Through classroom and clinical experiences, the athletic training major is designed to develop evidenced-based practitioners that incorporate evidence, their clinical skills and the needs of the patient to maximize patient outcomes.
As an athletic training major, you'll study human anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, personal health, nutrition, care and prevention of athletic injuries, athletic training practices, orthopedic taping and bracing, therapeutic modalities, therapeutic exercise, medical aspects of athletic training, administration of athletic training programs, biomechanics, exercise physiology and principles of strength and conditioning.
Explore the program and course descriptions in our online course bulletin.
High-Impact Practices: Internships and Clinical Experiences
Accreditation — Capital's athletic training program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). It's an honor we've earned every year since 1990, and we're one of the few colleges or universities in Central Ohio with CAATE accreditation.
All students complete a clinical experience under the direct supervision of a certified athletic trainer. The clinical experience includes rotations with intercollegiate sports, sports medicine clinics, high schools, physician’s offices and corporate settings. Students complete clinical proficiencies each semester to advance to the next clinical assignment.
As early as your first year, you will participate in directed observations that will introduce you to the athletic training profession and Capital’s athletic training curriculum. Students are required to formally apply for the program at the end of their first year.
Prerequisites for Program Admission
You know you want to be an athletic trainer, and that's the major you've chosen. What happens next?
Athletic training is a competitive and challenging pre-professional program. But the rewarding career that awaits those who successfully complete the program makes it worth the effort. While you can declare your major as soon as you're accepted to Capital, you still must formally apply and be admitted to the program. Admission to the program takes place at the end of your second semester. Here are some of the things we consider when evaluating candidates:
- Your performance in certain early courses will help us gauge whether you'll be successful in the athletic training program. So, you'll need to successfully complete 24 semester hours of undergraduate courses, including Biology 151, Chemistry 101, HSPTS 161, HSPTS 289 and HSPTS 260.
- You'll need a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 when you apply to the program.
- You’ll be asked to submit two letters of recommendation with your application to the program.
- Practical application of what you're learning is critical to athletic training, so you'll need to complete a directed observation program prior to the application deadline. An observation program includes at least five practice observations during the year and one game observation. Make sure you keep a journal detailing the directed observations, because we'll want to see that, too.
Other things you'll need to provide before you're admitted to the program:
- Proof that your immunizations are up to date
- Proof that you have successfully passed both a drug screen and criminal background check.
- Proof of liability insurance
- Verification that you've read the Technical Standards Policy in the Student Athletic Training Manual and meet the technical standards with or without reasonable accommodations
- Verification you understand the communicable disease policy
- Coverage of program-specific fees for athletic training attire, personal medical equipment, liability insurance, background check, drug screening, transportation to clinical sites and National Athletic Trainers Association membership
Once you're admitted to the program, your faculty members will evaluate you each semester based on your grade point average, combined scores in your clinical experiences and assignments, and grades in athletic training coursework.
Through the remaining three years of the program, you'll continue to gain hands-on clinical experience under the direct supervision of a certified athletic trainer. This will allow you to apply in the field what you're learning in the classroom. Under the direction of the team physician and supervision of certified athletic trainers, you'll also have the opportunity to coordinate the prevention, recognition, treatment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries.