Athletic Training

Overview

The Department of Kinesiology offers a CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs) accredited undergraduate specialization in athletic training. The specialization in athletic training is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in the bachelor's degree program in the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University. The specialization provides students with the knowledge and skills they will need to recognize, evaluate, treat, rehabilitate, and manage athletic injuries. Students will gain practical experience in the evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries through a variety of clinical rotations. They will have opportunities to attain knowledge and skills essential to the organization and administration of athletic training programs. Students who complete the athletic training specialization in the undergraduate degree program will be eligible to sit for the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification (NATABOC) exams.

Admission to Athletic Training

Individuals seeking admission to the undergraduate specialization in athletic training must be formally admitted. Admission to the athletic training specialization is competitive and selective whereby a limited number of students are admitted. To be eligible for admission, the candidate must be enrolled as a student. The decision regarding final admission is based on the following criteria:

1. Submit the following: (a) application to the specialization in athletic training; (b) an essay expressing reasons for selecting the specialization in athletic training; and (c) three letters of personal references.

Click here to access the application form
for the specialization in athletic training.

Transfer students who wish to apply for the athletic training specialization will follow the same published procedures and guidelines as on-campus students. The Athletic Training Admission Board will review preexisting credits in athletic training and first aid, and will identify remedial course work and experiences when necessary. The transfer student who is admitted to the athletic training specialization will complete all remaining requirements.

Student athletes are eligible to apply for admission into the undergraduate athletic training specialization. It should be noted that it is not possible to complete the specialization requirements without full cooperation from the athlete's coaching staff. No exceptions will be made to the course sequencing if admitted to the specialization, nor will exceptions be made for meeting the required guidelines for clinical experience. Clinical experience assignments during the athlete's in-season may be deferred to the off-season upon approval by the Director of Undergraduate Athletic Training Education. However, during the off-season, the athlete will not be permitted to participate in his/her respective sport if it conflicts with the clinical experience/field experience requirements.

The deadline for completed admission applications is March 1 of each year.

Retention Standards

Acceptance into the MSU athletic training specialization requires a continued level of academic and clinical credibility. Satisfactory fulfillment of program requirements is the responsibility of the student. Progression toward completion of the specialization requirements will be monitored by the student, the student's academic advisor, and the Director of Undergraduate Athletic Training Education.

Students are evaluated in both: (a) academic achievement, specifically a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above; and (b) clinical experience evaluations. Additional stipulations include:

1. A student falling below a 2.5 cumulative GPA at the end of a semester will be placed on probationary status for the following semester.

2. A student on probationary status must attain a 2.5 cumulative GPA at the end of that semester to return to normal status. A student that fails to meet this requirement will be placed on suspension status for the next semester.

3. A student on suspension status will be removed from the clinical setting for the duration of the semester and must attain a 2.5 cumulative GPA at the end of that semester. Failure to meet this requirement will result in expulsion from the program.

4. No grade lower than a 2.0 will be accepted in any athletic training core course.

5. Students must maintain current certification in CPR, First Aid, and the ORCBS Blood Borne Pathogens course throughout the duration of the specialization.

6. Leave of absence from the specialization may result in complete withdrawal from the specialization unless deemed appropriate by the Director of Undergraduate Athletic Training Edication (i.e., unable to attend school due to medical reasons or a religious mission).

7. Failure to maintain standards will result in probationary status, suspension status, or expulsion from the athletic training specialization.

Course Requirements

Students in the athletic training specialization (within exercise science) complete 6 credits of KIN 427 - Clinical Rotations in Athletic Training as their required internship experience. Student athletic trainers complete one credit of KIN 427 during the fall and spring semesters of their sophomore, junior, and senior years. For more information, students should consult the Director of Undergraduate Athletic Training Education.

Transcript Visibility

Upon completion of the requirements for the athletic training specialization, the student should contact the undergraduate advisor for athletic training and request certification for the completion of the specialization. After the certification is approved by the Chairperson of the Department of Kinesiology and the Dean of the College of Education, the Office of the Registrar will enter on the student's academic record the name of the specialization and the date that it was completed. This information will appear on the student's transcript.