2026-2027 Adrian College Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Catalog

Athletic Training

Athletic Training

Athletic trainers are board-certified (and often state-licensed) allied healthcare professionals who specialize in the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of acute, chronic, and emergent injuries and medical conditions. Students who wish to become athletic trainers must earn a graduate degree from an accredited athletic training program and pass the comprehensive national certification examination administered by the Board of Certification (BOC). Adrian College is home to Michigan’s oldest accredited professional master’s degree in athletic training and offers two pathways for students pursuing a career as an athletic trainer.

 

Designed for students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree, the combined B.S. in Exercise Science/Pre-Athletic Training and M.S. in Athletic Training program integrates coursework from both degree programs, allowing students to complete two degrees simultaneously. This accelerated option can be completed in as few as four years. Upon completion, students earn both a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science/Pre-Athletic Training and a Master of Science in Athletic Training, making them eligible to sit for the Board of Certification examination.

The second pathway is designed for students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree, either at Adrian College or another institution. This two-year Master of Science in Athletic Training program requires applicants to have earned a bachelor’s degree and successfully completed the required prerequisite coursework at the post-secondary level.

 

  1. Option 1: Combined Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science/Pre-Athletic Training and Master of Science in Athletic Training: This option is designed for students who have not yet earned a Bachelor’s Degree.

The combined Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science/Pre-Athletic Training and Master of Science in Athletic Training is comprised of two phases, the candidacy and professional phases.

During the candidacy phase, students complete the minimum requirements for program admission (below). Once admitted, students will continue to complete the BS/MS degree requirements outlined under “Graduation Requirements.”

  

Minimum Requirements for Program (Professional Phase) Admission:

  • Completion of the following courses with a grade of C or better: AT100, AT145, AT145L,  ESAT 202, ESAT225, ESAT226, ESAT250, PSYC100, PSYC 100L, ESAT 150, ESAT150L (or proof of knowledge/content as defined in the athletic training student handbook)
  • Completed Graduate Program Application (located on the AT program’s webpage)
  • Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 for pre-requisite courses
  • Interview with athletic training faculty
  • Signed technical standards
  • Proof of current CPR/BLS (or equivalent), certification
  • Proof of first aid training
  • Proof of up-to date immunizations required by Adrian College
  • Signed Communicable Disease Policy

Program Professional Phase Probation and Retention:

In order to graduate with a combined BS in Exercise Science/Pre-Athletic Training and MS in Athletic Training, students must be in good academic standing. Students who do not meet minimum retention criteria will be placed on probation, and will have a maximum one year from the original probation date (from the date of the first offense, only) to rectify the deficiency. If deficiencies are not corrected within the one-year period, the student may be dismissed from the athletic training program. Students must:

  • Maintain a minimum overall (undergraduate and graduate courses combined) cumulative major GPA of 2.75

  • Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all graduate level coursework

  • Complete all athletic training program required coursework with a grade of C or better

  • Note: Students who do not earn the minimum grade requirements in athletic training clinical skills courses will not be allowed to move on to the subsequent clinical skills course.

Combined Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science/Pre-Athletic Training and Master of Science in Athletic Training Graduation Requirements (130-142 credit hours):

To graduate, students must complete the Essential Liberal Arts Courses, Exercise Science/Pre-Athletic Training Core and Cognates, and Athletic Training Graduate Core.

 

Essential Liberal Arts Courses (31 Hours)

Exercise Science/Pre-Athletic Training Core (30 hours)

AT100             Medical Terminology (2)

AT145             Introduction to Athletic Training (1)

AT145L           Intro to Athletic Training Lab (1)

ESAT 202        Pathology of Injury and Illness (3)

ESAT225         Human Anatomy (3)

ESAT 226        Human Anatomy Lab (1)

ESAT250         Human Physiology (3)

ESAT300         Kinesiology (3)

ESAT311         Exercise Physiology (3)

ESAT350         Exercise Physiology Lab (1)

ESAT240         Introduction to Research (3)

AT300             Intro to Pharmacology (3)

ESAT312         Sport Nutrition (3)

or

BIOL209         Human Nutrition (3)

 

 

Exercise Science/Pre-Athletic Training Cognates (8-20 hours)

PSYC100         General Psychology (3)

PSYC100L       General Psychology Lab (1)

And

ESAT 150        Integrated Science for Pre-Health (3)

ESAT 150L Integrated Science for Pre-Health Lab (1)

  Or

Any lab science course in Biology, Chemistry, AND Physics (may require additional prerequisites)

Athletic Training Graduate Core (64 hours)

This option is for students who are enrolled in the combined BS in Exercise Science/Pre-Athletic Training and MS in Athletic Training at Adrian College

AT500  The Practicing Athletic Trainer (2)

AT501 AT Clinical Skills I (1)

AT501-L  AT Seminar I (1)

AT502 AT Clinical Skills II (2)

AT502-L   AT Seminar II (1)

AT503   AT Clinical Skills III (2)

AT503-L  AT Seminar III (1)

AT504 AT  Clinical Skills IV (2)

AT504-L  AT Seminar IV (1)

AT505-5cr AT Clinical Skills V (5)

AT506-5cr   AT Clinical Skills VI (5)

AT510 Strength and Conditioning (3)

AT520 Research Methods (3)

AT525 Pre-Hospital Care I (2)

AT525L Pre-Hospital Care I Lab (1)

AT530  Athletic Training Administration (3)

AT531 Examination and Diagnosis I (2)

AT531-L Examination and Diagnosis I Lab (1)

AT532 Examination and Diagnosis II (2)

AT532-L Examination and Diagnosis II Lab (1)

AT533  Examination and Diagnosis III (2)

AT533 Examination and Diagnosis III Lab (1)

AT540 Mental and Behavioral Health (3)

AT541 Therapeutic Interventions I (2)

AT541-L Therapeutic Interventions I Lab (1)

AT542 Therapeutic Interventions II (2)

AT542-L Therapeutic Interventions II Lab (1)

AT543 Therapeutic Interventions III (2)

AT543-L Therapeutic Interventions III Lab (1)

AT550 Emergency Medical Services (5)

AT560 Exam Prep (1)

AT 591  Capstone: Applied Thesis (2)

 

 

B.  Option 2: Stand-Alone Master of Science in Athletic Training: This option is for students who have already completed a Bachelor’s degree (Either at Adrian College or another institution)

Minimum Requirements for Program Admission:

  • Completed Athletic Training Program Application
    • Students outside of Adrian College must apply through ATCAS - https://caate.net/Students/Apply-With-ATCAS
  • Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
  • Minimum grade of C in prerequisite coursework (see below)
  • Interview with athletic training faculty
  • Proof of current CPR/BLS (or equivalent), certification
  • Proof of first aid training

Prerequisite Content Areas: Students must prove prerequisite content knowledge at the postsecondary level as defined by the program (see Athletic Training Student Handbook) policy in the following areas.

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Human anatomy
  • Human physiology
  • Medical Terminology
  • Pathophysiology

Other Program Requirements: The following items will be requested at the time of admission and must be complete prior to the start of classes.

Foundational Content Areas: Courses listed below are not required for admission, but are required in order to graduate with an MS in Athletic Training. Students who need coursework in these areas will incur additional costs).

  • Pharmacology
  • Biomechanics
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Nutrition

Program Probation and Retention:

In order to graduate with an MS in Athletic Training, students must be in good standing with the program. Students who do not meet minimum retention criteria will be placed on probation, and will have a maximum one year from the original probation date (from the date of the first offense, only) to rectify the deficiency. If deficiencies are not corrected within the one-year period, the student may be dismissed from the athletic training program. Students must:

  • Maintain a minimum Graduate GPA of 3.0
  • Complete all athletic training program required coursework with a grade of C or better
  • Note: Students who do not earn the minimum grade requirements in athletic training clinical skills courses will not be allowed to move on to the subsequent clinical skills course.

Transfer Students:

Information regarding Adrian College transfer policies can be found in the Academic Catalog under the Admissions section or on the registrar’s webpage. Students wishing to transfer into the athletic training program will be held to the same admission, curriculum, and retention/probation standards outlined in this catalog. Transfer students are strongly encouraged to consult with the Athletic Training Program Director prior to enrollment. Students should be aware that some coursework may not transfer or apply toward degree requirements. Acceptance of transfer students is contingent upon space availability and the student’s performance relative to the stated admission criteria.