Overview of the Program
The Health and Exercise Science Department offers an Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). This program is provided for students who wish to prepare for a career as an athletic trainer. Athletic Trainers are medical professionals who are experts in injury prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation, particularly in the orthopedic and musculoskeletal disciplines. This major may also be combined with other allied health care professional programs.
Students wishing to apply for admission to the ATEP must enroll and complete HES 200, HES 203, HES 234 and HES 305 in the fall of their sophomore year. Sophomore students are evaluated during this semester and admission into the ATEP is competitive and limited. Application to the ATEP is completed during the sophomore fall semester. Information about the application process is available on the ATEP website.
Transfer students must complete the fall application process to be admitted into the ATEP as a sophomore level student that following spring. Core coursework must be completed in the sequential manor. ATEP program officials are rarely able to approve transfer credit for courses in the major, so please contact the Program Director if you desire to transfer.
Sophomore students accepted into the major begin clinical experiences (HES 303) during the spring semester. During January of the sophomore year, Athletic Training student majors are encouraged to complete a four-week career exploration in a sports medicine clinic, high school or related allied health care setting. During the junior (HES 307 and HES 311) and senior (HES 312, HES 318, and HES 353) years clinical experiences will include application of skills and techniques involved with the prevention, assessment, recognition, rehabilitation, reconditioning and disposition of injuries/illness to the physically active patient. These courses must be completed sequentially and all associated clinical proficiencies must be completed prior to continuing onto the next clinical experience. All clinical experiences are completed under the direct supervision of athletic trainers and other allied health care professionals. Upon completion of the major the student will be qualified to sit for the BOC examination to become a BOC Certified Athletic Trainer.
There are 12 credits required for the major: HES 200, HES 203, HES 206, HES 222, HES 231, HES 234, HES 235, HES 303, HES 305, HES 307, HES 308, HES 311, HES 312, HES 318, HES 320, HES 349, and HES 353.