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
- We prepare athletic training students for the BOC Certification Exam.
- We produce high quality athletic trainers prepared for employment in educational, clinical, and professional settings.
- We promote professional and ethical conduct at all times.
- We provide athletic training students equal opportunity to develop their skills both in the classroom and in the clinical settings.
- We continually update the curricular offerings to provide the athletic training student current evidence-based knowledge in the profession.
- We provide high quality instruction in the classroom and clinical experiences.
- We assist the athletic training student in gaining employment.
- We promote the concept of establishing professional contacts by attending professional and educational meetings.
- We foster an appreciation of athletic training as a component of sports medicine.
- We foster the affective, caring side of athletic training.
Student Learning Objectives
- Athletic training graduates will use effective communication skills.
- Athletic training graduates will demonstrate competence in athletic training skills and knowledge.
- Athletic training graduates will possess ethical, caring, professional attributes and behaviors as a health care professional.
- Athletic training graduates will demonstrate effective critical thinking and problem-solving skills ensuring them of being an effective athletic trainer.
- 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 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 | |
| College Algebra | ||
or MATH 1430 | Preparation for Calculus | |
or MATH 1450 | Applied Trigonometry | |
or MATH 1650 | Calculus I | |
| From the following: | 3-4 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 Choice/U.S. Cultures and Communities | 3 | SPCM 2120 | 3 | ||
| Psych Choice | 3 | Humanities Choice/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 | HS 3500 | 3 | ATR 5020 | 3 |
| ATR 2290* | 1 | KIN 3650 or 3660 | 3 | ATR 5090 | 1 |
| ENGL 3020, 3140, or SPCM 3120 | 3 | KIN 3720 | 3 | ATR 5200 | 1 |
| FSHN 3670 | 1 | KIN 3730 | 1 | ||
| KIN 3550 | 3 | KIN 4800 or BMS 4480 | 3-4 | ||
| KIN 3580 | 3 | PSYCH 4600 | 3 | ||
| KIN 3590 | 1 | ||||
| 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 | |||||
| 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 |
| KIN 5010** | 3 | ||||
| 10 | 13 | 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 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 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/.