As hard as humans work, they often play just as hard—in the athletic arena, from collegiate
and professional sports to various recreational leagues enjoyed by people of all ages.
Athletic trainers are certified health care providers who impart knowledge and skill
to address the many facets of athletic activity, from preventing, treating, and assessing
injuries to facilitating rehabilitation and return to activity along with counseling
on proper nutrition and general health and wellness. It’s much more than taping a
sprained ankle or standing on a sideline at a game. A major in Athletic Training at
MTSU offers the skills needed to pursue this exciting career path. Students approach
preparing for this profession through a holistic integrated health care/medical model
with numerous academic and clinical experiences. The program is based on the essentials
and guidelines of the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
of the American Medical Association and the Board of Certification (BOC). The program
has been accredited at the entry-level since 2002.
Program Accreditation Information and Outcomes
NOTE: The new M.S.AT. program will begin Summer 2023. Fall 2022 was the last term
students were admitted into the undergraduate Athletic Training program; which will
terminate Summer 2027.
Hands-on training a must
Hands-on, clinical education experiences form a key component of the Athletic Training
program, with students learning under the direct supervision of an athletic trainer.
Students have opportunities for a variety of clinical experiences, ranging from working
with athletic trainers for area high school and college teams to summer experiences
with professional sports franchises such as the Tennessee Titans, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
and the Arizona Cardinals. Students are also exposed to other allied health professionals
such as physical therapists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners; they also
have opportunities to interact with physicians. And while other university programs
offer only two years of clinical experience, the MTSU program offers three years to
better train students for the real world.
Not just about athletes
Think about an athletic trainer as a medical professional who is a cross between an
emergency medical technician (EMT) and a physical therapist. Athletic trainers can
be found in a variety of settings, from working in the performing arts arena with
renowned groups such as Cirque du Soleil and Disney World and Disney Land to working
within industrial and corporate settings to assist employees with proper safety measures
and onsite physical rehab for workplace injuries. Other avenues in which the athletic
trainer may obtain employment are with the military/law enforcement, as a physician
extender, and in clinical outreach.
Related Media
-
MTSU True Blue Preview: Athletic Training
-
Why I Choose MTSU - Mary Tate - Athletic Training
-
MTSU | The University of Opportunities
-
MTSU's Athletic Training Degree Levels Up to a Graduate Program
Athletic trainers can find careers within a variety of organizations, from professional
sports organizations to corporations interested in employee wellness to hospitals
and rehabilitation clinics. Examples include
- Administrator
- Athletic trainer (high school, college, or professional settings)
- Corporate fitness and wellness
- Emergency room sports medicine liaison
- Physician extender
- Surgical and casting technologist
Employees of MTSU alumni include, but are not limited to
- Arizona Cardinals
- Baptist Hospital
- Doctors Hospital, Georgia
- East Tennessee State University
- Hamilton Medical Center, Georgia
- Southern Tennessee Medical Center
- STAR Physical Therapy
- Tennessee Orthopedic Alliance
- Trevecca Nazarene University
- Vanderbilt Sports Medicine
Athletic Training students are encouraged to join MTSU's Student Athletic Trainer
Association(SATA). The purpose of SATA is to promote interest in athletic training
and educate the members on relative subjects in sports medicine. Click here for more information.
Professional Organizations
Click here for a list of affiliation sites.
Written Simulation Exams
Written Exams
For complete curriculum details, click on the REQUIREMENTS button to the right.
Undergraduate
For students who want to become athletic trainers, a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree
in Athletic Training is available. Undergraduate degree curriculum for Athletic Training;contains
both an academic and clinical component. The academic component is based upon a firm
science foundation with emphasis on anatomy and physiology. It is imperative that
students have a solid background and understanding of anatomy and human movement.
The clinical component of the program is based upon a formal clinical rotation sequence
under the direct supervision of a certified athletic trainer (ATC) who is an approved
clinical instructor. The first sequence of clinical experiences are part of clinical
courses ATHT 3000-3001-3002 and 3003. In ATHT 3000 and 3001, students are rotated
through clinical experience at Middle Tennessee State University MTSU. In ATHT 3002
and 3003, clinical rotations are in local high schools and other traditional sport
settings off campus. Clinical experiences require an average of 20 hours per week,
often including weekend sport coverage. After the students have successfully completed
coursework in therapeutic modalities and rehabilitation, they complete a practicum
in a sports medicine/physical therapy clinic under the supervision of either an ATC
or physical therapist. This practicum is done through an entire summer session. During
a student's;the senior year, students they complete their last sequence of the clinical
component and are assigned to semi-independent experiences with traditional sports
experiences under the supervision of an ATC or other approved medical or allied health
care provider.
Graduate
The Health and Human Performance Department offers an M.P.H. in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health. The department also offers an M.S. in Exercise Science and Leisure, Sport, and Tourism Management, which has two concentrations: Recreation and Leisure Services and Sport Industry.
The department also offers a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Human Performance with a specialization in Exercise Science.
Other programs offered by HHP
Other undergraduate majors offered by the Health and Human Performance Department
that lead to a B.S. include Exercise Science; Community and Public Health with one concentration: Public Health; Leisure and Sport Management; Physical Education; and Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
The department offers undergraduate minors in Athletic Coaching and Officiating, Driver
and Traffic Safety Education, Health, Health and Physical Education, Health and Human
Performance, Recreation, and Somatic Movement Education, and Speech-Language Pathology
and Audiology.
Click here to access the Athletic Training Program Application for Admission.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
The BS in Athletic Training at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) and is designed to prepare students for Board of Certification (BOC) exam. MTSU Athletic Training program graduates who pass the BOC exam are eligible to apply for certification as an athletic trainer in the state of Tennessee. Students should be aware that licensure requirements vary from state to state and are subject to change. MTSU has not made a determination whether the BS program will meet all of the requirements of another US state or territory. Students who plan to seek licensure outside the state of Tennessee should consult the National Athletic Trainers Association’s guide to state licensure, certification, and registration at https://members.nata.org/gov/state/regulatory-boards/map.cfm and consult with their advisor concerning their plans for athletic trainer practice in other states. The state of California has no state regulation of athletic training.
Athletic Training, B.S.
Health and Human Performance
615-904-8192
Helen Binkley, program coordinator
Helen.Binkley@mtsu.edu
Admission Closed
NOTE: Fall 2022 is the last term students will be admitted into the Athletic Training program; the program will be terminated in Summer 2027. A new M.S.AT. program will begin Summer 2023.
The Athletic Training Program consists of four academic years and is a limited enrollment program. The program's academic and clinical foundation is based upon the National Athletic Trainer's Association Educational Competencies and the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education accreditation standards and guidelines for entry-level athletic training education programs. The program consists of 120 credit hours, which include General Education, athletic training core courses, and major auxiliary courses. Students enter the program as pre-athletic training majors and must complete the first year of pre-athletic training curriculum consisting of General Education and athletic training prerequisite courses. Students then make formal application for admission to the last three years, which includes 65 hours of athletic training courses. When a student applies for admission and is accepted, the student is then classified as an Athletic Training major. Transfer students are evaluated on an individual basis and substitutions made at the discretion of the Athletic Training Program faculty based on Accreditation standards and guidelines. The number of students accepted into the program is limited, making the application process competitive.
Students seeking admission to the program must have a 2.50 cumulative grade point average. The application process includes the following:
- completion of a formal application, which includes three letters of recommendation;
- successful completion of ATHT 3570 and ATHT 3580 and BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011 with a minimum grade of B- in each;
- successful completion of pre-program clinical observations as part of ATHT 3570;
- successful completion of a minimum of 24 credit hours;
- interview with Athletic Training program admission committee.
After students have met the admission requirements, acceptance is based upon weighted criteria. Meeting minimal admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. In order to be guaranteed admission to the Athletic Training Program, applicants must score a 110 out of the possible 120 possible points.
Application Score Sheet
| Overall grade point average of 2.5 or better |
30 pts |
| Grade of B- or better in ATHT 3570, ATHT 3580, and BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011 |
15 pts |
| Clinical evaluation (which includes 20-30 observation hours) |
45 pts |
| Interview |
30 pts |
| Total points |
120 pts |
All students must sign a technical standards document as part of the application process. This document is attached to the program application form and is in the Athletic Training education program manual.
Once a student is admitted, he/she must follow a prescribed course of study, which includes both academic and clinical courses. Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.50. Students must achieve a B- or better in all ATHT courses and a C- or better in BIOL 2020/BIOL 2021; NFS 3000; EXSC 3830/EXSC 3831; and the natural sciences to continue in the program. If a student does not achieve a B- or better in an ATHT course and a C- or better in the above courses he/she must retake the course.
Only admitted students are allowed to register for athletic training clinical courses (ATHT 3000, ATHT 3001, ATHT 3002, ATHT 3003, ATHT 4430, ATHT 4950, and ATHT 4990). These courses require a structured clinical rotation under an approved clinical instructor/supervisor. Clinical courses provide the student with a variety of athletic training experiences including contact-collision, collision, and non-contact sports for males and females in the collegiate, high school, and professional sport environment. Students also take a practicum (ATHT 4430) in athletic training at the completion of their junior year, which requires a clinical rotation in a non-traditional sport environment (i.e., sports medicine clinic, physical therapy clinic). Students must complete all clinical courses with a minimum grade of B- or better. If a student fails to get a minimum grade of B-, the student cannot matriculate on to the next clinical course. The student will be on leave from the clinical portion of the program for one year. The student can, however, continue taking academic coursework that does not require clinical courses as co-requisites or prerequisites upon approval of the program director. A student must successfully pass ATHT 3000 ATHT 3001, ATHT 3002, and ATHT 3003 with a B- or better before continuing on to ATHT 4950 and the semi-independent field experience.
Matriculation and progression each year in the Athletic Training program depends on successful completion of a comprehensive written and oral examination scoring 80 percent or better. The exam is given at the end of the spring semester of the first and second year. Each student will be given three attempts to successfully complete these exams; failure to score 80 percent or higher after three attempts will result in remediation. The student must meet with the athletic training program faculty and the designation of specific course work will be identified for the student to retake in order to learn and master the material.
Students must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.50 to graduate from the program. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are awarded a B.S. in Athletic Training and become eligible to sit for the Board of Certification Examination (BOC) for the Athletic Trainer.
Academic Map
Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:
Athletic Training, B.S., Academic Map
Degree Requirements
| General Education | 41 hours |
| Major Requirements | 65 hours |
| Auxiliary Courses | 25 hours* |
| TOTAL | 120-131 hours |
*This program requires courses that can also fulfill requirements of the General Education curriculum. If courses for this program are also used to fulfill General Education requirements, the program of study may be completed in 120 hours.
General Education (41 hours)
General Education requirements include courses in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.
The following courses required by the program meet General Education requirements:
Major Requirements (65 hours)
ATHT 3000 - Clinical A in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ATHT 3570 and ATHT 3580. Psychomotor skills used in the application of protective equipment, emergency procedures, care and treatment of athletic injuries, and use of basic modalities. A minimum of 200 clinical hours under the direct supervision of an approved preceptor.
ATHT 3001 - Clinical B in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3000; corequisite: ATHT 3950. Psychomotor skills used in the evaluation and assessment of injuries to the lower extremities. A minimum of 200 clinical hours under the direct supervision of an approved preceptor.
ATHT 3002 - Clinical C in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3001; corequisite: ATHT 3960. Psychomotor skills used in the evaluation and assessment of injuries to the upper extremities and thorax. A minimum of 200 clinical hours under the supervision of an approved preceptor.
ATHT 3003 - Clinical D in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3002. Psychomotor skills used in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries. A minimum of 200 clinical hours under the direct supervision of an approved preceptor.
ATHT 3570 - Psychomotor Skills in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Various athletic training topics with emphasis on the application of supportive and protective taping. A minimum of 20 directed clinical hours of observation and experiential learning required.
ATHT 3580 - Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries
3 credit hours
Modern principles in the care, prevention, and management of sports injuries.
ATHT 3590 - Athletic Training Medical Documentation and Terminology
2 credit hours
Athletic training medical terminology and how to utilize appropriately for medical records and documentation, medical insurance and reimbursement, allied/medical health teams, case studies, and medical referrals. Not a substitute class for HUM 2130. Must have declared AT major.
ATHT 3900 - Human Structure and Movement in Sport and Injury
4 credit hours
Prerequisites: BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011 and/or BIOL 2030/BIOL 2031. Corequisite: ATHT 3901. Exposure to the structural and functional components of human anatomy, including musculoskeletal origins, insertions, actions, and innervations; the ability to identify landmarks, surface markings, and palpations on a live model; to describe functional movements in various sport activities, then classify and identify which muscles work together to create the motions, identify normal and atypical patterns and characteristics. Emphasis placed on normal walking and running gait, posture, throwing, kicking, and jumping.
ATHT 3901 - Human Structure and Movement in Sport and Injury Lab
0 credit hours
Corequisite: ATHT 3900. Laboratory to accompany ATHT 3900.
ATHT 3950 - Evaluation and Assessment of Injuries to the Lower Extremities
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ATHT 3570; BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011. Corequisite: ATHT 3001 or permission of instructor. Evaluation and assessment of athletic injuries to the lower extremities and lumbar spine.
ATHT 3960 - Evaluation and Assessment of Injuries to the Upper Extremities and Thorax
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ATHT 3570; ATHT 3950; BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011, BIOL 2020/BIOL 2021 (all with C- or better). Corequisite: ATHT 3002 or permission of instructor. Evaluation and assessment of athletic injuries to the upper extremities and thorax.
ATHT 3980 - Introduction to Evidence-Based Medicine in Athletic Training
2 credit hours
For Athletic Training majors only. Introduces the concepts of evidence-based medicine and practice in the field of athletic training. Taught fall semester, even years.
ATHT 4000 - Strength, Conditioning, and Human Performance
3 credit hours
(Same as ATHC 4000.) Prerequisites: BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011 or BIOL 2030/BIOL 2031; PHED 4910 or ATHT 3900/ATHT 3901 and weight training; or by permission of instructor. Theories and principles of strength training and conditioning and techniques used to become a strength and conditioning specialist or personal fitness trainer.
ATHT 4200 - Acute Trauma and Emergency Care in Athletic Training
4 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3580 or permission of instructor. Corequisite: ATHT 4201. Competencies and proficiencies used in the identification, evaluation, management, and prevention of acute traumatic conditions in sports requiring emergency care in. In addition, administrative and risk management aspects of planning for an emergency injury/illness situation.
ATHT 4201 - Acute Trauma and Emergency Care in Athletic Training Laboratory
0 credit hours
Corequisite: ATHT 4200. Laboratory to accompany ATHT 4200.
ATHT 4500 - Therapeutic Medications and Ergogenic Aids in Sports
3 credit hours
Principles, theories, and issues of the physiological and psychological response to pharmacological use and abuse of therapeutic medications and ergogenic aids in sports. Taught fall semester, odd years.
ATHT 4820 - Organization and Administration of Athletic Training
3 credit hours
For Athletic Training majors only. Provides the basic knowledge necessary to organize and manage an allied health care professional setting, specifically in athletic training. Information on current laws, professional standards, ethics, and issues of confidentiality addressed. Taught fall semester, even years.
ATHT 4950 - Pathology of Sport Illness and Consideration of Special Populations
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3003; for Athletic Training majors only. Pathology of special problems and general medical conditions of athletes and others involved in physical activity. Includes an athletic training field experience.
ATHT 4960 - Rehabilitation Techniques
4 credit hours
Prerequisites: ATHT 3950 and ATHT 3960. Methods and techniques in the selection and application of rehabilitation techniques.
ATHT 4970 - Therapeutic Modalities
4 credit hours
Prerequisites: BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011, BIOL 2020/BIOL 2021; ATHT 3950, ATHT 3960. Corequisite: ATHT 4971. Principles, theories, methods, and techniques in the application of selected therapeutic modalities. Includes a laboratory experience of psychomotor skills used in the application of therapeutic modalities.
ATHT 4971 - Therapeutic Modalities Lab
0 credit hours
Corequisite: ATHT 4970. Laboratory to accompany ATHT 4970.
ATHT 4975 - Psychosocial Aspects of Sport, Health, and Rehabilitation
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: PSY 1410, ATHT 3960, or permission of instructor. Explores psychosocial issues of sport, health, and rehabilitation. Mental health and psychological problems and referrals; intervention strategies, interaction skills, and psychological techniques for injury, rehabilitation, return to play, adherence, sport performance, and sport enhancement. Introduces substance abuse, disordered eating and nutritional issues, and catastrophic injury and illness. Offered every other spring.
ATHT 4980 - Advanced Evidence-Based Medicine in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3980. Evidence-based medicine is used to produce clinical relevant questions and the research process to investigate those questions. Emphasis on writing and developing sound research question and proposal, literature review, experimental design and methodology, and presentation techniques explored. Taught fall semester, odd years.
ATHT 4990 - Senior Seminar in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 4950. Offers preparation for the BOC examination and discussion of current research in athletic training and sports medicine. Engages students in the process of reviewing, analyzing, discussing, and synthesizing research. Includes an athletic training field experience.
Auxiliary Requirements (25 hours)
BIOL 2010 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
4 credit hours
Completion of BIOL 1030 and BIOL 1031 or a grade of C or better in high school chemistry and biology within the last five years is strongly recommended. Corequisite: BIOL 2011 . Meets requirements for many pre-health professional programs including nursing. Structure and function of the cell, integumentary, skeletal, muscle, and nervous systems. Three hours lecture and one three-hour laboratory.
BIOL 2011 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
0 credit hours
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(may be counted in General Education)
BIOL 2011 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
0 credit hours
Corequisite: BIOL 2010.
BIOL 2020 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
4 credit hours
Prerequisite: C or better in BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011. Corequisite: BIOL 2021. Meets requirements for many pre-health professional programs including nursing. Structure and function of endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, urinary, digestive, and reproductive systems. Biology majors passing both BIOL 2010/BIOL 2111 and BIOL 2020/BIOL 2021 with a C or better may substitute both courses for BIOL 3020. However, the substitution is not recommended for pre-med students and does not count for upper-division hours. Three hours lecture and one three-hour laboratory.
BIOL 2021 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
0 credit hours
Corequisite: BIOL 2020.
PSY 1410 - General Psychology
3 credit hours
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(may be counted in General Education)
PSY 1410 - General Psychology
3 credit hours
Prescribed prerequisite: READ 1000. Introductory survey course. Includes biological foundations, perception, principles of learning, intelligence, motivation, emotion, human development, personality, social psychology, behavior disorders, and psychotherapy.
NFS 3000 - Nutrition Principles for Physical Activity and Health
3 credit hours
The fundamentals of normal nutrition and its relationships to physical activity, weight management, and health. Restricted to Exercise Science and Athletic Training students.
EXSC 3830 - Physiology of Exercise
4 credit hours
Prerequisite: BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011 with grade of C or better. Examines acute response and chronic adaptations of the body to physical activity, exercise, and sports participation, and their impact on homeostasis. Three hours lecture and one two-hour laboratory.
NOTE: For Exercise Science or Athletic Training majors only.
EXSC 3831 - Physiology of Exercise Lab
0 credit hours
Corequisite: EXSC 3830. Laboratory to accompany EXSC 3830.
NOTE: For Exercise Science or Athletic Training majors only.
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I
4 credit hours
Prerequisites: High school chemistry and MATH 1710 with grade of C (2.0) or better or MATH ACT score of 19 or higher or CHEM 1010 with grade of C (2.0) or better. Corequisite: CHEM 1111. Fundamental concepts of atomic structure, molecular structure and bonding, chemical reactions, stoichiometric relationships, periodic properties of the elements, thermochemistry, and properties of gases. Three hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory. TBR Common Course: CHEM 1110.
CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab
0 credit hours
Corequisite: CHEM 1110. TBR Common Course: CHEM 1111
OR
PHYS 2010 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics I
0 credit hours
Prerequisite: MATH 1710, MATH 1730, MATH 1810, or MATH 1910 with a minimum grade of C (2.0). Required corequisite: PHYS 2011. Web-based discussion class to be taken in conjunction with cooperative-learning based problems lab PHYS 2011. Classical mechanics traditionally covered in a first-semester college physics course. Kinematics, forces, momentum, angular motion, calorimetry, and sound waves. Class time used for discussion of the Web-lecture material and for the administration of exams. TBR Common Course: PHYS 2010
PHYS 2011 - Physics Problems Laboratory I
4 credit hours
(may be counted)(may be counted in General Education)
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title:(may be counted)
(may be counted in General Education)
PHYS 2011 - Physics Problems Laboratory I
4 credit hours
Prerequisite: MATH 1710, MATH 1730, MATH 1810, or MATH 1910 with a minimum grade of C (2.0). Required corequisite: PHYS 2010. Group-oriented problems course taken in conjunction with the Web-based discussion class PHYS 2010. Students work in groups with the topics presented in the PHYS 2010 discussion class. Covers kinematics, forces, momentum, angular motion, calorimetry, and sound waves. Skills associated with the development of experimental investigations including graphical analysis and estimation of uncertainties emphasized. Two two-and-one-half-hour laboratory sessions. TBR Common Course: PHYS 2011
Choose 3 hours from
ATHT 4080 - Alternative Therapies in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
(Same as HLTH 4080.) Examines the didactic and psychomotor concepts of various alternative and complementary therapies as they relate to the profession of athletic training.
ATHT 4430 - Practicum in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ATHT 3003, ATHT 4960, and ATHT 4970. Athletic training internship in a nontraditional athletic training setting. A minimum of 150 clinical hours under the direct supervision of an approved preceptor.
ATHT 4965 - Aquatic Exercise and Therapeutic Rehabilitation Techniques
3 credit hours
(Same as EXSC 4965/LSTS 4965.) Examines the various uses of the aquatic environment to develop, maintain, and improve physical performance with practical development of skills and techniques and aquatic exercise programming. Combines both didactic and laboratory activities in an experiential learning environment.
ATHT 4999 - Independent Research in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Permission of department. Gives students the opportunity to complete the project begun in ATHT 4980 or a new project with the potential for local, regional, national, or international presentations and publications. Course set up independently depending on the type of research project the student is going to perform.
Curriculum: Athletic Training
Curricular listings include General Education requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.
Pre-Athletic Training Program
Freshman Fall
ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing
3 credit hours
The first General Education English course. Emphasis on learning to adapt composing processes to a variety of expository and analytic writing assignments. Minimum grade of C- required to meet degree requirements.
ATHT 3580 - Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries
3 credit hours
Modern principles in the care, prevention, and management of sports injuries.
- Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
BIOL 2010 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
4 credit hours
Completion of BIOL 1030 and BIOL 1031 or a grade of C or better in high school chemistry and biology within the last five years is strongly recommended. Corequisite: BIOL 2011 . Meets requirements for many pre-health professional programs including nursing. Structure and function of the cell, integumentary, skeletal, muscle, and nervous systems. Three hours lecture and one three-hour laboratory.
BIOL 2011 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
0 credit hours
Corequisite: BIOL 2010.
Subtotal: 16 Hours
Freshman Spring
ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ENGL 1010. The second General Education English course. Emphasis on analytic and argumentative writing and on locating, organizing, and using library resource materials in the writing. Minimum grade of C- required to meet degree requirements.
ATHT 3570 - Psychomotor Skills in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Various athletic training topics with emphasis on the application of supportive and protective taping. A minimum of 20 directed clinical hours of observation and experiential learning required.
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication
3 credit hours
Introduces principles and processes of effective public oral communication including researching, critical thinking, organizing, presenting, listening, and using appropriate language. Counts as part of the General Education Communication requirement. TBR Common Course: COMM 2025
- Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I
3 credit hours
Survey of the political, economic, social, cultural, and diplomatic phases of American life in its regional, national, and international aspects. Discusses the era from the beginning to 1877. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement. HIST 2010 is NOT a prerequisite for HIST 2020. TBR Common Course: HIST 2010
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II
3 credit hours
Survey of the political, economic, social, cultural, and diplomatic phases of American life in its regional, national, and international aspects. Discusses the era from 1877 to the present. May be used to satisfy one part of the the General Education History requirement. HIST 2010 is NOT a prerequisite for HIST 2020. TBR Common Course: HIST 2020
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History
3 credit hours
The role of the state in the development of the nation. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement. TBR Common Course: HIST 2030
HIST 2040 - Survey African American History I
3 credit hours
The role of African Americans in establishing and shaping the American nation. Covers their historical development and contributions to American art, music, literature, and religion. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement.
NOTE: HIST 2040 is not a prerequisite for HIST 2050.
HIST 2050 - Survey African American History II
3 credit hours
The role of African Americans in shaping the American nation and creating a twentieth-century racial identity. Covers their historical development and examines their contributions to American art, music, literature, and religion. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement.
Subtotal: 15 Hours
Application to Program and Program Admission
Admitted Athletic Training Program
Sophomore Fall
ATHT 3000 - Clinical A in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ATHT 3570 and ATHT 3580. Psychomotor skills used in the application of protective equipment, emergency procedures, care and treatment of athletic injuries, and use of basic modalities. A minimum of 200 clinical hours under the direct supervision of an approved preceptor.
ATHT 3590 - Athletic Training Medical Documentation and Terminology
2 credit hours
Athletic training medical terminology and how to utilize appropriately for medical records and documentation, medical insurance and reimbursement, allied/medical health teams, case studies, and medical referrals. Not a substitute class for HUM 2130. Must have declared AT major.
ATHT 3980 - Introduction to Evidence-Based Medicine in Athletic Training
2 credit hours
For Athletic Training majors only. Introduces the concepts of evidence-based medicine and practice in the field of athletic training. Taught fall semester, even years.
ATHT 3900 - Human Structure and Movement in Sport and Injury
4 credit hours
Prerequisites: BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011 and/or BIOL 2030/BIOL 2031. Corequisite: ATHT 3901. Exposure to the structural and functional components of human anatomy, including musculoskeletal origins, insertions, actions, and innervations; the ability to identify landmarks, surface markings, and palpations on a live model; to describe functional movements in various sport activities, then classify and identify which muscles work together to create the motions, identify normal and atypical patterns and characteristics. Emphasis placed on normal walking and running gait, posture, throwing, kicking, and jumping.
ATHT 3901 - Human Structure and Movement in Sport and Injury Lab
0 credit hours
Corequisite: ATHT 3900. Laboratory to accompany ATHT 3900.
ATHT 4200 - Acute Trauma and Emergency Care in Athletic Training
4 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3580 or permission of instructor. Corequisite: ATHT 4201. Competencies and proficiencies used in the identification, evaluation, management, and prevention of acute traumatic conditions in sports requiring emergency care in. In addition, administrative and risk management aspects of planning for an emergency injury/illness situation.
ATHT 4201 - Acute Trauma and Emergency Care in Athletic Training Laboratory
0 credit hours
Corequisite: ATHT 4200. Laboratory to accompany ATHT 4200.
Subtotal: 15 Hours
Sophomore Spring
ATHT 3950 - Evaluation and Assessment of Injuries to the Lower Extremities
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ATHT 3570; BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011. Corequisite: ATHT 3001 or permission of instructor. Evaluation and assessment of athletic injuries to the lower extremities and lumbar spine.
ATHT 3001 - Clinical B in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3000; corequisite: ATHT 3950. Psychomotor skills used in the evaluation and assessment of injuries to the lower extremities. A minimum of 200 clinical hours under the direct supervision of an approved preceptor.
NFS 3000 - Nutrition Principles for Physical Activity and Health
3 credit hours
The fundamentals of normal nutrition and its relationships to physical activity, weight management, and health. Restricted to Exercise Science and Athletic Training students.
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I
3 credit hours
Survey of the political, economic, social, cultural, and diplomatic phases of American life in its regional, national, and international aspects. Discusses the era from the beginning to 1877. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement. HIST 2010 is NOT a prerequisite for HIST 2020. TBR Common Course: HIST 2010
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II
3 credit hours
Survey of the political, economic, social, cultural, and diplomatic phases of American life in its regional, national, and international aspects. Discusses the era from 1877 to the present. May be used to satisfy one part of the the General Education History requirement. HIST 2010 is NOT a prerequisite for HIST 2020. TBR Common Course: HIST 2020
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History
3 credit hours
The role of the state in the development of the nation. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement. TBR Common Course: HIST 2030
HIST 2040 - Survey African American History I
3 credit hours
The role of African Americans in establishing and shaping the American nation. Covers their historical development and contributions to American art, music, literature, and religion. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement.
NOTE: HIST 2040 is not a prerequisite for HIST 2050.
HIST 2050 - Survey African American History II
3 credit hours
The role of African Americans in shaping the American nation and creating a twentieth-century racial identity. Covers their historical development and examines their contributions to American art, music, literature, and religion. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement.
BIOL 2020 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
4 credit hours
Prerequisite: C or better in BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011. Corequisite: BIOL 2021. Meets requirements for many pre-health professional programs including nursing. Structure and function of endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, urinary, digestive, and reproductive systems. Biology majors passing both BIOL 2010/BIOL 2111 and BIOL 2020/BIOL 2021 with a C or better may substitute both courses for BIOL 3020. However, the substitution is not recommended for pre-med students and does not count for upper-division hours. Three hours lecture and one three-hour laboratory.
BIOL 2021 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
0 credit hours
Corequisite: BIOL 2020.
Subtotal: 16 Hours
Junior Fall
ATHT 3960 - Evaluation and Assessment of Injuries to the Upper Extremities and Thorax
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ATHT 3570; ATHT 3950; BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011, BIOL 2020/BIOL 2021 (all with C- or better). Corequisite: ATHT 3002 or permission of instructor. Evaluation and assessment of athletic injuries to the upper extremities and thorax.
ATHT 3002 - Clinical C in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3001; corequisite: ATHT 3960. Psychomotor skills used in the evaluation and assessment of injuries to the upper extremities and thorax. A minimum of 200 clinical hours under the supervision of an approved preceptor.
EXSC 3830 - Physiology of Exercise
4 credit hours
Prerequisite: BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011 with grade of C or better. Examines acute response and chronic adaptations of the body to physical activity, exercise, and sports participation, and their impact on homeostasis. Three hours lecture and one two-hour laboratory.
NOTE: For Exercise Science or Athletic Training majors only.
EXSC 3831 - Physiology of Exercise Lab
0 credit hours
Corequisite: EXSC 3830. Laboratory to accompany EXSC 3830.
NOTE: For Exercise Science or Athletic Training majors only.
ATHT 4500 - Therapeutic Medications and Ergogenic Aids in Sports
3 credit hours
Principles, theories, and issues of the physiological and psychological response to pharmacological use and abuse of therapeutic medications and ergogenic aids in sports. Taught fall semester, odd years.
ATHT 4820 - Organization and Administration of Athletic Training
3 credit hours
For Athletic Training majors only. Provides the basic knowledge necessary to organize and manage an allied health care professional setting, specifically in athletic training. Information on current laws, professional standards, ethics, and issues of confidentiality addressed. Taught fall semester, even years.
ENGL 2020 - Themes in Literature and Culture
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020. Traces a specific theme or idea through a number of literary texts that reflect different historical and cultural contexts. Subject will vary.
ENGL 2030 - The Experience of Literature
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020. The reading of a variety of literary types which illuminate themes and experiences common to human existence.
HUM 2610 - World Literatures
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020. Representative works of French, German, and Hispanic authors in English translation. No foreign-language proficiency required. Carries General Education credit.
Subtotal: 16 Hours
Junior Spring
ATHT 4000 - Strength, Conditioning, and Human Performance
3 credit hours
(Same as ATHC 4000.) Prerequisites: BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011 or BIOL 2030/BIOL 2031; PHED 4910 or ATHT 3900/ATHT 3901 and weight training; or by permission of instructor. Theories and principles of strength training and conditioning and techniques used to become a strength and conditioning specialist or personal fitness trainer.
ATHT 4960 - Rehabilitation Techniques
4 credit hours
Prerequisites: ATHT 3950 and ATHT 3960. Methods and techniques in the selection and application of rehabilitation techniques.
ATHT 3003 - Clinical D in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3002. Psychomotor skills used in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries. A minimum of 200 clinical hours under the direct supervision of an approved preceptor.
ATHT 4970 - Therapeutic Modalities
4 credit hours
Prerequisites: BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011, BIOL 2020/BIOL 2021; ATHT 3950, ATHT 3960. Corequisite: ATHT 4971. Principles, theories, methods, and techniques in the application of selected therapeutic modalities. Includes a laboratory experience of psychomotor skills used in the application of therapeutic modalities.
ATHT 4971 - Therapeutic Modalities Lab
0 credit hours
Corequisite: ATHT 4970. Laboratory to accompany ATHT 4970.
Subtotal: 14 Hours
Senior Fall
ATHT 4500 - Therapeutic Medications and Ergogenic Aids in Sports
3 credit hours
Principles, theories, and issues of the physiological and psychological response to pharmacological use and abuse of therapeutic medications and ergogenic aids in sports. Taught fall semester, odd years.
ATHT 4820 - Organization and Administration of Athletic Training
3 credit hours
For Athletic Training majors only. Provides the basic knowledge necessary to organize and manage an allied health care professional setting, specifically in athletic training. Information on current laws, professional standards, ethics, and issues of confidentiality addressed. Taught fall semester, even years.
ATHT 4950 - Pathology of Sport Illness and Consideration of Special Populations
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3003; for Athletic Training majors only. Pathology of special problems and general medical conditions of athletes and others involved in physical activity. Includes an athletic training field experience.
ATHT 4980 - Advanced Evidence-Based Medicine in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3980. Evidence-based medicine is used to produce clinical relevant questions and the research process to investigate those questions. Emphasis on writing and developing sound research question and proposal, literature review, experimental design and methodology, and presentation techniques explored. Taught fall semester, odd years.
PSY 1410 - General Psychology
3 credit hours
Prescribed prerequisite: READ 1000. Introductory survey course. Includes biological foundations, perception, principles of learning, intelligence, motivation, emotion, human development, personality, social psychology, behavior disorders, and psychotherapy.
- Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
Subtotal: 15 Hours
Senior Spring
ATHT 4975 - Psychosocial Aspects of Sport, Health, and Rehabilitation
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: PSY 1410, ATHT 3960, or permission of instructor. Explores psychosocial issues of sport, health, and rehabilitation. Mental health and psychological problems and referrals; intervention strategies, interaction skills, and psychological techniques for injury, rehabilitation, return to play, adherence, sport performance, and sport enhancement. Introduces substance abuse, disordered eating and nutritional issues, and catastrophic injury and illness. Offered every other spring.
ATHT 4990 - Senior Seminar in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 4950. Offers preparation for the BOC examination and discussion of current research in athletic training and sports medicine. Engages students in the process of reviewing, analyzing, discussing, and synthesizing research. Includes an athletic training field experience.
- ATHT guided elective 3 credit hours
PHYS 2010 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics I
0 credit hours
Prerequisite: MATH 1710, MATH 1730, MATH 1810, or MATH 1910 with a minimum grade of C (2.0). Required corequisite: PHYS 2011. Web-based discussion class to be taken in conjunction with cooperative-learning based problems lab PHYS 2011. Classical mechanics traditionally covered in a first-semester college physics course. Kinematics, forces, momentum, angular motion, calorimetry, and sound waves. Class time used for discussion of the Web-lecture material and for the administration of exams. TBR Common Course: PHYS 2010
PHYS 2011 - Physics Problems Laboratory I
4 credit hours
Prerequisite: MATH 1710, MATH 1730, MATH 1810, or MATH 1910 with a minimum grade of C (2.0). Required corequisite: PHYS 2010. Group-oriented problems course taken in conjunction with the Web-based discussion class PHYS 2010. Students work in groups with the topics presented in the PHYS 2010 discussion class. Covers kinematics, forces, momentum, angular motion, calorimetry, and sound waves. Skills associated with the development of experimental investigations including graphical analysis and estimation of uncertainties emphasized. Two two-and-one-half-hour laboratory sessions. TBR Common Course: PHYS 2011
OR
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I
4 credit hours
Prerequisites: High school chemistry and MATH 1710 with grade of C (2.0) or better or MATH ACT score of 19 or higher or CHEM 1010 with grade of C (2.0) or better. Corequisite: CHEM 1111. Fundamental concepts of atomic structure, molecular structure and bonding, chemical reactions, stoichiometric relationships, periodic properties of the elements, thermochemistry, and properties of gases. Three hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory. TBR Common Course: CHEM 1110.
CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab
0 credit hours
Corequisite: CHEM 1110. TBR Common Course: CHEM 1111
Subtotal: 13 Hours
Athletic Training Program Costs
Athletic training students pay the same fee schedules as do all other undergraduate students at the University. These fees are described in detail elsewhere in this catalog. Additional expenses incurred by athletic training students include
- the cost of a uniform package - $100-$150 (ATHT 3000);
- liability insurance - approximately $35 (yearly);
- membership into the National Athletic Trainer's Association - approximately $80-$100 (yearly);
- maintenance of professional rescuer CPR - approximately $30-$50 (yearly);
- verification of immunization (cost depends on where immunization is received);
- their own transportation to and from clinical sites including, but not limited to, vehicle and fuel costs;
- the cost of a background check, if required by the clinical site - approximately $40 (when required by clinical site).
Clinical sites may be assigned to a student within a 60-mile radius of the MTSU main campus. Students are required to have a minimum of three off-campus clinical rotations, with a maximum of six off-campus clinical rotations, to complete the clinical component of the Athletic Training Program.
Our adjunct faculty bring outstanding professional experience to our programs. Many are industry leaders with decorated careers and honors. Importantly, they are innovative educators who offer hands-on learning to our students to prepare them to enter and thrive in a dynamic, and oftentimes emerging, industry and professional world. They inspire, instruct, and challenge our students toward academic and professional success.
Athletic Training
ATHT 3000 - Clinical A in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ATHT 3570 and ATHT 3580. Psychomotor skills used in the application of protective equipment, emergency procedures, care and treatment of athletic injuries, and use of basic modalities. A minimum of 200 clinical hours under the direct supervision of an approved preceptor.
ATHT 3001 - Clinical B in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3000; corequisite: ATHT 3950. Psychomotor skills used in the evaluation and assessment of injuries to the lower extremities. A minimum of 200 clinical hours under the direct supervision of an approved preceptor.
ATHT 3002 - Clinical C in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3001; corequisite: ATHT 3960. Psychomotor skills used in the evaluation and assessment of injuries to the upper extremities and thorax. A minimum of 200 clinical hours under the supervision of an approved preceptor.
ATHT 3003 - Clinical D in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3002. Psychomotor skills used in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries. A minimum of 200 clinical hours under the direct supervision of an approved preceptor.
ATHT 3570 - Psychomotor Skills in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Various athletic training topics with emphasis on the application of supportive and protective taping. A minimum of 20 directed clinical hours of observation and experiential learning required.
ATHT 3580 - Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries
3 credit hours
Modern principles in the care, prevention, and management of sports injuries.
ATHT 3590 - Athletic Training Medical Documentation and Terminology
2 credit hours
Athletic training medical terminology and how to utilize appropriately for medical records and documentation, medical insurance and reimbursement, allied/medical health teams, case studies, and medical referrals. Not a substitute class for HUM 2130. Must have declared AT major.
ATHT 3900 - Human Structure and Movement in Sport and Injury
4 credit hours
Prerequisites: BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011 and/or BIOL 2030/BIOL 2031. Corequisite: ATHT 3901. Exposure to the structural and functional components of human anatomy, including musculoskeletal origins, insertions, actions, and innervations; the ability to identify landmarks, surface markings, and palpations on a live model; to describe functional movements in various sport activities, then classify and identify which muscles work together to create the motions, identify normal and atypical patterns and characteristics. Emphasis placed on normal walking and running gait, posture, throwing, kicking, and jumping.
ATHT 3901 - Human Structure and Movement in Sport and Injury Lab
0 credit hours
Corequisite: ATHT 3900. Laboratory to accompany ATHT 3900.
ATHT 3950 - Evaluation and Assessment of Injuries to the Lower Extremities
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ATHT 3570; BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011. Corequisite: ATHT 3001 or permission of instructor. Evaluation and assessment of athletic injuries to the lower extremities and lumbar spine.
ATHT 3960 - Evaluation and Assessment of Injuries to the Upper Extremities and Thorax
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ATHT 3570; ATHT 3950; BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011, BIOL 2020/BIOL 2021 (all with C- or better). Corequisite: ATHT 3002 or permission of instructor. Evaluation and assessment of athletic injuries to the upper extremities and thorax.
ATHT 3980 - Introduction to Evidence-Based Medicine in Athletic Training
2 credit hours
For Athletic Training majors only. Introduces the concepts of evidence-based medicine and practice in the field of athletic training. Taught fall semester, even years.
ATHT 4000 - Strength, Conditioning, and Human Performance
3 credit hours
(Same as ATHC 4000.) Prerequisites: BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011 or BIOL 2030/BIOL 2031; PHED 4910 or ATHT 3900/ATHT 3901 and weight training; or by permission of instructor. Theories and principles of strength training and conditioning and techniques used to become a strength and conditioning specialist or personal fitness trainer.
ATHT 4080 - Alternative Therapies in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
(Same as HLTH 4080.) Examines the didactic and psychomotor concepts of various alternative and complementary therapies as they relate to the profession of athletic training.
ATHT 4200 - Acute Trauma and Emergency Care in Athletic Training
4 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3580 or permission of instructor. Corequisite: ATHT 4201. Competencies and proficiencies used in the identification, evaluation, management, and prevention of acute traumatic conditions in sports requiring emergency care in. In addition, administrative and risk management aspects of planning for an emergency injury/illness situation.
ATHT 4201 - Acute Trauma and Emergency Care in Athletic Training Laboratory
0 credit hours
Corequisite: ATHT 4200. Laboratory to accompany ATHT 4200.
ATHT 4430 - Practicum in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: ATHT 3003, ATHT 4960, and ATHT 4970. Athletic training internship in a nontraditional athletic training setting. A minimum of 150 clinical hours under the direct supervision of an approved preceptor.
ATHT 4500 - Therapeutic Medications and Ergogenic Aids in Sports
3 credit hours
Principles, theories, and issues of the physiological and psychological response to pharmacological use and abuse of therapeutic medications and ergogenic aids in sports. Taught fall semester, odd years.
ATHT 4820 - Organization and Administration of Athletic Training
3 credit hours
For Athletic Training majors only. Provides the basic knowledge necessary to organize and manage an allied health care professional setting, specifically in athletic training. Information on current laws, professional standards, ethics, and issues of confidentiality addressed. Taught fall semester, even years.
ATHT 4920 - Independent Study
1 to 3 credit hours
(Same as EXSC 4920/PHED 4920/LSTS 4920.) Independent study topics based on a study plan prepared in cooperation with a faculty supervisor. Culminates in a formal paper and/or comprehensive examination. Application forms must be completed and approved prior to enrollment. A maximum of three credit hours may be applied toward degree.
ATHT 4950 - Pathology of Sport Illness and Consideration of Special Populations
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3003; for Athletic Training majors only. Pathology of special problems and general medical conditions of athletes and others involved in physical activity. Includes an athletic training field experience.
ATHT 4960 - Rehabilitation Techniques
4 credit hours
Prerequisites: ATHT 3950 and ATHT 3960. Methods and techniques in the selection and application of rehabilitation techniques.
ATHT 4965 - Aquatic Exercise and Therapeutic Rehabilitation Techniques
3 credit hours
(Same as EXSC 4965/LSTS 4965.) Examines the various uses of the aquatic environment to develop, maintain, and improve physical performance with practical development of skills and techniques and aquatic exercise programming. Combines both didactic and laboratory activities in an experiential learning environment.
ATHT 4970 - Therapeutic Modalities
4 credit hours
Prerequisites: BIOL 2010/BIOL 2011, BIOL 2020/BIOL 2021; ATHT 3950, ATHT 3960. Corequisite: ATHT 4971. Principles, theories, methods, and techniques in the application of selected therapeutic modalities. Includes a laboratory experience of psychomotor skills used in the application of therapeutic modalities.
ATHT 4971 - Therapeutic Modalities Lab
0 credit hours
Corequisite: ATHT 4970. Laboratory to accompany ATHT 4970.
ATHT 4975 - Psychosocial Aspects of Sport, Health, and Rehabilitation
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: PSY 1410, ATHT 3960, or permission of instructor. Explores psychosocial issues of sport, health, and rehabilitation. Mental health and psychological problems and referrals; intervention strategies, interaction skills, and psychological techniques for injury, rehabilitation, return to play, adherence, sport performance, and sport enhancement. Introduces substance abuse, disordered eating and nutritional issues, and catastrophic injury and illness. Offered every other spring.
ATHT 4980 - Advanced Evidence-Based Medicine in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 3980. Evidence-based medicine is used to produce clinical relevant questions and the research process to investigate those questions. Emphasis on writing and developing sound research question and proposal, literature review, experimental design and methodology, and presentation techniques explored. Taught fall semester, odd years.
ATHT 4990 - Senior Seminar in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ATHT 4950. Offers preparation for the BOC examination and discussion of current research in athletic training and sports medicine. Engages students in the process of reviewing, analyzing, discussing, and synthesizing research. Includes an athletic training field experience.
ATHT 4999 - Independent Research in Athletic Training
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Permission of department. Gives students the opportunity to complete the project begun in ATHT 4980 or a new project with the potential for local, regional, national, or international presentations and publications. Course set up independently depending on the type of research project the student is going to perform.
The Athletic Training Program at Middle Tennessee State University is currently accredited
by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. The Bachelors
in Athletic Training will admit their last cohort in the fall of 2022 with a spring
of 2025 graduation. The fall of 2021 is the last freshman class that will be eligible
to enter this Bachelors program with the secondary admission to the program in spring
of 2022. The fall of 2022 is the last transfer student admission date into the Bachelors
program for those who have completed all the prerequisite courses.
The Athletic Training Program is working on transitioning the program to the Masters
of Science in Athletic Training. Please look for more information and detail about
this transition in fall of 2022.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Athletic Training Program (AT Program) is to produce exceptional
professionals who will be contributing members to the profession of athletic training,
and who possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to become proficient in the prevention,
diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and administration of injuries and illnesses
for the physically active. A broad-based comprehensive blend of academic (didactic
course work, laboratories, and hands-on learning session), clinical and professional
experiences in a student-centered environment that incorporates the most recent research
and technologies to meet the challenging needs of a dynamic health care environment
is offered. The AT Program promotes the mission of the Health and Human Performance
Department, College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, and Middle Tennessee State
University through scholarship, research, and service. Designed to meet the accreditation
standards established by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
(CAATE), the AT Program, prepares students for the Board of Certification (BOC) examination.
An AT Program graduate is prepared to complete graduate study in athletic training
and related fields, serve the healthcare needs of the physically active, navigate
a global society, be culturally competent, demonstrate legal and ethical medical practice,
and display professionalism within their academics and career. Middle Tennessee State
University AT Program is committed to providing a quality learning atmosphere for
students pursuing athletic training regardless of race, gender, religion, national
origin, disability or veteran status.
Vision Statement
The AT Program strives to become one of the leading athletic training programs in
the nation and a premiere program in the southeast region and state of Tennessee.
Middle Tennessee State University AT Program will produce highly qualified students
for entry into the profession of athletic training.
Program Goals and Objectives
Middle Tennessee State University AT Program prepares students to become well-rounded
educated individuals through program goals and objectives:
- Acquire the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies included in the National
Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Athletic Training Educational Competencies 5th ed., and meet the standards and guidelines established by the CAATE, while preparing students
to sit for the BOC for Athletic Training to become a professional athletic trainer.
- Promote students to think logically, critically, and creatively, and to make sound
judgement and decisions in a supervised environment, under qualified faculty, medical,
and health care professionals.
- Ensure quality clinical experiences that allow students to appreciate the role of
an athletic trainer in a variety of practice settings with diverse patients and clients
in athletics, work, and life.
- Promote effective communication techniques and strategies to build positive professional
relationships with patients, administrators, other healthcare providers, and the public.
- Prepare students to acquire and integrate research into daily clinical practice through
the practice of evidence-based medicine.
- Promote professionalism and the importance of ethical practice.
- Encourage active engagement in university, community, and professional activities
that develop leadership and role-modeling skills while sharing knowledge, expertise,
and creative activities.
- Prepare qualified healthcare professionals to successfully gain employment (in colleges,
high schools, professional sports, sports medicine clinics, and other athletic training/sports
medicine agencies) or continue on to post-professional education.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
The AT Program has specific student learning outcomes based on the expectations of
Middle Tennessee State University and the Department of Health and Human Performance.
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate effective communication, both orally and in writing.
- Demonstrate discipline-specific content knowledge.
- Analyze and think logically, critically, and creatively to make sound judgments in
problem-solving situations.
- Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultural needs and abilities.
- Apply professional skills and research in discipline-specific situations.
- Value lifelong learning through professional advocacy and participation.
- Demonstrate knowledge of ethical practice.
The AT Program has several program specific outcomes. The AT Program will:
- Assemble and maintain high quality faculty, medical, and health care professionals
as supervisors and preceptors in the AT Program.
- Arrange and select a variety of clinical sites and practice settings with diverse
patients and clients in athletics, work, and life.
- Collect and assess information on employment and/or post-professional education placements
in athletic training.
- Evaluate the overall effectiveness and student satisfaction of the AT Program.
- Report and evaluate BOC pass rates.
- Report and measure graduation and retention rates in the AT Program.
Admission Criteria
Prior to be considered as a candidate for admission into the program, a student must
have completed a letter of application including 3 three recommendations. The student
must have also completed 24 hours of academic course work and have a minimum overall
GPA of 2.5. After meeting these requirements, acceptance into the program is based
upon 4 four weighted criteria. (See Application Score Sheet under Forms and Manuals
for Prospective Students, below.) In order to be guaranteed admission to the Athletic
Training Program applicants must score a 110/120 possible points, with lower scores
being considered until the maximum seats for the program have been filled.
| Overall grade point average of 2.5 or better |
30 pts |
| Grade of B- or better in ATHT 3580, ATHT 3570, BIO 2010 |
15 pts |
| Clinical Evaluation (which includes 20-30 observation hours) |
45 pts |
| Interview |
30 pts |
| Total points |
120 pts |
Athletic Training Program Costs
Athletic training students pay the same fee schedules as do all other undergraduate
students at the University. These fees are described in detail elsewhere in this catalog.
Additional expenses incurred by athletic training students include:
- the cost of a uniform package – approximately $100-150 (ATHT 3000);
- liability insurance - approximately $35 (yearly);
- membership into the National Athletic Trainer's Association – approximately $80-100
(yearly);
- maintenance of professional rescuer CPR- approximately $30-50 (yearly);
- verification of immunization (cost depends on where immunization is received);
- their own transportation to and from clinical sites including, but not limited to,
vehicle and fuel costs.
- the cost of a background check, if required by the clinical site – approximately $40
(when required by clinical site).
Clinical sites may be assigned to a student within a 60-mile radius of the MTSU main
campus. Students are required to have a minimum of three off-campus clinical rotations, with a maximum of six off-campus clinical rotations,
to complete the clinical component of the Athletic Training Program.
Forms and Manuals
For more information about the Athletic Training program, you may contact: Dr. Helen
Binkley, Department of HHP, MTSU, Box 96, Murfreesboro, TN 37132. (615) 904-8192 or
Helen.Binkley@mtsu.edu.
Online or Hybrid Programs at a Glance
This program is available .
For More Information or Explore Your Options
Contact your department / program coordinator or advisor for more details about the program OR work one-on-one with your advisor to explore your options.
The Online Advantage
With over 25 years of experience in online teaching and learning, MTSU Online offers students access to innovative, high-quality programs. Designed with students in mind, our courses allow maximum flexibility for those unable to participate in person.
Resources and services for online students are available from MTSU Online or contact us at distance@mtsu.edu.
