Department of Sports Medicine and Athletic Training

Athletic Training (Comprehensive)

The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

The admission process for the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) is separate from the application process for admission to the University.  Students do not officially apply for admission into the ATEP until they have met all preadmission criteria (typically takes one year to complete).  Admission to the ATEP is competitive and not all who apply can be accommodated. Once admitted into the ATEP, students must maintain retention criteria to remain in and process through the program.

Incoming Freshman and Current Missouri State Students

Incoming freshman and current Missouri State University students interested in applying for the Athletic Training major are required to complete the ATEP Interest Form.  Students are encouraged to initially declare a pre-sports medicine/Athletic Training major or a Sports Medicine minor. Students will make formal application to the Athletic Training major once they have completed the requirements for consideration into the Athletic Training major. To complete the Athletic Training major, students must complete the three year course and clinical sequence after formal admission into the program.

Transfer Students

Transfer students need to speak to the Athletic Training Education Program Director regarding their admission into the Athletic Training major. It is in the student's best interest to discuss their options with the Program Director at least one semester prior to transferring into the program. Transfer students are required to complete the ATEP Interest Form.

Preadmission Requirements (A.K.A. First Year Experience) 

Before a student can be considered for the Athletic Training major, the following application requirements must be met:

1. Admission to Missouri State University and/or student in good academic standing at MSU
2. Successful completion of the following courses; ATC 220 and ATC 221 ("B" or better); BMS 110 or BIO 121 ("C" or better); and CHM 105 or both CHM 160 and CHM 161 ("C" or better); and BMS 307 ("C" or better). If offered, a student can take one or more of these courses in the summer session prior to the fall semester they are applying and still be considered for admission to the major (as program spots allow). Preferred courses: GEP 101/UHC110, COM 115, CIS 101/CSC 101 or CSC 111, ENG 110, MTH 135 or higher.
3. Observational hours with a program approved allied health care professional
4. ATEP Application - completed during spring semester of the first year experience.

 Selection, Progression and Retention Requirements 

1. Selection Process for the Athletic Training major:
   1. All applicants will be ranked using a numerical scale on the following criteria:
      1. Cumulative high school and college GPA (4.00 point scale)
      2. GPA in sciences and sports medicine related coursework (4.00 point scale)
      3. ACT score
      4. Athletic training/sports medicine experience (evaluation provided by the allied health care professional supervising the required observation hours; student may also include additional experiences (i.e. high school) for review)
      5. Strength of applicant’s knowledge of AT profession and career goals reflected in narrative
      6. Extracurricular and leadership activities
      7. Strength of support from others as shown in recommendations
   2. Students receiving the highest scores in the rating process and a positive recommendation from the selection committee will be formally admitted into the major. The total number of students admitted into the program will be determined by the number of clinical placement sites available to the program.
   3. Applicants not formally admitted may reapply the following year. All applicants who reapply must meet all requirements in effect at the time of application. Students are encouraged to contact the department for current admission requirements.
   4. All students selected for formal admission must provide evidence of being able to meet the technical standards of the program with or without reasonable accommodations. The technical standards for the program are included in the application material.
   5. Upon notification of formal admission into the Athletic Training major, students will be required to initiate and pay for any security checks and drug screenings required for clinical agencies.  All admitted students must complete a criminal record check and receive response that the applicant has not been convicted of any crime pursuant to Section 660.317 RSMo or other disqualifications that would prohibit licensure as an athletic trainer prior to begin allowed to begin any clinical rotations.
   6. All students are expected to provide their own transportation to clinical sites.
   7. All students will be required to purchase student professional liability insurance.
2. Progression and Retention Requirements:
   1. After students are selected into the Athletic Training major, retention in the program will be based on the following criteria:
      1. Satisfactory clinical evaluation score (more details are provided on each practicum course syllabi) for each clinical assignment. Clinical performance is critiqued by the ACI’s on areas involving both "Universal Traits" and "AT Skills."
      2. Maintain a major coursework GPA of 3.00 on all ATC courses.
      3. Semester GPA of 2.80 or higher and a cumulative University GPA of 2.80 or higher.
   2. Students who fail to meet all of the retention requirements may be placed on probation in the Athletic Training major for one semester. If standards are not met by the end of the probationary period, the student may be dismissed from the major. Students who receive a grade of "D" or "F" in an ATC course must repeat that course and receive a grade of "C" or higher to progress in the program and remain in the major. Students who do not meet the retention criteria for required clinical work may follow the program appeal process. Failure to follow the appeal process may result in dismissal from the program.

Athletic Training Program Requirements

Students selected for the program must complete all required coursework and clinical requirements. Those requirements include the following:

1. General Education Requirements - see General Education Program and Requirements section of catalog
   Specific General Education Requirements BIO 121(4) or BMS 110(4); CHM 105(5) or both CHM 160(4) and CHM 161(1); MTH 135(3) or higher; PSY 121(3)
2. Major Requirements
   1. Related Requirements: BMS 240(3), 307(4), 308(4), 430(3), 450(3), 567(4); PSY 200(3)
   2. Athletic Training Requirements: ATC 220(2), 221(2), 224(4), 240(2), 241(2), 320(3), 324(4), 326(3), 328(4), 329(4), 332(2), 340(2), 341(2), 344(4), 354(4), 420(3), 425(2), 440(2), 441(2)
   3. Upon acceptance into the major, students will be required to fulfill six (6) semesters of clinical experiences. Students must receive a satisfactory clinical evaluation score for each experience. All students will be required to complete the following clinical experiences:
      1. One fall pre-season experience
      2. One fall season of interscholastic or intercollegiate football
      3. At least one (two preferred) semester assigned to University intercollegiate team experiences
      4. At least one (two preferred) semester at an affiliated sports medicine clinic
      5. At least one (two preferred) semester at an affiliated high school
      6. Two semesters of integrated "General Medical/Sports Medicine" clinical experiences.
3. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements - see General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements section of catalog

Sports Medicine

1. Complete the following courses (6-8 hours): ATC 220(2), 221(2); ATC 222(2) or 224(4)
2. Complete additional courses from the following to bring total hours in the minor to at least 18 hours: ATC 320(3), 326(3), 328(4), 329(4), 332(2), 344(4), 354(4), 420(3), 425(2)