Athletic Training (AT) Major
The Athletic Training (AT) major is designed for those students interested in pursuing a career in athletic training. Students who complete the Athletic Training major will be eligible to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) examination. Furthermore, students are prepared to pursue post-professional education in athletic training or other areas of allied health (additional coursework may be necessary). Students interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree in Athletic Training and a professional graduate degree in Physical Therapy should contact the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Science for additional information.
The Athletic Training education program has a competitive admissions process. The Athletic Training major enrollment is limited to 40 students per class. Students interested in pursuing Athletic Training at Sacred Heart University should consult with the Office of Admissions and the Athletic Training Education program for current admission criteria. Two routes of Athletic Training education program admission are available, direct acceptance upon admission as a high school senior to Sacred Heart University or as a first-year Sacred Heart University student.
Admission into the Athletic Training program is based on several factors including: high school academic performance (3.0 cumulative GPA), completion of three to four years of science during high school, SAT (1050) or equivalent ACT scores, and an expressed interest in the Athletic Training education program. For students who qualify, a seat will be reserved in the program and they will be designated as an Athletic Training major upon entry to the University. Additionally, to retain acceptance status in the program, students must meet and maintain the following criteria as they move through their first year of study at Sacred Heart University:
- Complete the required first-year prerequisites and meet or exceed a minimum GPA of 2.5, with no grade lower than a C in the two science courses each with a lab (minimum) and AT 100
- Attend athletic training orientation and training events
- Attend one information/advising session held once each semester
- Complete health verification, immunizations, and background check (completed through CertifiedBackground.com upon formal acceptance into the program at the student’s own expense)
- Complete the Athletic Training Program Application Packet (available via program’s webpage)
Students who do not meet the admission criteria, or who decide to apply during their first year, or who are transfer students should apply for available seats by completing the formal application for admission to the Athletic Training education program, available on the program’s webpage, and attend the mandatory orientation meeting during the spring semester. The application packet can be found on the program’s webpage. Transfer students should inquire with the Athletic Training Education Program Director regarding their potential admission status before applying.
Acceptance into the Athletic Training education program for students who have not been granted acceptance is based on university or college scholarly achievement, overall GPA, science GPA, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. Athletic Training education program acceptance is also conditional upon meeting the program’s technical and medical standards, which are located on the program’s webpage. The program requires the completion of a certificate of health following a physical examination by a physician. All students must show proof of vaccination, immunization, and hepatitis B vaccine series or a signed waiver prior to beginning the program. In addition, athletic training students are required to complete a criminal background check and verify to meeting the physical and behavioral technical standards necessary to successfully complete all program requirements. Information regarding the application process can be found on the program’s webpage. The complete health verification, immunizations, and background check will be completed through CertifiedBackground.com at student’s own expense upon formal acceptance into the program. Complete written information on required technical standards can be obtained from the Athletic Training Program Director, the Athletic Training Policy and Procedure Manual, and the program’s website.
To receive a BS degree in Athletic Training, students must complete 130 (dependent upon new core requirements) credit hours of study.
The opportunity to participate in intercollegiate athletics while pursuing a career of study in athletic training is available. However, it is the responsibility of the student to manage the time commitment of both endeavors. Students should discuss the time commitments for participation in this major and their specific sport with their major advisor, Clinical Education Coordinator, and coach.
Program Accreditation
Sacred Heart University’s Athletic Training Education program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Accreditation status was granted in October 2001. The SHU Athletic Training program’s Board of Certification Examination Pass Rate is available on the program’s website.
Clinical Education
Clinical education provides students the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge with clinical experience. All clinical experiences, traditional and non-traditional, are under the direct supervision of certified athletic trainers or other healthcare providers. Students are exposed to a variety of settings including public, private, and preparatory high schools, a variety of colleges and clinical rotations including physicians’ offices and rehabilitation facilities. In addition, the clinical education program requires students to amass a minimum number of clinical hours per semester, as outlined in the syllabi of each practicum course. All students are required to maintain current CPR for the Professional Rescuer certification, annual PPD verification, and blood-borne pathogen training (or its equivalent) throughout the clinical experience. Students will not be able to participate in the clinical experience without current certification. Students are responsible for providing transportation to off-campus sites.
Beginning the first semester of the sophomore year, students enroll in six sequential graded practicums for which they receive credit. These six practicum courses are didactic and clinical in nature and utilize an informal problem-based approach. Each practicum is designed to foster critical thinking and allows an opportunity for students to practice the clinical skills they have been taught previously in the classroom. Small self-directed student groups are posed problem-based situations or cases requiring identification of pertinent strategies and clinical decisions to address the problem or case. The learning goals and new information discovered by the group during directed investigation of the problem is researched by individuals of the group and then examined and processed by the entire group before presentation, discussion, and evaluation. Facilitators (tutors) provide feedback to students regarding their decisions and guide students toward understanding the interconnections between their actions and the implications of their actions in the clinical environment.
Differential Tuition
Sacred Heart University has implemented a differential tuition for the Athletic Training program. The cost of athletic training education is increased relative to other majors due to intensive clinical laboratory courses and clinical supervision required to maintain the professional standards of athletic training education in addition to the associated expenses of clinical education. This charge will be reflected as a program fee each semester in addition to undergraduate tuition and fees. The fee will be initiated for Athletic Training students starting their sophomore year.
All Athletic Training students must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 and receive a C or better in all prerequisite and required courses. This undergraduate program leads to a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Athletic Training.
Additional Requirements
All students are required to maintain current CPR for the Professional Rescuer certification with AED (or its equivalent), supplemental oxygen certification, annual PPD verification, criminal background check, sexual harassment training, and Protecting God’s Children training. The AT program offers both CPR/AED certification and sexual harassment training annually, and PPD testing can be obtained from University Health Services. Students will not be permitted to participate in the clinical experience (beginning with AT 129) without completing the above criteria. Students are responsible for providing transportation to off-campus sites.
Faculty
GAIL SAMDPERIL, EdD , ATC
Interim Program Director
Clinical Associate Professor
Associate Dean
JULIE NOLAN , PhD, ATC
Assistant Professor
Program Requirements
Athletic Training Professional Courses (51 credits)
| AT 100 | Principles of Athletic Training | 3 |
| AT 125 | Athletic Training Basic Skills | 1 |
| AT 129 | Athletic Training Clinical Practicum I | 1 |
| AT 130 | Athletic Training Clinical Practicum II | 1 |
| AT 221 | Athletic Training Clinical Practicum III | 2 |
| AT 222 | Athletic Training Clinical Practicum IV | 2 |
| AT 239/239L | Orthopedic Evaluation I(3 credits) with Lab (1 credit) | 4 |
| AT 240/240L | Orthopedic Evaluation II (3 credits) with Lab (1 credit) | 4 |
| AT 241/241L | Therapeutic Modalities (3 credits) with Lab (1 credit) | 4 |
| AT 242/242L | Therapeutic Rehabilitation (3 credits) with Lab (1 credit) | 4 |
| AT 246 | Capstone Proposal | 1 |
| AT 251 | Research Methods & Statistics in Athletic Training | 4 |
| AT 255 | Nutritional Considerations for the Athletic Trainer | 3 |
| AT 275 | Organization & Administration in Athletic Training | 3 |
| AT 310/310L | Aspects of Clinical Medicine with Discussion (3 credits) with Lab (1 credit) | 4 |
| AT 322 | Athletic Training Clinical Practicum V | 3 |
| AT 323 | Athletic Training Clinical Practicum VI | 3 |
| AT 324/324L | Strength & Conditioning for Rehabilitation Professionals (3 credits) with Lab (1 credit) | 4 |
Athletic Training Required Supporting Courses (45 credits)
| EX 250 | Exercise Physiology with Lab | 4 |
| EX 253 | Pathophysiology & Pharmacology | 3 |
| EX 260 | Kinesiology with Lab | 4 |
| BI 111 | Concepts in Biology I: Molecules to Cells | 3 |
| BI 113 | Concepts in Biology I Laboratory | 1 |
| BI 112 | Concepts in Biology II: Cells to Organisms | 3 |
| BI 114 | Concepts in Biology II Laboratory | 1 |
| BI 206 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 3 |
| BI 208 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I Laboratory | 1 |
| BI 207 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 3 |
| BI 209 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II Laboratory | 1 |
| CH 117 | General Organic & Biochemistry: An Overview | 3 |
| CH 119 | General Organic & Biochemistry Lab | 1 |
| MA 140 | Precalculus | 4 |
| PS 110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PS 295 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| PY 104 | Elements of Physics | 3 |
| PY 104L | Elements of Physics Lab | 1 |