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University of Pittsburgh    
2025-2026 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog 
    
 
  Jan 14, 2026
 
2025-2026 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog

Doctor of Chiropractic


The goal of the DC curriculum is to prepare students to become self-directed, self-accountable chiropractors who can function in a cost-effective manner in all settings, and with persons of all ages.  Graduates of the program will be prepared to enhance spine and musculoskeletal function using evidence-based practice principles. Graduates of the Doctor of Chiropractic program will have a foundation on which to base further knowledge and skills in specialty areas and to contribute to development of the art and science of chiropractic care. The degree to be awarded will be the Doctor of Chiropractic , which will prepare graduates to sit for the licensure examinations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Upon successful completion of the curriculum, graduates of the program are eligible for the national certification examination through the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE), which is required to practice as a chiropractor.  

The chiropractic curriculum is designed around four longitudinal curricular tracts:

  1. 1. Structure and function of the human body in health and disease.
  2. 2. Chiropractic studies: the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to practice chiropractic.
  3. 3. Diagnosis and clinical reasoning.
  4. 4. Clinical education: training and practice in appropriate supervised clinical settings.

The addition of eight program outcomes consistent with the meta-competencies of the Council on Chiropractic Education results in a two-dimensional curriculum structure, providing for integration of accreditation-required professional competencies and the broad areas of knowledge and skill required of healthcare professionals.

Basic Science Core


 
  • DC - 3111 - Spinal Anatomy

  • DC - 3112 - Human Function and Metabolism

  • DC - 3115 - Neuroscience

  • DC - 3116 - Gross Anatomy

  • DC - 3117 - Microbiology and immunology

  • DC - 3118 - Pathology

Diagnosis and Management


  • DC - 3132 - The Patient Interview

  • DC - 3136 - Clinical Pain Classification and Phenotyping

  • DC - 3332 - Case Studies in Differential Diagnosis

  • DC - 3151 - Clinically Relevant Palpation

  • DC - 3155 - Manual Therapy Skill Development

  • DC - 3156 - Spinal and Tissue Biomechanics

  • DC - 3157 - Soft Tissue Manipulation

  • DC - 3232 - Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis

  • DC - 3233 - Clinical Pharmacology

  • DC - 3235 - Clinical Neurology

  • DC - 3241 - Special Populations

  • DC - 3256 - Nutrition in Chiropractic Practice

  • DC - 3137 - Medical Screening and Diagnosis: Chest and Abdomen

  • DC - 3159 - Thoracic and Lumbopelvic Spine-Related Disorders

  • DC - 3160 - Examination of the Thoracic and Lumbopelvic Spine

  • DC - 3161 - Thoracic and Lumbopelvic Mobilization and Manipulation

  • DC - 3162 - Rehabilitative Exercise: Thoracic and Lumbopelvic Spine

  • DC - 3234 - Medical Screening and Diagnosis: Head and Neck

  • DC - 3251 - Cervical Spine-Related Disorders

  • DC - 3252 - Examination of the Cervical Spine

  • DC - 3253 - Cervical Mobilization and Manipulation

  • DC - 3254 - Rehabilitative Exercise: Cervical Spine

  • DC - 3257 - Extremity disorders

  • DC - 3258 - Examination of the extremities

  • DC - 3259 - Extremity Mobilization and Manipulation

  • DC - 3260 - Rehabilitative Exercise: Extremities

  • DC - 3263 - Special Topics in Manual Therapy I

  • DC - 3351 - Special Topics in Manual Therapy II

  • DC - 3261 - Spinal Manipulation Review

  • DC - 3264 - Advanced Topics in Rehabilitation

  • DC - 3265 - Taping and Bracing

  • DC - 3267 - Physical Agents and Modalities

  • DC - 3131 - Intro to Diagnostic Imaging

  • DC - 3133 - Diagnostic imaging I

  • DC - 3135 - Diagnostic imaging II

  • DC - 3231 - Diagnostic Imaging III

  • DC - 3236 - Diagnostic Imaging IV

  • DC - 3240 - Cases in Diagnostic Imaging

Clinical Reasoning


  • DC - 3153 - Evidence-based Practice I

  • DC - 3158 - Evidence-Based Practice II

  • DC - 3164 - Evidence-based Practice III

  • DC - 3266 - Evidence-Based Practice IV

  • DC - 3154 - Introduction to Clinical Reasoning

  • DC - 3163 - Clinical Reasoning for the Primary Spine Provider I

  • DC - 3255 - Clinical Reasoning for the Primary Spine Provider II

  • DC - 3262 - Clinical Reasoning for the Primary Spine Provider III

  • DC - 3331 - Outcomes Accountability Capstone I

  • DC - 3333 - Outcomes Accountability Capstone II

Clinical Experience


  • DC - 3171 - Clinical practicum I

  • DC - 3172 - Clinical practicum II

  • DC - 3173 - Clinical practicum III and Comprehensive Clinical Exam I

  • DC - 3271 - Clinical practicum IV

  • DC - 3272 - Clinical practicum V

  • DC - 3273 - Pre-clerkship and Comprehensive Clinical Exam II

  • DC - 3371 - Clinical Clerkship I

  • DC - 3372 - Clinical Clerkship II

Professional Practice


  • DC - 3152 - Introduction to the Chiropractic Profession

  • DC - 3237 - Review of systems and interprofessional collaboration

  • DC - 3238 - Emergency Care

  • DC - 3239 - Public Health and Epidemiology

  • DC - 3361 - Chiropractic Practice



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