Curriculum

A Doctor of Chiropractic is a physician whose purpose is to meet the health needs of the public as a member of the healing arts. He/she gives particular attention to the relationship of structural and neurological aspects of the body and is educated in the basic and clinical sciences as well as in related health subjects. Chiropractic science concerns itself with the relationship between structure (primarily the spine), and function (primarily coordinated by the nervous system) of the human body as that relationship may affect the restoration and preservation of health..

"The purpose of his/her professional education is to prepare the doctor of chiropractic as a primary health-care provider; to provide the students with a base of knowledge sufficient for the performance of his or her professional obligations as a doctor of chiropractic. As a portal of entry to the health delivery system, the Doctor of Chiropractic must be well educated to diagnose for chiropractic care, to provide chiropractic care, and to consult with, or refer to, other health care providers as educated."( From: The Council On Chiropractic Education, Standards For Chiropractic Institutions, 1/2002).

It is the purpose of the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic program to offer as a minimum those courses and objectives as suggested in the CCE standards. It is also the purpose of the UBCC program to offer a broad-based educational experience. In many cases, the educational program presented will go beyond the course offerings suggested by CCE and will also go beyond individual state laws and scope of practice.

The University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic curriculum is divided into three phases: Basic Sciences, Clinical Sciences, and Clinical Services.

Basic Sciences
The basic Science curriculum instructs students in Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Public Health, and Pathology. These courses are offered primarily during the first two years of a student's education. It is the purpose of this aspect of the program for students to develop an understanding of both normal and abnormal structure and function, homeostatic mechanisms, and to gain a foundation upon which the clinical sciences will be built.

Clinical Sciences
Students from their first semester onward are instructed in the Clinical Sciences. Course offerings include: Chiropractic History, Chiropractic Principles and Practice, Diagnosis, Radiology, Technique Procedures, Nutrition, and Physiological Therapeutics and Rehabilitation Procedures. Students are given in-depth training in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Practical hands-on training is included beginning in Semester I and continuing to graduation. Information from the basic science curriculum is integrated into the clinical science course offerings and is a foundation upon which the clinical science courses build. Many of the clinical science courses have as a prerequisite successful completion of the basic science courses.

Clinical Services
The Clinical Services phase of the curriculum is the last and most important aspect of the UBCC program. Interns at the College's Chiropractic Health Center care for patients under the supervision and direction of licensed doctors of chiropractic. To be eligible for this part of the curriculum, students must be in good academic standing, successfully completed all courses in Semesters I thru VI, and successfully completed the clinic services entrance examination. During the Clinical Services portion of the program students will continue to receive training in the clinical sciences. They will also continue to be evaluated during their internship in order to remain eligible for clinical services. To continue in Clinical Services, students must remain in good academic standing. Towards the completion of the Clinical Services program students will be administered a clinical competency examination which must be successfully completed prior to graduation.

Because each course is integrated with other course offerings, students should be aware of the prerequisite and corequisite requirements. Throughout the curriculum every effort is made to insure the relevance of information to chiropractic principles and practice. The following is a breakdown, by subject, of the time devoted to each area of study within the curriculum.