Major in Athletic Training
The program of study in Athletic Training is designed for students who are interested in a career in allied health care specializing in injury and illness of the physically active population. Athletic trainers function as integral members of the health care team in secondary schools, colleges and universities, sports medicine clinics, professional sports organizations, industrial settings, military, occupational health, performing arts, public safety, and other health care settings. The athletic trainer specializes in evidence based practice, prevention and health promotion, clinical examination and diagnosis, acute care of injury and illness, therapeutic interventions, psychosocial strategies and referral, health care administration, and professional development and responsibility.
The Athletic Training Program (ATP) is designed to provide an effective blend of theoretical and practical learning experiences in athletic training by incorporating extensive academic and clinical education experiences. The ATP is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Successful completion of the Athletic Training Program prepares an individual as a candidate for the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification examination.
The goals of the ATP are first and foremost to provide students with a quality, well-rounded education. Second, the ATP seeks to provide the necessary competencies and proficiencies in a formalized multidimensional academic and clinical setting for students to be successful in the field of athletic training. Last, the ATP provides opportunities for students to participate in professional development opportunities (i.e. research endeavors, community service, and attending conferences) that will instill a sense of active participation in their communities and chosen profession.
The ATP is a capped major with a limited enrollment. As such, admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the program.
Screening Process for the Accredited Athletic Training Program
Students desiring to major in Athletic Training are admitted to the Pre-Athletic Training Program. Students seeking admission into the Athletic Training major are required to have completed the following courses:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 191 & 191L | INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS [LECTURE] and INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS [LAB] | 4 |
| HLTH 103 | EMC, FIRST AID AND SAFETY | 3 |
| KNES 235 | PHYSICAL WELLNESS FOR A HEALTHY AMERICA | 3 |
| KNES 291 | INTRODUCTION TO ATHLETIC TRAINING | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
Prospective students must submit the following screening process materials at the end of the spring term in which they are applying (all materials are provided and collected during KNES 291): completed student data sheet, signed confidentiality agreement, signed criminal background check form, signed technical standards verifying that, with appropriate accommodation, they meet the technical standards for an entry-level athletic trainer, verification of health status form (signed by the applicant’s health care provider), completed observation hours, 2 letters of recommendation, essay and completed clinical skills worksheet.
Transfer Students
Transfer students must submit a copy of an official transcript to show completion of equivalent course work at their previous institutions. Students transferring to the ATP need to provide documentation they have satisfied the competencies and proficiencies addressed in KNES 291. Students need to provide verification they have satisfied these required skills at the sending institution through the Towson University ATP program coordinator or clinical coordinator. If verification is not available, the student will meet with the coordinator of the ATP and work through the checklist. If the student has not been exposed to, and evaluated in, these proficiencies, the student will need to complete KNES 291 at Towson University.
The Pre-AT student will make formal application, which includes all of the materials stated below, to the coordinator of the ATP no later than the second Friday in May: official transcripts, data sheet, confidentiality agreement, signed criminal background check form, signed technical standards, verification of health status form, directed observation hours, two letters of recommendation, essay and clinical skills worksheet. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the ATP program coordinator to receive a copy of the aforementioned forms.
Evaluative Criteria
Seven criteria are evaluated as part of the admission process in accepting students into the ATP:
- Overall GPA – Students must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 in their college courses to be able to apply to the ATP.
- Prerequisite Courses GPA – Five classes are used to calculate the prerequisite courses GPA:
Course List Code Title Units BIOL 191
& 191LINTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS [LECTURE]
and INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS [LAB]4 HLTH 103 EMC, FIRST AID AND SAFETY 3 KNES 235 PHYSICAL WELLNESS FOR A HEALTHY AMERICA 3 KNES 291 INTRODUCTION TO ATHLETIC TRAINING 3 PSYC 101 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY 3 - Observation Hours – Students are assigned by the ATP coordinator or clinical coordinator of education to a variety of clinical settings at Towson University, which include athletic training facilities, practices, and competitive events, to gain valuable observation hours. This occurs during KNES 291 in the Spring Semester. Students are encouraged to seek out their own observation opportunities but these will NOT count toward the ATP admission process.
- Clinical Skills Worksheet – Students are expected to complete the clinical skills worksheet during the Spring semester. Skills should be completed during observation hours and open labs which are all scheduled as part of KNES 291. The worksheet will consist of skills that each student should be proficient in performing (i.e., making an ice bag, taping an ankle, identifying the steps of an Emergency Action Plan, assessing blood pressure).
- Letters of Recommendation – Students seeking admission into the ATP will be asked to secure two letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to their personality, academic success, intellectual abilities and clinical abilities. Students should have individuals mail a signed and sealed letter to the ATP coordinator OR provide the signed and sealed letter during the interview (see below).
- Essay – Applicants will submit a one-page essay explaining how athletic training is a part of today's healthcare.
- Interview – Candidates seeking admission to the ATP are given a formal interview conducted by the Athletic Training Admission Committee. The interview occurs before finals week of the Spring semester and scheduling will take place during KNES 291. At the interview, students will submit observation hours, clinical skills worksheet, letters of recommendation and the essay.
In addition to the evaluation criteria, the following forms be completed and turned in to the program coordinator prior to beginning clinical hours (forms are provided to Pre-Athletic Training Students at the beginning of KNES 291):
- student data sheet;
- confidentiality agreement;
- criminal background check;
- acceptance of technical standards; and
- verification of health status form.
Acceptance into the program is based upon the stated criteria and the number of available openings in the program. Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Offers of admission into the ATP are presented on a competitive basis to those individuals who are most qualified. Students must apply for admission to the program by the second Friday of May in the spring term which is signified by signing up for the interview. Candidates will be notified of acceptance/rejection in the first week of June.
Appeal Procedures
Students who are not admitted into the program can re-apply up to three times and if the current ATP is still taking undergraduate ATP applicants in the following year (please speak with the ATP coordinator for specific information on this). The length of the program will still take six terms to complete the required class and clinical workload. If the student does not maintain an overall GPA of 2.75, a C or better in all didactic athletic training courses, and a grade of satisfactory in all clinical courses, the student will be placed on probation for one academic semester. If the student does not rectify the stated deficiency within the time period the student will be dropped from the program.
For more detailed information regarding the ATP at Towson University please refer to the Athletic Training section of the TU website.
This is a screened program. See the Admission section for information.
The requirements for the Athletic Training major include 22–23 units of lower-level courses and 56 units of KNES courses for a total of 78-79 units. Minimum 50% of the units required for the major must be completed at Towson University.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements | ||
| KNES Required Courses | ||
| KNES 235 | PHYSICAL WELLNESS FOR A HEALTHY AMERICA | 3 |
| KNES 291 | INTRODUCTION TO ATHLETIC TRAINING | 3 |
| KNES 311 | BIOMECHANICS | 3 |
| KNES 313 | PHYSIOLOGY OF EXERCISE | 3 |
| KNES 316 | LOWER EXTREMITY AND SPINE EVALUATION | 4 |
| KNES 359 | PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORT INJURY | 3 |
| KNES 363 | NUTRITION FOR EXERCISE AND SPORT | 3 |
| KNES 381 | BASIC CLINICAL ATHLETIC TRAINING I 1 | 2 |
| KNES 382 | BASIC CLNICAL ATHLETIC TRAINING II | 2 |
| KNES 385 | INTERMEDIATE CLINICAL ATHLETIC TRAINING I | 2 |
| KNES 386 | INTERMEDIATE CLNICAL ATHLETIC TRAINING II | 2 |
| KNES 388 | ADVANCED CLINICAL ATHLETIC TRAINING I | 2 |
| KNES 389 | ADVANCED CLINICAL ATHLETIC TRAINING II 1 | 2 |
| KNES 415 | UPPER EXTREMITY AND SPINE EVALUATION | 4 |
| KNES 417 | ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF ATHLETIC TRAINING | 3 |
| KNES 427 | THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE FOR MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES | 4 |
| KNES 428 | THERAPUETIC MODALITIES FOR MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES | 4 |
| KNES 431 | SEMINAR IN ATHLETIC TRAINING | 3 |
| KNES 432 | GENERAL MEDICAL ASPECTS | 4 |
| Lower-Level Required Courses | ||
| BIOL 191 & 191L | INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS [LECTURE] and INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS [LAB] | 4 |
| BIOL 221 & 221L | HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY I [LECTURE] and HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY I [LAB] | 4 |
| BIOL 222 & 222L | HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY II [LECTURE] and HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY II [LAB] | 4 |
| CHEM 121 & 121L | ALLIED HEALTH CHEMISTRY I LECTURE and ALLIED HEALTH CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | 4-5 |
| or PHYS 202 | GENERAL PHYSICS FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES | |
| HLTH 103 | EMC, FIRST AID AND SAFETY | 3 |
| MATH 231 | BASIC STATISTICS | 3 |
| or ECON 205 | STATISTICS FOR BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS I | |
| Total Units | 78-79 | |
| 1 | A lab fee of $25 will be assessed to each student in KNES 381 and KNES 389 for supplies used in both classes. |
Suggested Four-Year Plan
Based on course availability and student needs and preferences, the selected sequences will probably vary from those presented below. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| BIOL 191 & 191L (Core 7) | 4 | KNES 235 (Core 11) | 3 |
| HLTH 103 | 3 | KNES 291 | 3 |
| PSYC 101 (Core 6) | 3 | MATH 231 or ECON 205 (Core 3) | 3 |
| Core 1 (or Core 2) | 3 | Core 2 (or Core 1) | 3 |
| Core 4 | 3 | Core 5 | 3 |
| *Students must apply to Athletic Training Major after this term. | |||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| BIOL 221 & 221L | 4 | BIOL 222 & 222L | 4 |
| KNES 316 | 4 | KNES 382 | 2 |
| KNES 381 | 2 | KNES 415 | 4 |
| Core 13 | 3 | Core 10 | 3 |
| Core 14 | 3 | Core 12 | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| KNES 311 | 3 | Choose One: | 4-5 |
| KNES 359 | 3 | ||
| KNES 385 | 2 | or | |
| KNES 428 | 4 | PHYS 202 (Core 8)1 | |
| Elective | 3 | KNES 313 | 3 |
| KNES 386 | 2 | ||
| KNES 427 | 4 | ||
| 15 | 13-14 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| KNES 363 | 3 | KNES 389 | 2 |
| KNES 388 | 2 | KNES 431 | 3 |
| KNES 417 (Core 9) | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| KNES 432 | 4 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Units 120-121 | |||
| 1 | CHEM or PHYS is required |
- Obtain the Board of Certification, Inc., Certified Athletic Trainer credential.
- Apply knowledge of principles, concepts, theories, and clinical skills, to include all domains, when working with physically active individuals and sports medicine team personnel in providing athletic training care.
- Apply effective verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills in working with physically active individuals and sports medicine team personnel in providing athletic training care.
- Engage in professional development opportunities that will contribute to life-long learning and service to the community and profession.
- Display athletic training in accordance with guidelines identified in the NATA Code of Ethics and foundational behaviors of professional practice.
- Demonstrate professional behaviors, critical thinking and decision-making capabilities that allow for the effective implementation of athletic training care.