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Program Snapshot
Academic CredentialAssociate in Arts (AA)
Total Credit Hours60
Average Time to Complete2 yrs.
Academic PathwayScience, Technology, Engineering & Math
AdvisorGreg Robinson
Associate Professor, Biology
850.769.1551 ext 2853
grobinso4@gulfcoast.edu

Senior Administrative AssistantKathy Bleday
850.872.3851
kbleday@gulfcoast.edu

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Chiropractic Medicine, AA

Take the Next Step Toward the Chiropractic Medicine University Transfer Track Program

Are you interested in helping people heal without resorting to pharmaceuticals? Are you interested in the anatomy and physiology of the human body? If so, consider a career as a Chiropractor. A major worry about healthcare in the United States is the over-reliance by medical professionals on potentially dangerous medications and surgeries. As a result, there has been a boom in the field of “natural” medicine and alternative therapies such as acupuncture and Chiropractic.

As a Chiropractor, you will focus on the interactions of the muscles, bones, and the nervous system to help relieve pain and other problems which patients may have experienced for many years. The word “chiropractic” comes from the Greek word meaning “done by hand." Although many picture a Chiropractor as a “back doctor" spinal adjustment is only one of the many therapies you will use to alleviate pain and other symptoms. A modern Chiropractor has knowledge and experience with exercise science, physical therapy, electrical stimulation therapy, and even nutrition.

The goal of a Chiropractor is to repair the muscle, nerve, and bone damage that causes pain, without relying on potentially addictive and dangerous opioid medicines that mask the pain. With the Baby Boomer population getting older, and the dangers of chronic pain medication usage becoming better known, the demand for Chiropractors is increasing much faster than average. The number of Chiropractic Medicine jobs is expected to grow by 17% through 2024.

For a career in Chiropractic medicine, you do not need to earn your Bachelor’s degree before being accepted into a doctoral degree program, but you will need a strong background in the sciences, and many Chiropractic colleges expect you to have completed at least 60-80 semester hours before making application.

Image of spine

Chiropractic Medicine Course Requirements

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English I & II
Visual and Performing Arts
Philosophy/Religion
Literature
Pre-Calculus Algebra
Trigonometry
General Chemistry
Biological Science
Behavioral Sciences
History
Government
Chemistry Courses
Biology Courses
Physics Courses
Elective

A complete list of courses with descriptions can be found in the Catalog

What can you do with a Chiropractic Medicine AA Degree?

Chiropractic career options include:

Solo practitioner
Associate with a chiropractic partnership
Sports team chiropractor
Chiropractor with the Veterans Administration or Department of Defense
Corporate chiropractor on-site for companies and organizations
Integrative chiropractic group practitioner
Educator
Researcher
Administrator

Which Florida schools offer Chiropractic Medicine programs?

Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange and the National University of Health Sciences of St. Petersburg both offer the D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic) degree, as does Life University in Marietta, Georgia.

Contact Gulf Coast’s Chiropractic Medicine advisor for more information about educational requirements needed to become a Chiropractor and whether Chiropractic medicine would be the best program for you.

Chiropractic Chair
Gulf Coast State College does not discriminate against any person in its programs, activities, policies or procedures on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, marital status, religion, age, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. All questions or inquiries regarding compliance with laws relating to non-discrimination and all complaints regarding sexual misconduct or discrimination, may be directed to Lee Wood, Executive Director, Human Resources/Title II/504/Title IX Coordinator and Employment Equity Officer, Gulf Coast State College, 5230 W. US Highway 98, Panama City, FL 32401.