General Athletic Training Program Information
Athletic Training and Sports Medicine Career Information
WHAT IS AN ATHLETIC TRAINER?
The role of an athletic trainer is often misunderstood. Certified athletic trainers (National Athletic Trainers Association) are health care professionals who specialize in preventing, recognizing, managing and rehabilitating injuries that result from physical activity. The Certified Athletic Trainer works under the direction of a licensed physician, and in cooperation with other allied health care providers, parents, guardians, and athletic administrators. Certified athletic trainers are educated, trained and evaluated in six major practice domains:
Prevention
Clinical Evaluation and Diagnosis
Immediate Care
Treatment, Rehabilitation and Reconditioning
Organization and Administration
Professional Responsibility
ATHLETIC TRAINER VS. PERSONAL TRAINER
Although the roles of athletic and personal trainers intersect at times, they are two very different professions, which serve very different roles within their respective professions. In most states Certified Athletic Trainers must obtain a license to practice and the nationally recognized ATC® credential requires at least a bachelors degree from an accredited program, extensive clinical experience under the supervision of credentialed professional, and pass a very rigorous national Board of Certification (BOC) examination.
Personal trainers, on the other hand, are fitness professionals and NOT healthcare professionals. There is little or no regulation of their professional practice and there are very few requirements to obtain a personal training credential (some of which can be obtained with as little as a weekend course). The only similarity between athletic trainers and personal trainers is that both work with athletes, but we do very different jobs. If you are interested in becoming a personal trainer, you should consider majoring in exercise science.
WORK SETTINGS
There are a various number of settings that athletic trainers have the opportunity to work in. These various settings provide an opportunity to explore different paths within athletic training. The different settings include: Secondary Schools: Public and private secondary schools offer special job opportunities for ATCs. Parents and administrators are discovering the benefits a certified athletic trainer can offer in preventing and caring for injuries. Colleges and Universities: Certified athletic trainers in colleges generally fall into two categories: Athletic department and staff athletic trainer. A majority of colleges and universities now require a master's degree for employment. Combination Teacher/Athletic Trainer: Certified athletic trainers teach classes during the day and provide athletic training services during the afternoon and evenings. Employment in this setting remains stable with little turnover. Professional Sports: In this setting, certified athletic trainers work only one sport, such as football, baseball, basketball, hockey or soccer. Although teams operate only a few months per year, ATCs work year-round conditioning and rehabilitating athletes. Fewer jobs are available in this practice setting due to the limited number of teams. Sports Medicine Clinics: This growing setting provides certified athletic trainers the opportunity to work with a number of different health care professionals and a diverse patient population. In addition to athletic injury rehabilitation, many clinics provide athletic training services for secondary schools. Industrial Setting: Athletic trainers working in industrial settings are skilled in the implementation of injury prevention programs, ergonomic assessment, work-readiness conditioning, health and wellness programming, on-site physical rehabilitation, case management and return to work programs. Performing Arts: Certified athletic trainers have been working with performing artists for more than 25 years. World-renowned entertainment venues and performing arts groups such as Cirque du Soleil, Disney World and Disneyland, Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Cincinnati Ballet and Blue Man Group utilize an athletic training program to keep their performers in peak condition.
OBTAINING OTHER HEALTHCARE CAREERS THROUGH ATHLETIC TRAINING
There are many opportunities to expand career options through the acquisition of a bachelor’s degree in athletic training. Many health related professions such as physical therapy, physician assistant, chiropractics, and occupational therapy are post-graduate degree programs. Therefore, it is vital that one obtains a bachelor’s degree and also completes the necessary pre-requisite courses to be eligible for the application process. Many of the pre-requisite courses needed for these programs are fulfilled within the athletic training degree, thus making this obligation less of a burden on potential applicants. Below is a brief description of each career above.
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
Physician assistants (PA) are health care professionals licensed, or in the case of those employed by the federal government they are credentialed, to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions. Within the physician-PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. PA's practice may also include education, research, and administrative services. Additional information may be obtained from the American Academy of Physician Assistants at AAPA.org.
PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the geriatric population. PTs examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. Additional information may be obtained from the American Physical Therapists Association at APTA.org
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Occupational therapists (OTs) help people improve their ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments. They work with individuals who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling. They also help them to develop, recover, or maintain daily living and work skills. Additional information may be obtained at occupationaltherapist.com
DOCTOR OF MEDICINE (MD)
The modern practice of medicine occurs at the many interfaces between the art of healing and various sciences. Medicine is directly connected to the health sciences and biomedicine. Broadly speaking, the term 'Medicine' today refers to the fields of clinical medicine, medical research and surgery, thereby covering the challenges of disease and injury. Additional information may be obtained at http://www.ama-assn.org/
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
Developed 130 years ago by physician A.T. Still, osteopathic medicine is one of the fastest growing healthcare professions in the U.S. and brings a unique philosophy to traditional medicine. With a strong emphasis on the inter-relationship of the body's nerves, muscles, bones and organs, doctors of osteopathic medicine, or D.O.s, apply the philosophy of treating the whole person to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness, disease and injury. Additional information may be obtained at www.osteopathic.org/
CHIROPRACTORS
Chiropractors, also known as doctors of chiropractic or chiropractic physicians, diagnose and treat patients whose health problems are associated with the body’s muscular, nervous, and skeletal systems, especially the spine. Chiropractors believe that interference with these systems impairs the body’s normal functions and lowers its resistance to disease. They also hold that spinal or vertebral dysfunction alters many important body functions by affecting the nervous system and that skeletal imbalance through joint or articular dysfunction, especially in the spine, can cause pain. Additional information ay be obtained from the International Chiropractic Association at chiropractic.org.
Athletic Training General Program Information
Athletic Training Educational Objectives
To provide an opportunity for each student to acquire knowledge and develop skills as specified in the document Athletic Training Clinical Competencies. The areas of focus are: Risk Management and Injury Prevention
Pathology of Injuries and Illnesses
Assessment and Evaluation
Acute Care of Injury and Illness
Pharmacology
Therapeutic Modalities
Therapeutic Exercise
General Medical Conditions and Disabilities
Nutritional Aspects of Injury and Illness
Psychosocial Intervention and Referral
Health Care Administration
Professional Development and Responsibilities
To provide students with opportunities to integrate didactic knowledge into clinical practice under supervised situations and environments.
To continually strive for the highest quality in instruction, clinical experiences, equipment, and student work.
To expose students to other allied health care professionals involved with the sports medicine team.
To establish and promote standards of conduct that is consistent with the NATA Code of Ethics.
Accreditation
The Athletic Training Education Program at Michigan State University is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Our next accreditation review will be in 2008-2009.
General Contact Information
Director, Athletic Training Education Program Tracey Covassin Ph.D., ATC Department of Kinesiology 105 IM Sport Circle East Lansing MI 48824 517-353-2010 covassin@msu.edu
Clinical Coordinator, Athletic Training Education Program Brian Bratta M.S., ATC, CSCS Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Jenison Field House East Lansing MI 48842 517-355-1627 brattabr@ath.msu.edu
Admission to the University Information
Program Admission v. University Admission
Admission to the Athletic Training Major is separate from admission to Michigan State University. As a prospective student, you must first apply to Michigan State University (www.admissions.msu.edu) and be accepted by the University.
When you apply for admission to MSU, you should select "Athletic Training" as your intended major. If accepted by MSU, you will be admitted to the College of Education as a Pre-Athletic Training major. After admission to the University, you will complete specific pre-requisite courses as outlined on our program admissions page and then apply for admission to the major in February. Admission to the major is competitive and selective.
Athletic Training Program Costs
TUITION
In-State Freshmen Tuition: (15 credits per semester): $8,400 Matriculation fee: $1,012 Other fees and taxes: $278 Housing (double room/20-meal plan): $6,572
Non-Michigan Freshmen Tuition: (15 credits per semester): $22,260 Matriculation fee: $1,012 Other fees and taxes: $278 Housing (double room/20-meal plan): $6,572
OTHER COSTS: Required Student Liability Insurance (2006 - 2007) = $29 per year BOC Certification Examination (Spring of Senior Year) = $325
Athletic Training Program Admissions Policy
Program Admissions Policy
Individuals seeking admission to the Undergraduate Athletic Training Education Program must be formally admitted.
A. To be eligible for admission the student must be enrolled as an MSU student, complete an application, and submit required materials. The application and list of required materials are available on the web sites for the Department of Kinesiology and the MSU Athletic Training Program.
B. Admission to the Athletic Training Major is competitive and selective whereby a limited number of students are admitted each Spring Semester. Students meeting all selection (application) criteria may be denied admission to this program. Space availability in the formal curriculum is limited to an average of 20 new students each academic year.
C. The decision regarding final admission is based on the following criteria:
1. Completed Athletic Training Education Program Application.
2. Completion of KIN 125 (First Aid and Personal Safety), KIN 126 (Introduction to Athletic Training), KIN 127 (Clinical Observation in Athletic Training), Kin 320 (Pathology of Sports Injuries), KIN 227 (Clinical Rotations in AT) with a minimum average GPA of 2.5 for the 12 credits.
3. University cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above.
4. A minimum grade of 2.0 in each of the following classes: CEM 141, MTH 103, PHY 231, PSL 250, KIN 216
5. Essay expressing reasons for selecting Athletic Training.
6. Three personal references.
7. Interview with Athletic Training Admissions Board.
8. Space availability in the formal clinical curriculum sites
D. The deadline for completed admission applications is February 1st of each year.
Athletic Training Program Transfer Policies
A. Transfer students who wish to apply for the Undergraduate Athletic Training Education Program will follow the same published procedures and guidelines as on-campus students.
B. The Athletic Training Admission Board reviews preexisting credits in Athletic Training and First Aid and identify remedial programs when necessary.
C. The transfer student who is admitted to the Undergraduate Athletic Training Education Program will complete all remaining requirements.
Athletic Training Sample Program of Study
Athletic Training Program Admission Application Form