Missouri Western students interested in becoming chiropractors can get a jump start on their studies at Palmer College of Chiropractic, thanks to a recent agreement between Missouri Western and Palmer.
Dr. Jason Baker, professor of biology who coordinated the agreement, said Missouri Western students who want to be chiropractors can now earn 90 credit hours in the biology/health science major at Missouri Western, which is approximately three years of coursework. If they meet the GPA criteria, they can then enroll at Palmer, and the first year of Palmer curriculum coursework will be transferred back to Missouri Western to complete the student’s bachelor’s degree.
Dr. Baker said he had wanted to pursue an agreement with a chiropractic college for a long time, and selected Palmer because of its reputation as a premier chiropractic college. It has three locations – Davenport, Iowa, Port Orange, Florida and San Jose, California – and students can select which Palmer campus they wish to attend. Additionally, they can apply for a scholarship if they attend the Davenport location.
“It’s a great opportunity for students,” Dr. Baker said. “This is another way to help students achieve their goals.”
Ali Stevens, from Savannah, Missouri, said she has wanted to be a chiropractor since she was in middle school, and plans to transfer to Missouri Western this coming fall so she can take advantage of the agreement. “I am so excited,” she said. “It’s a great jumpstart into my career.” Since the agreement includes all three of the Palmer campuses, she hopes to earn her degree at the Florida location and is visiting there this month.
Missouri Western already has agreements with four Universities in the health professional field: an early matriculation agreement with Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, an early acceptance agreement with the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, an early admission agreement with University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and a pre-admission agreement with the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine Bryant Scholars Program.