The Bachelor of Science (Chiropractic) aims to develop clinical skills in the diagnosis and management of patients presenting for care. You will develop a range of spinal and patient assessment procedures and basic therapeutic approaches to common musculoskeletal presentations. You will learn to manage patients from a wellness perspective and will learn the history, philosophy, principles and theories of chiropractic and relevant chiropractic psychomotor skills integrated with a knowledge of basic science.
Knowledge gained, and the appreciation of basic techniques, may support employment as an assistant in chiropractic practice. The Bachelor of Science (Chiropractic) also prepares students for Masters courses and subsequent CBA (Chiropractic Board of Australia) registration.
Duration | 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time |
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Credit Points that Must be Earned | 144 |
Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in undergraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
Course Type | Undergraduate Award |
Qualification (post nominal) | BSc(Chiropr) |
AQF Level | Level 7: Bachelor Degree |
Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2025
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Rank Threshold | SR 69 | ATAR 69 |
School-leaving domestic students must have completed English (4, SA) and must apply through QTAC (Mackay, Brisbane) or UAC (Sydney). New to Higher Education domestic students may make direct application on completion of nominated units from STEPS.
Students not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, South Africa or USA are required to meet an English Language Prerequisite by (i) an academic IELTS completed within the last 2 years (from the term you are applying to start) with a minimum achievement of 6.5 in each band and overall: or (ii) a secondary or university qualification which is not more than 5 years old (from the term you are applying for entry into) with a satisfactory level of achievement of at least 2 years in duration from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, South Africa or USA.
It is recommended that potential applicants also complete either Biology, Chemistry or Physics to a Yr 12 level.
Interim Awards | Not applicable |
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Exit Awards | Not applicable |
Accreditation |
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Compulsory Residential School | Students who select to study some units via distance may be required to attend compulsory residential schools. |
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Click here to view all Residential Schools |
CHIR13008 - Students are required to spend time with a practicing chiropractor and are required to demonstrate a greater level of cognition. They are required to clinically reflect, interpret from case scenarios and demonstrate clinical reasoning skills at a basic level. This continues to be at the 'competent' level (as above) using the Dreyfus model. |
CHIR12006 - Students are required to spend time with a practicing chiropractor and are required to understand underlying principles in a chiropractic practice and clinically reflect on simple case scenarios. This is 'competent' using the Dreyfus model. |
CHIR13009 - Students are required to spend time with a practicing chiropractor and are required to demonstrate a higher level of clinical interpretation and reasoning skills. The skill level is aimed at the 'proficient' according to the Dreyfus model. At the completion of Professional Chiropractic Practice 2 students should have a strong ability to clinical reflect and interpret from case scenarios. Their clinical reasoning skills are beginning to develop. |
CHIR12005 - Students are required to spend time with a practicing chiropractor and asked to reflect on real life scenarios. They are also required to understand contextual frameworks of chiropractic practice. This is 'advanced beginner' using the Dreyfus model. |
Year | Number of Students |
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2024 | 155 |
2023 | 183 |
2022 | 192 |
2021 | 210 |
2020 | 224 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
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Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) placements apply to this course and as such are subject to compulsory pre-placement conditions referred to as mandatory checks and are outlined in the health, security and other compulsory requirements sections. Mandatory checks are determined by industry, organisations, legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures. To be eligible for a WIL placement, students must first achieve compliance with mandatory checks by each closing date prior to a WIL placement and maintain current evidence for the duration of the course.
Health requirements for this course are recommended only, and not mandatory. These include immunisation and vaccination evidence (and serology where required) as a recommendation only to the following diseases: Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Varicella, Pertussis, Influenza, and Tuberculosis screening.
Mandatory security requirements include an Australian Federal Police clearance and working with children check.
Other mandatory requirements include a First Aid and CPR certificate, student agreement to privacy and confidentiality, fitness to participate in WIL student declaration, jurisdictional and site-specific compulsory requirements, and other training modules.
Course Learning Outcomes | |||||||
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Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have a broad and coherent body of knowledge, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines as a basis for independent lifelong learning | |||||||
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review critically, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge | |||||||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of knowledge with depth in some areas | |||||||
4. SKILLS Have cognitive and creative skills to exercise critical thinking and judgement in identifying and solving problems with intellectual independence | |||||||
5. SKILLS Have communication skills to present a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas | |||||||
6. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and/or scholarship | |||||||
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts | |||||||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for own learning and professional practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters | |||||||
KNOWLEDGE Develop an understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture in contemporary and historical context using the respectful and appropriate protocols and terminology | |||||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Engage in reflective self-evaluation of own cultural values and perspectives to proactively create an inclusive workplace that affirms and celebrates cultural diversity | |||||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Display leadership by creating inclusive work environments and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally respectful manner |
Number of units: 24 | Total credit points: 144 |
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Applicants to the undergraduate course are advised that the English language proficiency requirement for entry to the Master of Clinical Chiropractic Course are higher than for the undergraduate course. The Master course requirement is aligned with the requirement of the national regulatory body for entry to practice in Australia. This proficiency requirement includes an academic IELTS minimum score of 7.0 in each band.
Students seeking to complete the course in 2 calendar years must qualify for exemption from each of the following 6 units: Fundamentals of Chemistry, Human Body Systems 1 and 2, Study and Research Skills for Health Science, Foundations of Biochemistry, and Physics for Health Science, and be prepared to add Foundations of Chiropractic Practice 1 in Term 1 and Foundations of Chiropractic Practice 2 in Term 2 in their first year of study. See "Recognition of Prior Learning" below.
Students not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, South Africa or USA are required to meet an English Language Prerequisite by (i) an academic IELTS completed within the last 2 years (from the term you are applying to start) with a minimum achievement of 6.5 in each band and overall; or (ii) a secondary or university qualification which is not more than 5 years old (from the term you are applying for entry into) with a satisfactory level of achievement of at least 2 years in duration from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, South Africa or USA.
The English Language Proficiency requirements may also be satisfied by an Occupational test - Result of ‘A' or ‘B' (results are to be no older than 2 years from the start of term).
Year 2 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
CHIR12005 | Foundations of Chiropractic Practice 3 | |
BMSC12007 | Neurological Physiology & Measurement | |
MBIO12013 | Microbiology for Health Care | |
CHIR12004 | Neuromusculoskeletal Anatomy 1 |
Year 2 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
CHIR12006 | Foundations of Chiropractic Practice 4 | |
MPAT12001 | Medical Pathophysiology | |
MEDI12008 | Foundations of Radiation Science | |
CHIR12008 | Neuromusculoskeletal Anatomy 2 |
Year 3 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
CHIR12007 | Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis 1 |
Year 3 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
CHIR13007 | Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis 3 | |
CHIR13009 | Professional Chiropractic Practice 2 | |
NURS13117 | Research in Health Care |
Year 3 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
CHIR13008 | Professional Chiropractic Practice 1 | |
CHIR13010 | Systems and Pathology | |
PMSC13001 | Mental Health for Paramedics |
Year 3 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
CHIR13006 | Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis 2 |
Year 1 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
CHIR11001 | Foundations of Chiropractic Practice 1 | |
BMSC11001 | Human Body Systems 1 | |
CHEM11042 | Fundamentals of Chemistry | |
ESSC11004 | Study and Research Skills for Health Science |
Year 1 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
BMSC11002 | Human Body Systems 2 | |
BMSC11005 | Foundations of Biochemistry | |
CHIR11003 | Foundations of Chiropractic Practice 2 | |
MEDI11002 | Physics for Health Sciences |
Full registration as a chiropractor requires completion of a Masters level qualification and/or additional clinical experience. Completion of the CQU University Master of Clinical Chiropractic course will render graduates eligible to apply for registration as a chiropractor with the Chiropractic Board of Australia.
Equipment Requirements
Students are required to have the following diagnostic instruments by 3rd year.
A reflex hammer
A thermometer
A sphygmomanometer
A stethoscope
A pen torch
It is a requirement of enrolment in this course that students have access to the CQUniversity website. Students may be required to undertake various components of study in the course using email and the Internet. Students should also have access to their own notebook or laptop, or tablet, or smart phone.
It is strongly recommended that students have access to a broadband connection or higher to access online student resources that would include but not limited to, email, internet, video streaming, electronic assessment submission.