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Athletic Training

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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.

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

Certified Athletic Trainers are allied medical health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, emergency care, and treatment and rehabilitation 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 hospital clinics, college and university settings, surgical and emergency room 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 sport settings. 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 earn an average of C (2.0) or better in ENGL 1500 and ENGL 2500, with neither grade being lower than a C-. Students not meeting this condition must earn a C or better in an advanced writing course:

ENGL 3020Business Communication3
or ENGL 3140 Technical Communication
LIB 1600Introduction to College Level Research1
SPCM 2120Fundamentals of Public Speaking3

U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) and International Perspectives

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

General Education

Physical and Life Sciences:

BIOL 2550Fundamentals of Human Anatomy3
BIOL 2550LFundamentals of Human Anatomy Laboratory1
BIOL 2560Fundamentals of Human Physiology3
BIOL 2560LFundamentals of Human Physiology Laboratory1

Additional major-specific requirements are:

CHEM 1630College Chemistry4
or CHEM 1770 General Chemistry I
CHEM 1630LLaboratory in College Chemistry1
or CHEM 1770L Laboratory in General Chemistry I
FSHN 1670Introductory Human Nutrition and Health3
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
College Algebra
Preparation for Calculus
Applied Trigonometry
Calculus I
From the following:3-4
Principles of Statistics
Introduction to Statistics

Social Sciences: 9 cr. min required

PSYCH 1010Introduction to Psychology3
or PSYCH 2300 Developmental Psychology
SOC 1340Introduction to Sociology3

Humanities: 6 cr. min required

Choose from department approved list.

Communications:

ENGL 1500Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
LIB 1600Introduction to College Level Research1
SPCM 2120Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
One of the following3
Business Communication
Technical Communication
Business and Professional Speaking

Program requirements:

The following courses are required in all majors and options:

HS 1100Personal and Consumer Health3
HS 3500Human Diseases (*)3
KIN 2520Introduction to the Discipline of Kinesiology1
KIN 2530Orientation and Learning Community in Kinesiology and Health1
KIN 2580Principles of Physical Fitness and Conditioning2
KIN 3580Exercise Physiology (*)3
KIN 3590Exercise Physiology Lab1
KIN 3730Biomechanics and Motor Control Laboratory1
*

A grade of C- or better is required.

Courses for Athletic Training Major

Option Requirements:
ATR 2190Anatomy Clinical Practicum1
ATR 2200Basic Athletic Training2
ATR 2210Pre-Athletic Training Clinical Practicum1
ATR 2230Preseason Clinical Experience Practicum1
KIN 3550Biomechanics (*)3
KIN 3650Sport Psychology (*)3
or KIN 3660 Exercise Psychology
KIN 4800Functional Anatomy3
Electives3
*

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
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ATR 21800.5ATR 21800.5 
BIOL 2550*3BIOL 2110 or 21203 
BIOL 2550L*1BIOL 2110L or 2120L1 
ENGL 15003BIOL 2560**3 
HS 11003BIOL 2560L**1 
KIN 25201FSHN 16703 
KIN 25301SOC 13403 
LIB 16001STAT 1010 or 10403-4 
PSYCH 10103  
 16.5 17.5-18.5
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ATR 2200*2ATR 2170**1 
ATR 2210*1ATR 21901 
CHEM 1630 or 17704KIN 25802 
CHEM 1630L or 1770L1MATH 1400, 1430, 1450, or 16503-4 
ENGL 25003PHYS 1150 or 1310 and 1310L4-5 
Humanities Choice/U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity)3SPCM 21203 
Psych Choice3Humanities Choice/International Perspectives3 
 17 17-19
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ATR 2230*1ATR 3280**1ATR 50101
ATR 2280*2HS 35003ATR 50203
ATR 2290*1KIN 3650 or 36603ATR 50901
ENGL 3020, 3140, or SPCM 31203KIN 37203ATR 52001
FSHN 36701KIN 37301 
KIN 35503KIN 4800 or BMS 44803-4 
KIN 35803PSYCH 46003 
KIN 35901  
Apply for admission to the AT/MATR program in December.   
Acceptance into the program is required before spring of the third year.   
 15 17-18 6
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ATR 5050*3ATR 5130**3ATR 51502
ATR 5100*3ATR 5220**1ATR 52301
ATR 5190*3ATR 5290**3ATR 53902
ATR 5210*1ATR 5450**3ATR 56003
 KIN 5010**3 
 10 13 8
Fifth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ATR 55002ATR 5240**1 
ATR 5590*4ATR 5690**5 
ATR 5700*3ATR 5750**3 
HS 56403  
 12 9
 

Optional experiences: ATR 5490A and ATR 5490B Athletic Training Clinical Education Study Abroad (3 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 (formerly U.S. Diversity) 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/.