Bowling Green State University, Official Athletic Site, On Campus

BGSU ATHLETIC TRAINING

BGSU Athletic Training Education Program

The Athletic Training (AT) major is an undergraduate degree program that prepares students to become certified athletic trainers. The AT major is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Athletic Training students are educated in the 12 core content areas of athletic training. Through a combination of extensive classroom and clinical experiences students are prepared "to challenge" the Board of Certification Examination.

Athletic training is practiced by athletic trainers, health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients. Athletic training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and intervention of emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities.

Career Opportunities
Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as an allied health care profession. The Athletic Training program at BGSU prepares students to be competent athletic trainers prepared to work in many health care settings. Certified athletic trainers can be found almost anywhere people are physically active, including:

Secondary schools
Colleges and universities
Professional sports
Hospitals, clinics, physician offices and sports medicine clinics
Military and law enforcement
Industrial and commercial
Performing arts

Curriculum
Students who want to become a certified athletic trainer must earn a degree from a CAATE-accredited athletic training program. CAATE-accredited programs must include content that covers the following 12 areas:

Risk Management and Injury Prevention
Pathology of Injuries and Illnesses
Orthopedic Clinical Examination and Diagnosis
Medical Conditions and Disabilities
Acute Care of Injuries and Illnesses
Therapeutic Modalities
Conditioning and Rehabilitative Exercise
Pharmacology
Psychosocial Intervention and Referral
Nutritional Aspects of Injuries and Illnesses
Health Care Administration
Professional Development and Responsibility

Classroom learning is enhanced through required clinical education courses.

Furthermore, this rigorous academic program has mandatory technical standards that outline the physical and mental abilities required for students to complete the athletic training curriculum. Some of those technical standards include:

Mental capacity to formulate assessment and therapeutic judgments,
Postural neuromuscular control to perform tasks and safely use equipment,
Strong written and verbal communication skills,
Ability to function in a stressful environment,
Flexibility and perseverance to adjust to changing situations, and
Affective skills related to professional behaviors in the health care field.

All students desiring to enter the athletic training major enroll as pre-professional athletic training majors. After completing the major's admission requirements pre-professional students apply for admission to the professional phase of the curriculum that includes advanced athletic training courses, four semesters of rigorous clinical education, and a semester-long internship. Admission to the professional phase is competitive. Students admitted to the professional phase must have a minimum of a 2.5 overall grade point average, 250 clinical observation hours, a personal interview, a "C" or better in all ATCM courses, professional recommendations from certified athletic training staff, and documentation of immunizations.

Prior to admittance to the athletic training program students are considered pre-professional. Application to the professional phase and advanced study occurs during the sophomore.

Clincal Education
The AT major must complete extensive clinical education requirements. All students participate in a variety of on-campus and off-campus clinical experiences and internships that enhance their course work.

Facilities
The AT/CM students attend classes and laboratories in the Gertrude M. Eppler Complex with classrooms that are equipped with state of the art technology and an up-to-date athletic training education laboratory. Furthermore, the Bowling Green State University athletic program offers their state of the art athletic training facilities (Sebo Center, Ice Arena, Memorial Hall) as clinical sites for professional students to engage in clinical education.

Preparation for College
Completing the requirements for high school graduation is necessary for admission to BGSU, but only finishing the minimum coursework may leave you unprepared for college. Consider taking four years of mathematics. Two, three or even four years of the same foreign language is also excellent for preparation for college. You will also benefit from proficiency in computer use. Furthermore, courses that provide exposure to or training in the visual and performing arts will help you integrate more successfully into the university environment.

Program of Study
Every student's major is different. Individual programs will vary depending on electives chosen and high school preparation. Courses are chosen from an approved list in order to broaden the student's professional preparation. For specific Athletic Training program requirements, please check the undergraduate catalog on-line at http://www.bgsu.edu/catalog/EDHD/EDHD30.html.

For Further Information

Click HERE to go to the BGSU ATEP website!