Offered by: The Los Angeles College of Chiropractic
Dean: Ana Facchinato, DC, MHS
The Los Angeles College of Chiropractic offers the Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), a 215.5-credit program consisting of a mix of lecture, lab, and clinical instruction. Students are expected to enroll full time for 10-12 consecutive terms including summer. Most courses are offered on-ground, although some courses may be offered in a blended or online format. Classes are generally held Monday through Friday during the day, although classes may be scheduled at any time including evenings and weekends. Clinical Clerkship may require students to travel throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The program is accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education and approved by the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Students and graduates are eligible to sit for licensing examinations administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (Parts I, II, III, IV, and Physiotherapy) as well as the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board (Parts A, B, and C).
Los Angeles College of Chiropractic prepares students to become compassionate, evidence-informed chiropractors that improve lives through an integrated, person-centered, outcome-focused approach to health and healing.
- Assessment and Diagnosis: The graduate will be able to utilize appropriate clinical reasoning skills to accurately assess and diagnose patient conditions.
- Management Plan: The graduate will be able to develop, implement, and monitor a comprehensive patient care plan.
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: The graduate will be able to apply epidemiological principles to promote health and prevent disease.
- Communication and Record Keeping: The graduate will be able to communicate professionally.
- Professional Ethics and Jurisprudence: The graduate will be able to exhibit legal and ethical behavior as a health care professional.
- Information and Technology Literacy: The graduate will be able to locate, evaluate, and integrate research with other evidence to manage health-related issues.
- Chiropractic Manipulation: The graduate will be able to deliver appropriate, safe, and effective chiropractic manipulation.
- Inter-professional Collaboration: The graduate will have the skills to coordinate and collaborate with other healthcare professionals as a member of an inter-professional healthcare team to plan and manage patient-centered care.
Applicants for the DC degree must submit the following:
- Completed application
- Official transcript from an accredited university or universities demonstrating successful completion of 90 semester credits (135 quarter credits)
- In some circumstances, applicants may be asked to submit a professional or academic letter of recommendation (i.e., employer, teacher, chiropractor)
Update for Applicants Who Will Start the Chiropractic Program After January 1, 2025 (click for update)
Applicants for the Doctor of Chiropractic degree must meet the following admissions standards. Applicants who do not meet all standards may be admitted with the approval of the Dean; exceptions are made on an individual basis.
- A minimum 90 credits (135 quarter credits) of undergraduate coursework from an accredited institution (accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or an equivalent foreign agency); of which 90 credits must include:
- A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Applicants whose grade point average (GPA) on these credits is at least 2.75 may be considered for admission through the Alternative Admission Track Plan (AATP) described below.
- A minimum 24 credits (36 quarter credits) of life and/or physical sciences, with a minimum 12 credits (18 quarter credits) including a significant lab component.
- Applicants who do not meet the life and/or physical science requirement may be considered for admission through the Alternative Admission Track Plan (AATP) described below.
- 6 credits in biology and chemistry with a grade of C or higher taken within the last seven years.
- 3 credits (4.5 quarter credits) in biological sciences (i.e., Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Genetics).
- 3 credits (4.5 quarter credits) in chemistry (i.e., General Chemistry, Introduction to Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry).
- The 7-year requirement is waived for applicants who have completed at least a Bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA.
- Applicants who do not meet the biological sciences and/or chemistry requirement may be admitted on a contingent basis. Those students must enroll in a competency-based, self-paced, zero credit online module(s) prior to or during their first term of enrollment. Students must successfully pass the module(s) prior to week 5 of their first term. This course(s) is also recommended for applicants who receive the 7-year waiver.
- Successful admission interview.
- Meet the physical and technical requirements to successfully complete the program, with or without reasonable accommodations.
Recommended prerequisites: Los Angeles College of Chiropractic recommends that students have a well-rounded general education background in the humanities and social sciences in additional to the required sciences noted here.
Update for Applicants Who Will Start the Chiropractic Program After January 1, 2025 (click for update)
This program recognizes that applicants come from myriad backgrounds and that this variety in the chiropractic profession is valuable. The Alternative Admission Track Plan (AATP) allows students who do not meet standard admissions requirements but who exhibit, in the judgment of the program, the potential for success to be admitted into the program.
Applicants who meet all other admissions standards, but do not meet either the 3.0 GPA requirement or a minimum 24 credits of life/physical sciences (including a minimum 12 credits with significant lab component) requirement, may be considered for admission to the Alternative Admission Track Plan (AATP) when the required 90 undergraduate credits include:
- A grade point average (GPA) between 2.75 and 2.99 on a 4.0 scale with a minimum 24 credits (36 quarter units) of life and/or physical sciences.
Or
- A grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale with a minimum 12 credits (18 quarter credits) of life and/or physical sciences.
Students admitted under the AATP program will be required to participate in the AATP Advising Program and will be required to enroll in fewer courses per term on average than a student admitted under the standard track. Students admitted under the AATP program will complete the DC program in a minimum 12 terms rather than 10.
Update for Applicants Who Will Start the Chiropractic Program After January 1, 2025 (click for update)
The chiropractic program has formal 10- and 12-term curricular sequences. Students admitted through the AATP program are automatically enrolled in the 12-term curriculum, and cannot switch to the 10-term curriculum. All other students are enrolled in the 10-term curriculum by default. Students admitted to the 10-term curriculum may switch to the formal 12-term curriculum no later than 75% completion of the 3rd term. Students who wish to switch to the formal 12-term curriculum should contact the Registrar’s Office.
Upon acceptance, students must submit program-specific documentation through the University’s clinical documentation management system. Prematriculation requirements must be fulfilled no later than the end of the first term or the student’s account may be placed on a registration hold.
- Copy of government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, etc.) demonstrating the student to be at least 18 years of age.
- Technical Standards Evaluation Form completed by an appropriate, licensed healthcare provider.
- Current and valid tuberculosis (TB) clearance completed within the prior two years. Please note: Evidence of current TB clearance must remain current with the program through graduation.
- Lab Participation Agreement.
The Doctor of Chiropractic degree may be conferred upon those who have fulfilled all of the following requirements:
- Completed 215.5 credits within the required categories of coursework:
- 49.5 credits in foundational health sciences
- 63.5 credits in clinical sciences
- 28.5 credits in chiropractic health sciences
- 13 credits in interprofessional education
- 39 credits in clinical clerkship
- 22 credits of selectives
- Completed a minimum of 1170 clinic hours
- Passed the required comprehensive examinations
- Earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
- Met residency requirements
- Met attendance requirements in accordance with the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners
- Completed a minimum of 4410 hours in accordance with the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners
- Completed all degree requirements within 20 terms (6.7 years) of matriculation
- Submitted a Petition to Graduate
In addition to meeting the University’s requirements for transfer credit, the following transfer credit requirements apply to students in the Doctor of Chiropractic program:
- Transferred course hours must be equivalent to 75% or more of LACC course hours, otherwise a course must be retaken in its entirety.
- Students may receive transfer credit for up to 75% of the total program (maximum 167 credits).
- Students transferring from another graduate institution must submit a completed and signed Transfer in Good Standing Form directly to SCU by the original institution.
The following residency requirements apply to students in the Doctor of Chiropractic program:
- Students must complete 25% of credits at LACC to qualify for degree completion (minimum 54 credits).
- Students must complete the following Clinical Clerkship courses in residence at LACC; these courses are typically taken in the final three terms of the program
Courses identified as *IPE are either taken with students from other programs, cover topics relevant to integrative healthcare, or are clinical courses offered in integrative healthcare settings.
The LACC Academic Advising Office (LACC-AAO) provides individual academic advising and cohort advising for students in the Doctor of Chiropractic program.
Individual academic advising: LACC-AAO provides accurate and timely individual academic advising on policies and procedures, and promotes the professional, academic, and personal growth of students. Additionally, the AAO provides high-touch individual advising for specific populations: students with excessive absences, students admitted through the Alternative Admissions Track Program (AATP), students on Non-Standard Special Schedule, students on Academic Warning and Academic Probation, and students subject to In-Term Academic Monitoring action.
Cohort advising: LACC-AAO cohort advising facilitates discussions appropriate to the three phases of the curriculum:
a) 1st year phase (e.g., logic of the sequence of courses, Selectives, comprehensive examinations);
b) Pre-clinical phase (e.g., comprehensive examinations, licensure examination dates/eligibility, licensure examination preparation support, introduction to clinic expectations); and
c) Clinical phase (e.g., clinical rotation options, post-graduation plans, state licensure information, financial aid responsibilities - the latter in collaboration with the Financial Aid Office).
Consistent with a learner-centered approach, AAO promotes student involvement; student engagement; strategic use of campus resources including SCU Tutoring services; and cultivation of quality interactions with faculty, staff, and peers.
LACC-AAO’s goal is to transcend transactional advising to support students in setting and achieving academic and professional development goals, and by promoting collegial and collaborative learning.
Students must be present in class at least 90% of the time to earn course credit, as required by the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Some courses require 100% of hours to be earned. If total class time missed exceeds 10% (or higher published course thresholds), the student must complete make-up assignments, as directed by their instructor, or risk being dropped from the course. Make-up assignments to meet attendance requirements are allowed only for excused absences which must be approved by the Dean’s office. Excused absences will be granted for illness, transportation challenges, religious holidays, jury duty, death in the family, and other special circumstances. Supporting documentation is required. Not all courses are eligible for make-ups.
Students are required to submit a request for an excused absence to the Office of the Dean as soon as possible following the absence (ideally within 24 hours of the event) but must occur no later than seven days of the absence. Requests submitted after seven days will not be considered unless there are extenuating circumstances that prevented the student from submitting a request (i.e., illness).
The Office of the Dean will notify the student and the instructor if the request is approved or denied. Attendance decisions are ineligible for appeal.
Students and graduates are eligible to sit for Parts I, II, III, IV, and Physiotherapy pre-licensure examinations administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, most or all of which are among prerequisites for licensure in all fifty of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Students and graduates are also eligible to sit for Parts A, B, and C of similar examinations administered by the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board, among prerequisites for registration in Canadian provinces. Students become eligible for these examinations as they progress towards graduation and are encouraged to take these examinations as they achieve eligibility. The licensure examination offerings roughly correlate with the completion of foundational health sciences, completion of clinical sciences, and clinical clerkship entry and exit. Passage of these examinations are not required to participate in clinical clerkship courses prior to graduation, nor are they a graduation requirement, but they are required for licensure after graduation. Again, students are encouraged to take these examinations as they achieve eligibility.
Jurisdictional requirements for licensure vary and may change; students are responsible for monitoring requirements where they wish to practice to ensure they meet local qualifications.
DC students must complete 22 credits of selective courses. Selective courses provide students the opportunity to focus on specific area(s) of interest, or determine whether to pursue a certificaiton, additional degree, or diplomate program following graduation. Students may choose various combinations of emphases and series to complete the 22 credits required for graduation.
Selective courses are those with SEL and SMS prefix course numbers. In addition, specific courses in the Eastern Medicine, Ayurveda, and Interprofessional Education departments may be used to complete selective credits.
Students may take a variety of selective courses, series, or emphases beginning as early as the third term. Student are responsible for their own registration in selective courses and for ensuring the accuracy of their schedules. Most selective courses are offered on weekends. Not all selective courses are offered every term.
Selective courses may be used to complete optional academic emphases or series (see details below).
Emphases consist of 14-16 credits of courses with similar themes. Those who complete a selective emphasis will receive a transcript notation and Certificate of Completion.
Interested Doctor of Chiropractic students may declare an emphasis as part of their admissions process or by submitting a Selection Form to the Office of the Registrar. Students are required to declare their emphasis before the end of their 5th term (10-term track) or 7th term (12-term track).
The emphases and series described herein do not provide advanced standing toward credentials by any third-party entity; reference the Chiropractic Technique courses for possible exceptions. For credentialing information, students must contact the appropriate credential body.
Students may choose to complete one or more Selective Series as part of the required 22 credits of selective courses based upon their individual interests and career goals. Series consist of 4-6 credits of courses with similar themes. Course availability and schedule vary by term. Students are not required to apply for or declare their intention to pursue Selective Series.
Students who successfully complete a Selective Series and desire a Certificate of Completion must submit a Series Certificate of Completion request form to the Selectives, Tracks, and Credentials department prior to graduation.
The series described herein do not typically provide advanced standing toward credentials by any third-party entity; reference the Chiropractic Technique course for possible exceptions. For credentialing information, students must contact the appropriate credentialing body.
This examination series evaluates students’ knowledge and skills at key milestones in the academic program. The purpose of these exams is to:
- Identify students’ level of knowledge and skills in the core competencies of the Doctor of Chiropractic program;
- Provide students with feedback on their strengths and weaknesses in core competencies;
- Provide students with feedback so they may better prepare for external licensing examinations;
- Assess effectiveness of the curriculum, curricular changes, and courses.
The Chiropractic Clinic Entrance Exam (CHIR0902) is a practical and written exam. It evaluates students’ emerging diagnostic and clinical skills to include neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis; chiropractic principles and practice; diagnostic imaging; physiotherapy; clinical reasoning; and history, examination, and technique skills.
The Chiropractic Clinic Exit Exam (CHIR0903) is a multi-station clinical and diagnostic imaging practical examination. It evaluates students’ knowledge and skills on history, examination, report of findings, technique, and diagnostic imaging.
Clinical Clerkship is designed for students to develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary for professional practice. Clinical students participate in patient care and engage in other educational experiences under the supervision of a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic. Students earn credit by completing a minimum of 1170 clinic hours, written and practical assignments, and clinical skills assessments through four clinical clerkship courses taken in sequence over four terms. Students complete the required clinic hours at the University Health Center, the University’s owned and operated clinic on campus, as well as at other approved clinical sites, described further below. Students enter each clinical course as they complete course prerequisites.
Additional information on Clinical Clerkship is available through the Office of the Dean, the SCU Clinical Handbook, the Clinical Clerkship Manual, as well as the Community-Based Clinical Education (CBCE) Office.
Courses identified as *IPE are either taken with students from other programs, cover topics relevant to integrative healthcare, or are clinical courses offered in integrative healthcare settings.
The Community-Based Clinical Education (CBCE) Office
The CBCE program and rotations are managed by the CBCE office with oversight of the LACC Dean’s Office. The CBCE Office has two major functions:
- Managing community rotations. To accomplish this, the CBCE Office:
- Helps students find Student Field Observation, Beginning Field Experience, Private Practice Rotation, Preceptorship, and Postceptorship sites and providers.
- Oversees the application, vetting, approval, and affiliation management of sites and providers for these opportunities, including facilitating Board of Chiropractic Examiners approval.
- Manages and approves daily hour, patient, and activity logs.
- Completing clinical requirement documentation for the Office of the Registrar in support of graduate licensure for all students as they complete CL10T10 Chiropractic Clerkship III.
Clinical Clerkship Sites
Clinical students rotate through different clinics in the following primary areas, some directly within the University Health Center, and others within the community. Requirements for participation at clinical sites may vary (including background checks and immunizations).
- SCU-owned and -operated clinics: includes clinics on- and off-campus, under the supervision of SCU faculty; the campus facility is the University Heath Center (UHC).
- Base Clinics: Major clinic partners, where students are assigned for the last three terms of clinic to engage in patient care under the supervision of SCU faculty. Clinical course grades are based upon assessments at base clinics. Students are assigned one clinic as their base clinic through the last year of the program.
- Satellite Clinic: Partner outreach community clinics, where students rotate and engage in patient care under the supervision of an SCU faculty member.
- Community Outreach Events: Occasional events organized by SCU to provide services and outreach to surrounding communities. Students participate in events under the supervision of SCU faculty.
- Community-Based Clinical Education (CBCE) Rotations: Clinical students complete training by working at private offices certified through LACC’s Community-Based Clinical Education (CBCE) Office, where private practitioners serve as associated faculty. Those rotation categories include:
- Private Practice Rotation (required rotation): Students who are in Chiropractic Clerkship I, II, and III (as well as optionally within additional Expanded Clinic selective courses SEL1030, SEL1060, SEL1090, SEL1120) participate in clinical work in CBCE-approved offices, engaging in patient evaluation and treatment consistent with California regulations, including providing adjustments and other passive and active patient care under the direct supervision of licensed Doctors of Chiropractic.
- Preceptorship (optional rotation): In this optional Private Practice Rotation, students in Chiropractic Clerkship III (as well as optionally within additional Expanded Clinic selective courses SEL1030, SEL1060, SEL1090, SEL1120) who have met the requirements and deadlines to apply participate in clinical work in CBCE-approved offices. Preceptorship allows clinical students to work solely in a Private Practice Rotation Doctor’s office; students are not required to attend weekly SCU clinical shifts, unless requested, though students may be required to return for formal assessment. Preceptorship can be completed regionally or out of state, where permitted by the locality. Early preceptorship may be approved in exceptional circumstances. Students interested in starting Preceptorship while enrolled in CL10T09 Clinical Clerkship II should contact the Dean’s Office and submit a letter of request, including supporting documentation.
- Postceptorship: In this optional post-graduate opportunity, LACC graduates awaiting licensure in California (or in other locales where locally permitted) may participate in compensated work in CBCE-approved offices under a Doctor of Chiropractic’s license in a CBCE-approved Private Practice. This optional opportunity allows graduates awaiting licensure to practice their skills and use their training between graduation and licensure.
Postceptorship (Optional for LACC Graduates)
Clinical Clerkship Requirements
The following requirements apply to all students.
DC students enter each clinical course as they complete course prerequisites. Students apply for their Base Clinic location while enrolled in ID0716: DC Student Clerkship. This Base Clinic Selection application process occurs within the clinical management software. Students are assigned one clinic as their base clinic through the last year of the program.
DC student clinical schedules are determined by the available shifts at each base and satellite clinic location. Students also work with the Community-Based Clinical Education (CBCE) office to arrange their required Private Practice Rotations for CL10T08, CL10T09, and CL10T10: Chiropractic Clerkship I-III, as well as Preceptorship when eligible in CL10T10. Additional optional clinical rotation opportunities are available with eligible selective courses.
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Course
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Credits
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Hours
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Shift Locations
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Eligible Selective Courses for additional, optional CBCE Clinical Rotations
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ID0716: DC Student Clerkship
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3
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90 hours
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University Health Center
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Beginning Field Experience courses SEL0888, SELBF60
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CL10T08: Clinical Clerkship I
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12
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360 hours
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Base Clinic
Satellite Clinic and/or University Health Center
Community-Based Clinical Education: Private Practice Rotation (optional)
Community Outreach Events
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Expanded Clinic selective courses SEL1030, SEL1060, SEL1090
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CL10T09: Clinical Clerkship II
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12
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360 hours
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Base Clinic
Satellite Clinic and/or University Health Center
Community-Based Clinical Education: Private Practice Rotation
Community Outreach Events
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Expanded Clinic selective coursesSEL1030, SEL1060, SEL1090
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CL10T10: Clinical Clerkship III
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12
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360 hours
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Base Clinic
Satellite Clinic and/or University Health Center
Community-Based Clinical Education: Private Practice Rotation
Community Outreach Events
Community-Based Clinical Education: Preceptorship (Optional)
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Expanded Clinic selective courses SEL1030, SEL1060, SEL1090
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Clinic Hours Requirements
Students are required to complete 1,170 total clinical hours and pass all clinical clerkship courses. The following conditions apply:
- Students must be engaged in activities that qualify for clinical credits or hours. Eligibility and availability of hours may vary based upon term of study, weeks on site, and category of site.
- Students must follow clinical clerkship procedures including provision of patient care, record keeping, and billing.
- Students may not earn clinical credits or hours while employed as a Chiropractic Assistant.
- Students must complete the required documentation related to hours, patient care activities, and evaluations.
- Hours worked over academic breaks may count toward licensure requirements but may not count toward clinical course requirements unless the student is completing hours to finish a course for which they have received an Incomplete grade.
- Hours completed in clinical courses that exceed each course’s minimum requirements do not “roll over” term to term.
- National board (licensure) examinations and review courses do not count towards clinical credits or hours.
- Students must maintain TB clearance throughout the entire clinical series.
- Students must meet site-specific immunization or criminal background check requirements to work at specific clinical locations or on specific rotations. Students will be informed in advance when there are additional requirements, as well as of alternative work assignments (when possible). Note: Students are responsible for the costs of compliance with these requirements.
- Students must meet minimum patient care requirements (encounters, procedures, and more) in actual patient care to achieve graduation requirements and meet licensure requirements.
- Students must utilize the University’s clinical management system to record hours, request approvals, request placement, submit documentation, etc.
Two post-graduate chiropractic residencies are available. Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) operates the Chiropractic Sports Medicine Residency and serves as the Academic Affiliate for the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Chiropractic Integrated Clinical Practice Residency. Both are competitive, full-time, post-graduate residencies that include a stipend and health benefits. Training locations vary.
Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences graduates are eligible for Advanced Standing in the Doctor of Chiropractic program. Students must be admitted into the Doctor of Chiropractic program and must successfully complete 12 credits in the Chiropractic Sciences concentration with a grade of B or better in all courses. With this concentration, these students can enter the DC program having completed 12 of the required credits.
Students are assigned their schedule of courses each term by the program. Student schedules may vary based upon term of entry, Alternative Admissions Track, special schedules, student progression, and other factors. The Dean’s office maintains sample schedules. Courses identified as *IPE are either taken with students from other programs, or are clinical courses offered in integrative healthcare settings.
Foundational Health Sciences
Chiropractic Health Sciences
Interprofessional Education
Selectives
DC students may choose from a variety of courses to complete 22 credits of Selective courses.
Total Selectives: Variable Hours and 22 Credits
Comprehensive Examinations
