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, and organization and professional health and well-being.  During the pre-professional 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 pre-professional 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 other health care settings. 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 pre-professional and professional components. In the pre-professional 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 preceptor ratio (approximately 8:1) is maintained.

After completion of the pre-professional 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 an oral and written exam administered through ATTR 15011; 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 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 pre-professional 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.

Note: All Athletic Training Students who are admitted into the professional phase of the program will be required to obtain a Bureau of Criminal Investigation Identification (BCII) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background checks prior to beginning their clinical rotations for the fall semester of each year. See Program Coordinator for more information.

Athletic trainers held about 22,340 jobs in 2013 and are found in every part of the country. Most athletic trainer jobs are related to sports, although an increasing number also work in non-sports settings. About 49 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)

General Admissions for Freshman Students: Admission Requirements at the Kent Campus: The freshman admission policy at the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon the following: cumulative grade point average, ACT and/or SAT scores, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends.

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago. For more information on admissions, visit the admissions website for new freshmen.

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. Selective admission criteria are used in some programs in the college. Students who do not meet the GPA requirements of their intended major enroll into EHHS General until which time they have the required GPA.
 

For more information about admission criteria for transfer, transitioning and former students, please visit the admissions website.

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

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Apply the principles of the research process in athletic training by engaging in faculty and graduate research.
2. Apply the knowledge and skills gained through the clinical and didactic educational experiences to a variety of health care clinicians in diverse settings including equipment intensive, upper extremity intensive, lower extremity intensive and general medical exposures.
3. Engage health care professionals and apply the knowledge gained, through their education in both the classroom and clinical settings.
4. Engage in program improvement as part of a continuous quality improvement initiative by evaluating the effectiveness of the program through multiple evaluation resources.

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