your adventure in

Athletic Training

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

View PDF

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 Masters 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 150 and ENGL 250, 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 302Business Communication3
or ENGL 314 Technical Communication
LIB 160Introduction to College Level Research1
SP CM 212Fundamentals of Public Speaking3

U.S. Diversity and International Perspectives

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

General Education

Physical and Life Sciences:

BIOL 255Fundamentals of Human Anatomy3
BIOL 255LFundamentals of Human Anatomy Laboratory1
BIOL 256Fundamentals of Human Physiology3
BIOL 256LFundamentals of Human Physiology Laboratory1

Additional major-specific requirements are:

CHEM 163College Chemistry4
or CHEM 177 General Chemistry I
CHEM 163LLaboratory in College Chemistry1
or CHEM 177L Laboratory in General Chemistry I
FS HN 167Introductory Human Nutrition and Health3
PHYS 131
131L
General Physics I
and General Physics I Laboratory
4-5
or PHYS 115 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 101Introduction to Psychology3
or PSYCH 230 Developmental Psychology
SOC 134Introduction to Sociology3

Humanities: 6 cr. min required

Choose from department approved list.

Communications:

ENGL 150Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
LIB 160Introduction to College Level Research1
SP CM 212Fundamentals 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:

H S 110Personal and Consumer Health3
H S 350Human Diseases (*)3
KIN 252Introduction to the Discipline of Kinesiology1
KIN 253Orientation and Learning Community in Kinesiology and Health1
KIN 258Principles of Physical Fitness and Conditioning2
KIN 358Exercise Physiology (*)3
KIN 359Exercise Physiology Lab1
KIN 373Biomechanics and Motor Control Laboratory1
*

A grade of C- or better is required.

Courses for Athletic Training Major

Option Requirements:
A TR 219Anatomy Clinical Practicum1
A TR 220Basic Athletic Training2
A TR 221Pre-Athletic Training Clinical Practicum1
A TR 223Preseason Clinical Experience Practicum1
KIN 355Biomechanics (*)3
KIN 365Sport Psychology (*)3
or KIN 366 Exercise Psychology
KIN 480Functional 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 
A TR 2180.5A TR 2180.5 
BIOL 255*3BIOL 211 or 2123 
BIOL 255L*1BIOL 211L or 212L1 
ENGL 1503BIOL 256**3 
H S 1103BIOL 256L**1 
KIN 2521FS HN 1673 
KIN 2531SOC 1343 
LIB 1601STAT 101 or 1043-4 
PSYCH 1013  
 16.5 17.5-18.5
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
A TR 220*2A TR 217**1 
A TR 221*1A TR 2191 
CHEM 163 or 1774KIN 2582 
CHEM 163L or 177L1MATH 140, 143, 145, or 1653-4 
ENGL 2503PHYS 115 or 131 and 131L4-5 
Humanities Choice/US Diversity3SP CM 2123 
Psych Choice3Humanities Choice/International Perspectives3 
 17 17-19
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
A TR 223*1A TR 328**1A TR 5011
A TR 228*2H S 3503A TR 5023
A TR 229*1KIN 365 or 3663A TR 5091
ENGL 302, 314, or SP CM 3123KIN 3723A TR 5201
FS HN 3671KIN 3731 
KIN 3553KIN 480 or B M S 4483-4 
KIN 3583PSYCH 4603 
KIN 3591  
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
A TR 505*3A TR 513**3A TR 5152
A TR 510*3A TR 522**1A TR 5231
A TR 519*3A TR 529**3A TR 5392
A TR 521*1A TR 545**3A TR 5603
 KIN 501**3 
 10 13 8
Fifth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
A TR 5502A TR 524**1 
A TR 559*4A TR 569**5 
A TR 570*3A TR 575**3 
H S 5643  
 12 9
 

Optional experiences: A TR 549A and A TR 549B 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 US 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/.