Students who are interested in or develop an interest in doing research while completing their Doctor of Chiropractic degree can apply to participate in the Doctor of Chiropractic Research Track. Students are eligible to participate after the completion of the first six quarters of the program, and may submit an application during their sixth quarter, or later, to one of the Research Track Advisors.

Research Track (RT) students are required to complete 21 academic credit hours in Research. Five of the 21 credit hours are required for all students in the Doctor of Chiropractic Program and are obtained in the following courses: RSCH 2501 , RSCH 3601 , and RSCH 4801 . RT students follow the same curriculum as other DC program students, with the following exceptions:

1. There are independent-study research class requirements (16 credit hours)
   • RSCH 5686 - Individual Research Study  
   • RSCH 5701 - Advanced Research Study  

As part of the RSCH 5686  and RSCH 5701  coursework, student will be required to complete additional education in research methods appropriate to their projects. This should be determined according to each individual’s background and previous education, and may be done through courses available at Life University, through online course modules, individual consultation, or some other approach.

2. Research Track students are required to complete only 10 credit hours of elective classes, instead of the 18 elective credit hours normally required for DC program students (note that additional courses/credits taken outside of graduation requirements would not be covered by Federal financial aid policy and must be paid for “out of pocket”).
    
3. The following courses are optional for RT students:
   • CHPM 3511 - Principles of Marketing  
   • CHPM 4611 - Practice Management II: Office and Staffing Procedures  
   • CHPM 4520 - Small Business Management  
   • CHPM 4612 - Capstone III: Systems for Success  
   • CPAP 1500 - Chiropractic Assembly  

Additionally, some classes are eligible for directed study.

Upon acceptance into the Research Track, a research track graduation plan will be created, approved and signed before the plan is forwarded to the official files stored in the Registrar’s Office. Part of the plan will include courses (other than Research courses) that can be taken as independent study so that additional release time in each quarter is available for pursuing research. 

For further information, contact one of the Research Track Advisors: Research.track@LIFE.edu