Athletic Training

This major prepares students for a career as an athletic trainer in a variety of settings such as high school, college and professional settings. There are additional settings in sports medicine clinics, hospitals, military, industry, and in performing arts. The accredited program will prepare students for the Board of Certification exam upon graduation. Admission to the athletic training program is competitive and based on available departmental resources. Admission procedures and technical standards can be found at http://www.kin.hs.iastate.edu/programs/athletic-training/#program-information-and-requirements.

Iowa State University's Athletic Training Program has transitioned to a Professional Master's degree program. Undergraduate students will be enrolled in the 3+2 athletic training program with a 3-year Pre-Athletic Training undergraduate curriculum and a 2-year Master of Athletic Training program in the Department of Kinesiology. Students with a B.S. or B.A. degree may apply directly to the master's program with completion of prerequisite coursework, program requirements, and observation hours. For more information, please contact the program director, Dr. Mary Meier, at mary@iastate.edu. 

Mission

Athletic training is the art and science of the prevention, recognition, care, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. It includes the organization and administration of athletic training education programs, as well as the education and counseling physically active individuals and athletes. The Iowa State University athletic training program provides high quality education striving to instill intellectual curiosity, evidence-based knowledge, and clinical skills essential for individual development. The athletic training program enrolls academically qualified students who represent diverse socio-economic levels, ethnic heritage and who provide a gender balance. The program faculty and clinical preceptors strive to prepare athletic training students to be productive and responsible citizens of the world and to foster affective, caring individuals to promote the profession of athletic training.

The Athletic Training faculty and clinical preceptors continually update educational curriculum to keep athletic training students current with field knowledge and to ensure the best possible undergraduate and graduate education in both the didactic and clinical settings.

Goals

1.  We prepare athletic training students for the BOC Certification Exam.
2.  We produce high quality athletic trainers prepared for employment in educational, clinical, and professional settings.
3.  We promote professional and ethical conduct at all times.
4.  We provide athletic training students equal opportunity to develop their skills both in the classroom and in the clinical settings.
5.  We continually update the curricular offerings to provide the athletic training student current evidence-based knowledge in the profession.
6.  We provide high quality instruction in the classroom and clinical experiences.
7.  We assist the athletic training student in gaining employment.
8.  We promote the concept of establishing professional contacts by attending professional and educational meetings.
9.  We foster an appreciation of athletic training as a component of sports medicine.
10.  We foster the affective, caring side of athletic training.

Student Learning Objectives

1. Athletic training graduates will use effective communication skills.
2. Athletic training graduates will demonstrate competence in athletic training skills and knowledge.
3. Athletic training graduates will possess ethical, caring, professional attributes and behaviors as a health care professional.
4. Athletic training graduates will demonstrate effective critical thinking and problem-solving skills ensuring them of being an effective athletic trainer.
5. Athletic training graduates will demonstrate the ability to apply clinical skills and make evidence-based decisions to optimize patient outcomes.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDY

The Department of Kinesiology offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology & Health. The B.S. in Athletic Training degree is only offered upon completion of the 3+2 B.S./M.A.TR. Athletic Training program. The undergraduate curriculum major/option is comprised of three components:  general education, required departmental courses and the component courses. The intent of the general education component is to promote intellectual and personal growth and to prepare students for success in the basic, advanced and major/option components.  Required courses provide an introduction to the field and fundamental principles of physical activity, fitness, health and disease, and component courses fulfill prerequisite requirements of the graduate program.

B.S./M.A.TR. degree in Athletic Training

Certified Athletic Trainers are allied medical health care professionals who specialize in risk reduction, wellness, health literacy, assessment, evaluation, diagnosis, critical incident management, and therapeutic intervention of injuries. To gain certification as an athletic trainer, candidates must graduate from a CAATE accredited athletic training education program and successfully pass the Board of Certification (BOC) examination. In addition, most states have licensure requirements to practice athletic training. The ISU Athletic Training undergraduate education program has been CAATE accredited since 2001 and has transitioned to a Professional Master's program. The Athletic Training program at Iowa State University includes various athletic training clinical rotations including high school settings, physical therapy and university settings, physician offices, surgical and emergency department observations, and immersive clinical opportunities in orthopedic and non-orthopedic settings. 

Curriculum in Athletic Training

This major prepares students for a career as an athletic trainer in high school, college, professional sports, and within additional settings, including sports medicine clinics, hospitals, the military, industry, and the performing arts. Additional settings include sports medicine clinics, hospitals, military, industry, and with the performing arts. The 3+2 program prepares students for the Board of Certification exam upon graduation from the master's program. Admission to the Athletic Training Master's degree program is competitive. Admission requirements for the Professional Master's in Athletic Training program can be found at http://www.kin.hs.iastate.edu/graduate-programs/athletic-training/.

Curriculum in Athletic Training

Communication Proficiency

In order to meet graduation requirements, all students must pass ENGL 1500 and pass ENGL 2500, with a grade no lower C. Students not meeting this condition must earn a C or better in an advanced writing course:

ENGL 3020	Business Communication	3
or ENGL 3140	Technical Communication
LIB 1600	Introduction to College Level Research	1
SPCM 2120	Fundamentals of Public Speaking	3

U.S. Cultures and Communities and International Perspectives

In order to meet graduation requirements, all students must complete 3 cr. of course work in U.S. Cultures and Communities and 3 cr. in International Perspectives. See university approved list.

General Education

Physical and Life Sciences:

BIOL 2550	Fundamentals of Human Anatomy	3
BIOL 2550L	Fundamentals of Human Anatomy Laboratory	1
BIOL 2560	Fundamentals of Human Physiology	3
BIOL 2560L	Fundamentals of Human Physiology Laboratory	1

Additional major-specific requirements are:

CHEM 1630	College Chemistry	4
or CHEM 1770	General Chemistry I
CHEM 1630L	Laboratory in College Chemistry	1
or CHEM 1770L	Laboratory in General Chemistry I
FSHN 1670	Introductory Human Nutrition and Health	3
PHYS 1310 & 1310L	General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory	4-5
or PHYS 1150	Physics for the Life Sciences

Mathematics and Statistics:

From the following:		3-4
MATH 1400	College Algebra
or MATH 1430	Preparation for Calculus
or MATH 1450	Applied Trigonometry
or MATH 1650	Calculus I
From the following:		3-4
STAT 1010	Principles of Statistics
or STAT 1040	Introduction to Statistics

Social Sciences: 9 cr. min required

PSYCH 1010	Introduction to Psychology	3
or PSYCH 2300	Developmental Psychology
SOC 1340	Introduction to Sociology	3

Humanities: 6 cr. min required

Choose from department approved list.

Communications:

ENGL 1500	Critical Thinking and Communication	3
ENGL 2500	Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition	3
LIB 1600	Introduction to College Level Research	1
SPCM 2120	Fundamentals of Public Speaking	3
One of the following		3
ENGL 3020	Business Communication
or ENGL 3140	Technical Communication
or SPCM 3120	Business and Professional Speaking

Program requirements:

The following courses are required in all majors and options:

HS 1100	Personal and Consumer Health	3
HS 3500	Human Diseases (*)	3
KIN 2520	Introduction to the Discipline of Kinesiology	1
KIN 2530	Orientation and Learning Community in Kinesiology and Health	1
KIN 2580	Principles of Physical Fitness and Conditioning	2
KIN 3580	Exercise Physiology (*)	3
KIN 3590	Exercise Physiology Lab	1
KIN 3730	Biomechanics and Motor Control Laboratory	1

*

A grade of C- or better is required.

Courses for Athletic Training Major

Option Requirements:
ATR 2190	Anatomy Clinical Practicum	1
ATR 2200	Basic Athletic Training	2
ATR 2210	Pre-Athletic Training Clinical Practicum	1
ATR 2230	Preseason Clinical Experience Practicum	1
KIN 3550	Biomechanics (*)	3
KIN 3650	Sport Psychology (*)	3
or KIN 3660	Exercise Psychology
KIN 4800	Functional Anatomy	3
Electives		3

*

A grade of C- or better is required.

Athletic Training B.S./Masters (B.S./M.A.T.R.) Degree
Sample Five-Year Plan

First Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
ATR 2180	0.5	ATR 2180	0.5
BIOL 2550*	3	BIOL 2110 or 2120	3
BIOL 2550L*	1	BIOL 2110L or 2120L	1
ENGL 1500	3	BIOL 2560**	3
HS 1100	3	BIOL 2560L**	1
KIN 2520	1	FSHN 1670	3
KIN 2530	1	SOC 1340	3
LIB 1600	1	STAT 1010 or 1040	3-4
PSYCH 1010	3
	16.5		17.5-18.5
Second Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
ATR 2200*	2	ATR 2170**	1
ATR 2210*	1	ATR 2190	1
CHEM 1630 or 1770	4	KIN 2580	2
CHEM 1630L or 1770L	1	MATH 1400, 1430, 1450, or 1650	3-4
ENGL 2500	3	PHYS 1150 or 1310 and 1310L	4-5
Humanities/US Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity)	3	SPCM 2120	3
PSYCH Choice	3	Humanities/International Perspectives	3
	17		17-19
Third Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits	Summer	Credits
ATR 2230*	1	ATR 3280**	1	ATR 5010	1
ATR 2280*	2	ENGL 3020, 3140, or SPCM 3120	3	ATR 5020	3
ATR 2290*	1	HS 3500	3	ATR 5090	1
FSHN 3670	1	KIN 3720	3	ATR 5200	1
KIN 3550	3	KIN 3730	1	BMS 4480	4
KIN 3580	3	KIN 4800	3
KIN 3590	1	PSYCH 4600	3
KIN 3650 or 3660	3
Apply for admission to the AT/MATR program in December.
Acceptance into the program is required before spring of the third year.
	15		17		10
Fourth Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits	Summer	Credits
ATR 5050*	3	ATR 5130**	3	ATR 5150	2
ATR 5100*	3	ATR 5220**	1	ATR 5230	1
ATR 5190*	3	ATR 5290**	3	ATR 5390	2
ATR 5210*	1	ATR 5450**	3	ATR 5600	3
	10		10		8
Fifth Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
ATR 5500	2	ATR 5240**	1
ATR 5590*	4	ATR 5690**	5
ATR 5700*	3	ATR 5750**	3
HS 5640	3
	12		9

 

Optional experiences: ATR 5490A/KIN 3810A and ATR 5490B/KIN 3810B Athletic Training Clinical Education Study Abroad (2 credits).

*

Fall Only Course

**

Spring Only Course

 

Planned course offerings may change, and students need to check the online Schedule of Classes each term to confirm course offerings: https://classes.iastate.edu/.

 

Humanities, Social Science, International Perspectives, and U.S. Cultures and Communities courses: https://kin.hs.iastate.edu/current-students/academics/resources-and-registration/

 

This sequence is only an example.

Students who have already completed, or will complete, a B.A. or B.S. degree from an accredited institution and who have completed necessary prerequisite course work and other admission requirements can apply for the Master's in Athletic Training program. More information on the admissions requirements and application can be found here: https://kin.hs.iastate.edu/graduate-students/graduate-program/masters-in-athletic-training/admissions-requirements-application/.