Department of Health and Human Performance
615-904-8453
Bill Whitehill, program coordinator
William.Whitehill@mtsu.edu
The Athletic Training Program consists of four academic years and is a limited enrollment program. The program’s academic and clinical foundation is based upon the National Athletic Trainer’s Association Educational Competencies and the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education accreditation standards and guidelines for entry-level athletic training education programs. The program consists of 120 credit hours, which include General Education, athletic training core courses, and major auxiliary courses. Students enter the program as pre-athletic training majors and must complete the first year of pre-athletic training curriculum consisting of General Education and athletic training prerequisite courses. Students then make formal application for admission to the last three years, which includes 62 hours of athletic training courses. When a student applies for admission and is accepted, the student is then classified as an Athletic Training major. Transfer students are evaluated on an individual basis and substitutions made at the discretion of the Athletic Training Program faculty based on Accreditation standards and guidelines. The number of students accepted into the program is limited, making the application process competitive.
Students seeking admission to the program must have a 2.50 cumulative grade point average. The application process includes the following:
- completion of a formal application, which includes three letters of recommendation;
- successful completion of ATHT 3570 and ATHT 3580 and BIOL 2010 /BIOL 2011 with a minimum grade of B- in each;
- successful completion of pre-program clinical observations as part of ATHT 3570 ;
- successful completion of pre-program clinical proficiencies;
- successful completion of a minimum of 24 credit hours;
- interview with Athletic Training program admission committee.
After students have met the admission requirements, acceptance is based upon weighted criteria. Meeting minimal admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.
All students must sign a technical standards document as part of the application process. This document is attached to the program application form and is in the Athletic Training education program manual.
Once a student is admitted, he/she must follow a prescribed course of study, which includes both academic and clinical courses. Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.50. Students must achieve a B- or better in all ATHT courses and a C- or better in BIOL 2020 /BIOL 2021 ; NFS 3000 ; EXSC 3830 /EXSC 3831 ; and the natural sciences to continue in the program. If a student does not achieve a B- or better in an ATHT course and a C- or better in the above courses he/she must retake the course.
Only admitted students are allowed to register for athletic training clinical courses (ATHT 3000 , ATHT 3001 , ATHT 3002 , ATHT 3003 , ATHT 4430 , ATHT 4950 , and ATHT 4990 ). These courses require a structured clinical rotation under an approved clinical instructor/supervisor. Clinical courses provide the student with a variety of athletic training experiences including contact-collision, collision, and non-contact sports for males and females in the collegiate, high school, and professional sport environment. Students also take a practicum (ATHT 4430 ) in athletic training at the completion of their junior year, which requires a clinical rotation in a non-traditional sport environment (i.e., sports medicine clinic, physical therapy clinic). Students must complete all clinical courses with a minimum grade of B- or better. If a student fails to get a minimum grade of B-, the student cannot matriculate on to the next clinical course. The student will be on leave from the clinical portion of the program for one year. The student can, however, continue taking academic coursework that does not require clinical courses as co-requisites or prerequisites upon approval of the program director. A student must successfully pass ATHT 3000 ATHT 3001 , ATHT 3002 , and ATHT 3003 with a B- or better before continuing on to ATHT 4950 and the semi-independent field experience.
Matriculation and progression each year in the Athletic Training program depends on successful completion of a comprehensive written and oral examination scoring 80 percent or better. The exam is given at the end of the spring semester of the first and second year. Each student will be given three attempts to successfully complete these exams; failure to score 80 percent or higher after three attempts will result in remediation. The student must meet with the athletic training program faculty and the designation of specific course work will be identified for the student to retake in order to learn and master the material.
Students must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.50 to graduate from the program. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are awarded a B.S. in Athletic Training and become eligible to sit for the Board of Certification Examination (BOC) for the Athletic Trainer.
