Athletic Training - B.S. Download to print

The two-phased athletic training education program focuses on injury/illness prevention and wellness protection, immediate and emergency care, treatment and rehabilitation, clinical evaluation and diagnosis, organization and professional health and well-being.  During the preprofessional phase students complete 120 observation hours in the athletic training room, where they are exposed to the academic and clinical requirements of athletic training. Upon completion of the preprofessional phase, qualified students apply for formal acceptance into the professional phase, where they spend 3 years applying academic knowledge and clinical application of athletic training skills in a variety of clinical settings, such as intercollegiate athletics, high schools, sports medicine clinics, orthopedic offices and EMS services. Upon completing the program, students qualify to sit for the national Board of Certification examination. Athletic Training is a suitable option for Pre-Physical therapy students who wish to pursue a dual credential of PT/AT. The CAATE -accredited program has a selective admission policy.

The Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training consists of preprofessional and professional components. In the preprofessional phase, the student completes a directed observation year. The professional phase begins after formal admission into the athletic training education program and includes clinical courses and clinical educational experiences under the direct supervision of an athletic trainer.

Advancement into the professional phase of the athletic training program is selective and is limited. Limited admission will ensure that an appropriate student to clinical instructor ratio (approximately 8:1) is maintained.

After completion of the preprofessional directed observation requirement (normally done within the first two or three semesters of full-time study), formal application to the professional phase of the program is made. Advancement to the professional program is controlled through the first practicum course (ATTR 15092). In order to be eligible for this course, students must: complete ATTR 15001, 15011, 25036 and 25057; make formal application to the professional phase of the program; provide three professional letters of reference; complete 120 hours of directed observation experiences under the direct supervision of an athletic trainer; achieve a C or better in the 4 ATTR courses in the Pre-Professional Phase; secure first aid and CPR certification; successfully complete ATTR 15011, which includes an oral and written exam; secure staff evaluations and complete a self-administered evaluation; and an interview with the professional athletic training staff. After these requirements have been fulfilled, students may be selected for advancement into the professional phase of the program based upon their competitive rank using their major GPA (15 percent), evaluation scores (40 percent), interview scores (20 percent) and ATTR 15011 written (10 percent) and oral (15 percent) practical exam scores. Students selected into the program will have a cumulative score of minimally 70% to be considered eligible for admission. Those selected may enroll in ATTR 15092 during the following semester.

Students who are not accepted into the professional phase may reapply the following year by completing another preprofessional year. Due to the extensive clinical component associated with this program, students may reapply only once. Students who are not selected for the professional phase of this program will work with the program coordinator to identify alternate academic programs to pursue.

Students who have transferred to Kent State University must complete a directed observation period at Kent State prior to advancement into the professional phase of the program. Prompt commencement of the directed observation period is necessary as it will take a minimum of six semesters at Kent State to complete the clinical courses and experiences in the professional phase.

Clinical Experience
Once accepted into the professional athletic training education program, students will begin the formal clinical education courses. Directed clinical experiences and supervised field experiences also are required. Although most of these experiences will be at the university, off-campus high school and clinical sites also are required. These experiences are accrued through clinical courses including practicum and internship, in no less than six semesters.

Students interested in this area of study will be advised by the athletic training program coordinator and should contact the program coordinator promptly to discuss the specific entrance, selection, health, technical standards and retention criteria in greater detail.

Athletic trainers held about 17,000 jobs in 2006 and are found in every part of the country. Most athletic trainer jobs are related to sports, although an increasing number also work in nonsports settings. About 34 percent of athletic trainers worked in health care, including jobs in hospitals, offices of physicians, and offices of other health practitioners. Another 34 percent were found in public and private educational services, primarily in colleges, universities, and high schools. About 20 percent worked in fitness and recreational sports centers.
(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Students admitted to the College of Education, Health, and Human Services as freshmen must have been fully admitted to the university. Admission to the college does not guarantee admission to a major and/or admission to professional coursework for a selective admission program. To be admitted directly into a teacher education program and Community Health, it is required that new freshmen have a 2.75 high school GPA and 16 units of college preparatory curriculum or a 21 ACT or 980 SAT score. Students who do not meet the GPA requirements of their intended major may enroll as pre-majors for selected programs or EHHS General until which time they have the required 2.75 GPA.

Students are admitted to health and human services programs and educational studies using the university admission criteria (see the Entering the University section of this Catalog), with the exception of the sport administration program, which requires a 2.75 high school GPA for entering freshmen and a 21 ACT or 980 SAT score. Selective admission criteria are used in some programs in the college. Students who do not meet the GPA requirements of their intended major may enroll as pre-majors for selected programs or EHHS General until which time they have the required GPA. Students desiring to major in human development and family studies or speech pathology and audiology are admitted as pre-majors and later are accepted into the appropriate program only after specific requirements have been met. It is imperative that the student contact the individual school for detailed information.
 
General Admission for Transfer Students: Generally, a transfer applicant who has taken 12 or more semester hours with a college cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale may be admitted. An applicant who has taken fewer than 12 semester hours will be evaluated on both collegiate and high school records. For more information on admissions, visit the Admissions website for transfer students.

Minimum 121 credit hours, minimum 39 upper-division hours. Minimum 2.500 GPA in major and 2.500 cumulative GPA. Minimum C (2.000) grade is required in all ATTR coursework.

There are many Study Abroad/Away Opportunities, for more information contact the Office of Global Education.

$50/semester

Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)

Organization of Athletic Training Students (OATS)