Chiropractic focuses on the relationship between the body’s main structures – the skeleton, the muscles and the nerves – and the patient’s health. Chiropractors believe that health can be improved and preserved by making adjustments to these structures, particularly to the spinal column. They do not prescribe drugs or perform surgical procedures, although they do refer patients for these services if they are medically indicated.

Prerequisites

Most chiropractic programs require that applicants have at least three years of undergraduate education and an increasing number require a bachelor’s degree. Undergraduate studies must include a prescribed number of prerequisite courses, as defined by the field’s accrediting body, the Council on Chiropractic Education.

Current entrance requirements for the Doctor of Chiropractic degree program are listed below:

• Completed the equivalent of three academic years of undergraduate study (90 semester hours) at an institution(s) accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or an equivalent foreign agency with a GPA for these 90 hours of a minimum of cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• The 90 hours will include a minimum of 24 semester hours in life and physical science courses. These science courses will provide an adequate background for success in the DCP, and at least half of these courses will have a substantive laboratory component.
• The student’s undergraduate preparation also should include a well-rounded general education program in the humanities and social sciences, and other coursework deemed relevant by the DCP for students to successfully complete the DCP curriculum.

Students interested in becoming physicians can choose one of two established tracks: attending an allopathic medical school and earning an MD or attending an osteopathic medical school and earning a DO. Both MDs and DOs are trained to provide care for the entire human body and can pursue general medicine or specialize in a range of areas. DOs receive an additional 200 hours of training in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), which is defined as “the therapeutic application of manual pressure or force.”

Prerequisites

Most medical schools require completion of a four-year degree from an accredited institution. However specific coursework requirements will vary. Below is a short list of courses generally required by most medical schools and their corresponding University of Dayton Course Numbers. Consult individual schools’ websites for specific course requirements and whether they accept AP credit, online courses, and community college courses.

• One year of Biology and lab (BIO 151, BIO 151L, BIO 152, BIO 152L)
• One year of English (ENG 100 and ENG 200 sequence OR ENG 198/114 and additional ENG)
• One year of General Chemistry and lab (CHM 123, CHM 123L, CHM 124, CHM 124L)
• One year of Organic Chemistry and lab (CHM 313, CHM 313L, CHM 314, CHM 314L)
• One semester of Biochemistry*(CHM 420, CHM 420L*) *lab required by some programs

Besides a strong academic record, successful applicants also have significant shadowing experiences to indicate they are familiar with the field of medicine and diverse service and volunteer experiences.

Students pursuing a career in nursing have many diverse options, ranging from entry-level positions to doctoral-level nurse researchers. A career in nursing offers great flexibility and diversity in terms of setting and practice while also providing a high level of patient-care interactions. Nurses collaborate with all members of a health care team and usually are responsible for the majority of direct patient contact and direct communication to the patient’s family members. Nurses also have promising opportunities for career advancement because after becoming a nursing professional, additional training in a number of specialties is available. 

Prerequisites

Students can choose to earn a Bachelor of Science (BSN) in nursing by applying directly to a BSN degree granting program during high school. After earning a BSN, student are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and become a registered nurse (RN). Students can also enter the nursing field through accelerated degree programs which are geared toward applicants who have obtained bachelor degrees in fields other than nursing. Accelerated nursing degrees typically take 1-2 years to complete.  Consult individual program websites for any admissions or pre-requisite course requirements and whether online, community college and/or AP credit is accepted for specific courses. Most programs will require biology and chemistry lecture and laboratory courses such as the following courses listed below (shown with corresponding UD course numbers) along with specific courses in psychology, statistics, and/or nutrition:

• Microbiology (BIO 411, BIO 411L)
• Inorganic Chemistry (CHM 123, CHM 123L)
• Organic or Biochemistry (CHM 313, CHM 313L, CHM 314, CHM 314L, CHM 420, CHM 420L)
• Human Anatomy (BIO 475, BIO 475L)
• Physiology (BIO 403, BIO 403L)

Pharmacists are trained to help people live healthier, happier lives through the proper delivery of prescribed medications and the monitoring of patients’ health for adverse reactions. Pharmacists can work in a number of diverse settings, from store-front commercial pharmacies, to medical clinics and hospitals, to research institutions. They play an essential role in delivering high-quality healthcare by ensuring that patients are receiving the appropriate medications to treat their illnesses or chronic conditions. 

Prerequisites

Though some pharmacy schools do not require a bachelor’s degree in order to apply, some pharmacy schools do require a completed bachelor degree and other programs give preference to applicants that have earned a bachelor’s degree. All applicants need to have a strong background in math and science with a well-rounded exploration of other topics in the social sciences and humanities. Successful applicants also possess excellent written and verbal communication skills. Though introductory chemistry and biology lecture and lab courses are usually required, there is great variation in admission requirements. Students should spend time carefully researching program-specific admission policies and pre-requisite requirements.

Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the very oldest, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. PTs examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.

Physician Assistants are trained medical providers that work under the supervision of a physician. Their scope of practice differs by state, but they typically diagnose, treat and prescribe medication for patients under the guidance of a licensed physician. After completing a four-year undergraduate degree which includes the prerequisite courses for admission to the PA program, students interested in pursuing a career as a PA will complete an approximately two-year masters program and pass the national certification exam to earn a PA-C degree. A career as a PA provides great flexibility since PA school programs are modeled after training in general medicine. Successful applicants have strong academics, typically over 20 hours shadowing a PA, service hours and significant and meaningful clinical experience or patient care interactions.

Prerequisites

A podiatrist is a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), known also as a podiatric physician or surgeon, qualified by their education and training to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and related structures of the leg. Within the profession, podiatric physicians can specialize in a variety of areas such as surgery, orthopedics, or public health. Besides these certified specialties, podiatrists may practice a subspecialty such as sports medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, radiology, geriatrics, or diabetic foot care. Podiatric physicians are the only doctors to receive specialized medical and surgical training, and board certification in the care of the lower extremity.

Prerequisites

To enter a podiatric medical school, one must first complete a minimum of three years or 90 semester hours of college credit at an accredited institution. Over 97% of the students who enter podiatric medical school have a bachelor’s degree. Many have also completed some graduate study. Actual minimum semester credit hour requirements for all of the schools and colleges of podiatric medicine include the following prerequisites (all science courses require a lab): 

• Biology (eight semester hours)
• Chemistry (eight semester hours)
• Organic Chemistry (eight semester hours)
• Physics (eight semester hours)
• English (six to eight semester hours)