Major
	Athletic Training (BS) from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Four-year Graduation Plan
	Yes
Honors
	Yes
Competitive Admission
	16 students per year
Links
	Web Site Courses General Catalog

Athletic trainers are health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients. Athletic trainers work with patients and clients to prevent, diagnose, and intervene in emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities. As members of health care teams, they also guide patients or clients to full functional recovery through exercise and activity-specific skill development.

• Why Study Athletic Training at Iowa?
• Facilities
• Admission
• Course Work
• Careers
• Scholarships

Why Study Athletic Training at Iowa?
Iowa’s athletic training program provides concentrated studies and clinical experiences leading to eligibility for national certification in athletic training. It is cosponsored by the Department of Health and Human Physiology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in the University's Carver College of Medicine, making it unique among athletic training programs nationally. The American Medical Association has described it as a model athletic training program.

Students who major in athletic training get a well-rounded education. They acquire solid communication skills, have high academic achievement, and are very motivated. About half are preparing for graduate or professional school.

As an athletic training major, you'll study with faculty members who place a high priority on teaching, clinical service, and research. Faculty are actively involved in caring for patients and clients. They also do clinical research and publish articles in professional journals on topics such as ACL rehabilitation, ankle sprains, unloader bracing, eating and exercise disorders, social support following injuries, and concussion injury databases. They also encourage students to participate in clinical research.

Facilities
The health and human physiology department houses classrooms and a teaching laboratory. The orthopaedics department houses the Sports Medicine Center, oversees four athletic training rooms and two satellite treatment areas, and supports research laboratories. Undergraduates use these facilities for instruction, clinical instruction and experiences, and research.

Admission
Admission to the athletic training major is competitive; only 16 students are admitted each year from an average of 50 applicants. As an entering first-year student, you'll be designated as having an interest in the major for academic advising and course selection.

In order to be considered for admission to the major, you must have a grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.50 in all undergraduate course work; majors typically have a GPA between 2.80 and 3.80. You must have completed 11 semester hours of graded college work, including the course Exploring Athletic Training with a grade of C or higher; and you must have earned a grade of C or higher in any prerequisite courses. Your health care experiences, writing and speaking skills, and a personal interview also will be considered.

Because the degree in athletic training signifies that the holder is a clinician prepared for entry into the practice of athletic training in varied employment and education settings, graduates must have the knowledge and skills to function in a wide range of clinical situations and to provide a broad spectrum of patient care. These abilities and expectations are reflected in the admission technical standards reviewed by the program.

Course Work
Students majoring in athletic training earn a Bachelor of Science degree. The BS requires a minimum of 120 semester hours (s.h.), including 57–58 s.h. for the major. Athletic training students usually begin the major at the start of their sophomore year.

Before you begin the major, you'll take prerequisite courses in biology, chemistry, psychology, human anatomy, educational psychology, and statistics. You also must become certified in first aid and CPR, and you must have appropriate immunizations and a physical examination review before your clinical assignments begin.

You'll take the following clinical and basic science courses for the major:

• Human Physiology
• Exercise Physiology
• Biomechanics of Human Motion
• Clinical Sciences I–II–III–IV
• A course in pharmacology
• Physiology of Nutrition
• Advanced Emergency Care for Athletic Trainers
• Counseling for Related Professions
• Practicum I–II–III–IV
• Administration of Athletic Training Programs

You'll also complete a senior project.

See Health and Human Physiology in the UI General Catalog to learn more about the athletic training major and for information about graduating with honors.

Careers
The Bachelor of Science with a major in athletic training prepares students for jobs as health care professionals in sports medicine clinics, patient care settings, preventive care settings, and industrial settings. Additional education usually is required for employment with professional or collegiate athletic programs. Teacher certification is recommended but not required.

Iowa’s athletic training program has an outstanding placement rate. About half of its graduates are admitted to graduate or professional schools, while others are employed in hospitals or clinics. Typically, 100 percent of graduates are awarded graduate assistantships or find employment.

Scholarships
Consult multiple sources for scholarship information, including the Office of Admissions, the Office of Student Financial Aid, and departmental web sites.