TCC, UH-Clear Lake Launch Joint-Degree Program

Texas Chiropractic College (TCC) and University of Houston-Clear Lake are excited to announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding which establishes a joint-degree program between TCC’s Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree and UH-Clear Lake’s Master of Science in Fitness and Human Performance (FHP). The agreement was formally signed on March 2, 2011 and went into effect for the fall 2011 academic term.

TCC is the first chiropractic college in the United States to develop a dual-degree graduate program in cooperation with a publicly funded university.

“This is a ground-breaking opportunity for Texas Chiropractic College and more importantly, for our students,” said TCC Senior Vice President and Provost Clay McDonald. “We couldn’t be more excited to launch our first dual degree with the nationally respected fitness and human performance program at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. This represents a tremendous opportunity for our students to increase their knowledge and marketability, and also reflects the quality of growth taking place at TCC.”

“University of Houston-Clear Lake is excited about this wonderful opportunity and new partnership with Texas Chiropractic College,” said UH-Clear Lake’s Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Carl A. Stockton. “By putting this joint-degree program in place, we are giving students at UH-Clear Lake and Texas Chiropractic College more opportunities to strengthen their educational backgrounds, which will definitely help them in their future careers.”

Details

Qualifying students may choose to apply for and enter the Joint Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), Master of Science (MS) at the Texas Chiropractic College and University of Houston - Clear Lake. The DC and MS degrees are conferred by the TCC and UHCL, respectively. Entry into the program requires independent university acceptance by the admissions office and acceptance into the Fitness and Human Performance Program. Completion of the joint program will provide students with an opportunity to earn a clinical doctorate degree while gaining theoretical knowledge and practical field experience in exercise/sports science. Additionally, the dual degree program will:

1. Provide students with advanced knowledge in the physiological and physical mechanisms underlying exercise adaptation.
2. Provide students with the knowledge needed to design and implement evidence-based strength and conditioning programs.
3. Prepare students for employment in medically-oriented environments that place emphasis on research or the application of exercise science knowledge.
4. Provide students with the knowledge and degree necessary to sit for state chiropractic licensing exams.

Students currently enrolled in the TCC-DC program who wish to enroll in the MS in Fitness and Human Performance program must:

1. Complete the UHCL application form and pay the appropriate application fee at the TCC registrar’s office. Copies of the student’s official TCC transcripts showing conferred BS degree will be made for the FHP graduate department at UHCL.
2. Earn passing grades in all Tri-1 through Tri-5 courses at TCC.
3. Prior to enrollment in the dual-program, the student must earn a bachelor’s degree or have earned TCC’s Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Human Biology (at the completion of Tri-5).
4. Earn a TCC GPA of 3.000 or higher at the time of application to the program.
5. Students who apply to the dual DC-MS program are required to follow all UHCL academic standards and policies in addition to those of TCC.
6. Upon acceptance into the program, students must maintain a 3.000 or better GPA at UHCL. If cumulative GPA falls below 3.000, students will be placed on academic probation.

It is students’ obligation to schedule their coursework to complete the degree in a timely manner. TCC is not responsible for students failing to complete the coursework necessary to earn the MS degree. Copies of students’ UHCL coursework will be available to TCC to monitor each student’s progression in the MS program. Students must complete the MS degree within five years of starting their first course or they will be automatically dismissed from the joint program and will not receive the MS degree. Students will be eligible to attend graduation at UHCL upon completion of their 30 hour MS degree. Graduation paperwork can be filled out with the TCC registrar. Any unforeseen clarifications of this joint degree program will be handled by the TCC and UHCL Provost.

Fitness and Human Performance Certificate

The Fitness and Human Performance certificate from UHCL is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree who are not seeking a master’s degree in Fitness and Human Performance, but who do want to receive specific instruction in fitness, exercise, nutrition and human performance. The certificate will be granted by the School of Human Sciences and Humanities upon completion of the 12-hour curriculum. Credit hours completed as part of the certificate program may be applied to the Fitness and Human Performance master’s plan upon completion of admission requirements to the degree-seeking plan. Non-degree-seeking students are subject to the university’s academic standards and do not differ from degree-seeking students in regard to any other university policies.

To learn more about becoming a doctor of chiropractic at TCC and the dual-degree program, please contact the Office of Admission at 1-800-468-6839 or 281-998-6007 or via email at admissions@txchiro.edu. For specific information about UHCL’s fitness and human performance program and the university as a whole, please visit www.uhcl.edu.