Geographic Location

National University is proud to offer the Doctor of Chiropractic program in two locations: Lombard, Illinois and St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Lombard campus is conveniently located 15 miles from the city of Chicago with easy access by car or Metra train. The St. Petersburg site is conveniently located 18 miles from downtown Tampa.

Both areas are home to some of the largest health care communities with hundreds of hospitals and area clinics, giving you countless opportunities to pursue a career in an integrated health care setting.

Our Curriculum

National University's distinctive and innovative curriculum provides you with a comprehensive base in human biology and anatomy and extensive hands-on training in diagnosis and treatment. We train you to think like a physician. Throughout the program, you will learn how to master a variety of chiropractic techniques through our diversified technique curriculum, which also includes flexion-distraction technique. The chiropractic program is a three phase program. 

Phase I: Basic Sciences

• Spend one full year of anatomy and physiology in our anatomy lab
• Perform complete human dissection rather than learning by prosection or virtual instruction 

Phase II: Clinical Sciences

• Learn how to diagnose, treat and manage a wide range of ailments
• Practice evaluation and diagnostic techniques with "standardized patients"
• Gain valuable business knowledge on how to ethically promote and market your practice 

Phase III: Clinical Practice

• Experience your internship through one of a variety of clinical opportunities 

Six Competencies
At National University, we base our entire curriculum for all professional degrees on helping students achieve what we have identified as the Six Competencies. The Six Competencies provide a comprehensive education in health care that will benefit our graduates in their future professional careers.

Distinctive Curriculum
View trimester-by-trimester courses, course descriptions, and the course schedule. Learn more »

Internships               

Each DC student serves a full year clinical internship that is designed to provide interns with the kind of challenging, real-world experience that is key to their future professional success.

Your clinical experience can be completed at either on-campus Whole Health Center, or a variety of other internship opportunities from non-profit clinics to clerkships or hospital rotations. Opportunities are available in Illinois and Florida. Learn more »

Other Program Opportunities

Dual Degrees
Students who earn their DC degree at National University have the option to earn a second degree (ND, MSOM or MSAc) through dual enrollment. Because there are shared courses between the programs, there will be a reduction of the total number of hours needed to complete the second degree. Students are not eligible to begin dual enrollment until the third trimester of their initial or primary program of study.

Postprofessional Programs
After graduation, students may pursue a number of postprofessional programs such as our master's and residency programs or a wide variety of continuing education classes. Additionally, students may pursue specific courses and programs while completing their first professional program. (Students must meet prerequisite requirements and attain approval from the Dean of Lincoln College prior to entry.)

DC MPH Coordinated Degree Program
Students pursuing a DC degree, have the opportunity to pursue a Master of Public Health degree or Master of Science in Clinical and Translational Research from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Through a coordinated program, students are able to utilize some of their NUHS coursework to shorten the length of the MPH program. Students must be accepted separately into the DC program at National University and the MPH and MS CTS programs at UIC.