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Curriculum
All courses are designed to incorporate chiropractic clinical relevance and context. The first year’s science classes will be combined with clinical field trips to reinforce hands-on learning. The second year will focus on diagnostics, clinical management skills and the refinement of clinical reasoning skills while attending grand rounds at facilities such as the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. These lessons and trainings will culminate in the final semester of their third year with a full-time clinical chiropractic experience.
Didactic and clinical opportunities will also span across the diverse departments in SHRS such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and physician assistant studies as well as Pitt’s schools of medicine, nursing and public health.
Currently, classes are planned for Monday through Friday, starting at 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesdays alternate weekly between didactic coursework and the Clinical Practicum. This schedule is tentative and subject to change.
Areas of Study
Students will take courses in basic science, clinical science, chiropractic science and clinical education.
- Basic – Foundational science courses to enhance and acquire knowledge in the clinical and chiropractic sciences
- Clinical Science – Courses to support the assessment and formulation of a diagnosis and opportunities for collaboration and referral
- Chiropractic Science – Courses for the development of the knowledge skills and abilities to assess and manage patients in a clinical setting
- Clinical Education – Observational and hands-on rotations to synthesize the content of all courses and to prepare for practice as a clinician
Year 1
Semester 1 – Fall Term (20 credits)
- Spinal Anatomy (4 credits)
- Human Function and Metabolism (6 credits)
- Introduction to Diagnostic Imaging (1 credit)
- The Patient Interview (1 credit)
- Clinically Relevant Palpation (1 credit)
- Introduction to the Chiropractic Profession and Primary Spine Care (2 credits)
- Evidence Based Practice I (2 credits)
- Introduction to Clinical Reasoning (2 credits)
- Clinical Practicum I (1 credit)
Semester 2 – Spring Term (20 credits)
- Neuroscience (3 credits)
- Gross Anatomy (5 credits)
- Clinical Microbiology and Immunology (2 credits)
- Diagnostic Imaging I (1 credit)
- Principles of Differential Diagnosis (2 credits)
- Manual Therapy Psychomotor Skill Development (1 credit)
- Spinal and Tissue Biomechanics (2 credits)
- Soft Tissue Manipulation (1 credit)
- Evidence Based Practice II (2 credits)
- Clinical Practicum II (1 credit)
Semester 3 – Summer Term (20 credits)
- Pathology (3 credits)
- Diagnostic Imaging II (1 credit)
- Clinical Pain Classification and Phenotyping (2 credits)
- Medical Screening & Diagnosis: Chest and Abdomen (2 credits)
- Thoracic & Lumbopelvic Spine Related Disorders (3 credits)
- Examination of the Thoracic and Lumbopelvic Spine (2 credits)
- Thoracic & Lumbopelvic Mobilization and Manipulation (2 credits)
- Rehabilitative Exercise: Thoracic & Lumbopelvic Spine (1 credit)
- Clinical Reasoning for the Primary Spine Provider I (1 credit)
- Evidence Based Practice III (2 credits)
- Clinical Practicum III and Comprehensive Clinical Exam I (1 credit)
Year 2
Semester 4 – Fall Term (19 credits)
- Diagnostic Imaging III (1 credit)
- Clinical Lab Diagnosis (1 credit)
- Clinical Pharmacology (2 credits)
- Medical Screening & Diagnosis: Head and Neck (2 credits)
- Cervical Spine Related Disorders (3 credits)
- Examination of the Cervical Spine (2 credits)
- Cervical Mobilization and Manipulation (2 credits)
- Rehabilitative Exercise: Cervical Spine (1 credit)
- Clinical Reasoning for the Primary Spine Provider II (1 credit)
- Nutrition in Chiropractic Practice (2 credits)
- Clinical Practicum IV (2 credits)
Semester 5 – Spring Term (17 credits)
- Clinical Neurology (3 credits)
- Diagnostic Imaging IV (1 credit)
- Extremity Disorders (3 credits)
- Examination of the Extremities (2 credits)
- Extremity Mobilization and Manipulation (2 credits)
- Rehabilitative Exercise: Extremities (1 credit)
- Spinal Manipulation Review (2 credits)
- Clinical Reasoning for the Primary Spine Provider III (1 credit)
- Clinical Practicum V (2 credits)
Semester 6 – Summer Term (21 credits)
- Review of Systems and Interprofessional Collaboration (2 credits)
- Emergency Care (2 credits)
- Public Health and Epidemiology (3 credits)
- Cases in Diagnostic Imaging (1 credit)
- Special Populations (3 credits)
- Special Topics in Manual Therapy I (1 credit)
- Advanced Topics in Rehabilitation (2 credits)
- Taping and Bracing (1 credit)
- Evidence-Based Practice IV (2 credits)
- Physical Agents and Modalities (2 credits)
- Pre-Clerkship and Comprehensive Clinical Exam II (2 credits)
Year 3
Semester 7 – Fall Term (16 credits)
- Outcomes Accountability Capstone I (3 credits)
- Case Studies Differential Diagnosis (3 credits
- Special Topics in Manual Therapy II (1 credit)
- Chiropractic Practice (3 credits)
- Clerkship I (6 credits)
Semester 8 – Spring Term (10 credits)
- Outcomes Accountability Capstone II (1 credit)
- Clerkship II and Comprehensive Clinical Exam III (9 credits)
