The Pathway
In the fall of 2019, Wittenberg and Ohio University signed an articulation agreement for students interested in the field of athletic training that created a pathway to complete their master’s degree. After successful completion of the undergraduate coursework students with a cumulative and science GPA of 3.0 and GRE score of 300 and writing score of 4.0 will be given priority consideration and will not have to apply through the standardized professions admissions portal Athletic Training Centralized Application Service (ATCAS).
What does an athletic trainer do?
Athletic Trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals that encompass prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute, or chronic injuries and medical conditions. Athletic Trainers are the only health care profession whose expertise in prevention ranges from minor sprains to catastrophic head and neck injuries, and from minor illnesses to exertional heat syndrome.
How long will it take to obtain a degree in athletic training, and what is the curriculum like?
On May 20, 2015, the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Board of Directors and the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), with the full support of the Board of Certification and the NATA Research and Education Foundation, have agreed to establish the professional degree in athletic training at the master’s level by 2020. This mandate was made to assure that highly trained professionals are entering athletic training.
After graduating from Wittenberg students will enter their master’s degree program in athletic training after graduating with either Biology or Exercise Science degrees. The entry level master’s program is typically 2 to 2.5 years. In the pre-professional program you will work towards becoming a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) after passing the Board of Certification (BOC) exam. After successful completion of the Master of Science in Athletic Training (MAT) program graduates will have many opportunities to work in many different settings such as high schools, colleges or universities, professional sports teams, clinics, or hospital settings.
What courses should I take at Wittenberg to prepare for athletic training school?
| Ohio University Graduate Degree Program prerequisites | Credits | Wittenberg University Equivalent Courses | Credits |
| Biology | 4 | BIOL 170 Introduction to Biology I | 5 |
| Human Anatomy w/ lab | 4 | HSS 350 Gross Human Anatomy or BIOL 325 Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 or 5 |
| Human Physiology | 3 | HSS 351 Human Physiology or BIOL 326 Human Anatomy and Physiology II BIOL 327 Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab | 4 or 5 1 |
| Physics | 4 | PHYS 201 Physics I | 5 |
| Chemistry | 4 | CHEM 121 Models of Chemical Systems I CHEM 162 Models of Chemical Systems II | 5 5 |
| Nutrition | 3 | HSS 250 Nutrition | 4 |
| Exercise Physiology | 3 | HSS 370 Exercise Physiology | 4 |
| Psychology | 3 | PSYC 101 Intro to Psychological Science | 4 |
Recommended: HSS 285-Biomechanics, BIOL 223-Pathophysiology, BIOL 250-Medical Terminology
Do I need to have medically related hours when applying to athletic training schools?
Yes, fifty hours is the minimum requirements for number of paid or volunteer hours spent with an athletic trainer but having more is excellent. Having a wide range of experiences gives you a better feel of the breadth of the profession.