While Athletic Training is no longer offered by King's College as an undergraduate major, this page exists as a resource for current Athletic Training students pursuing a bachelor's degree. For the 3+2 M.S. in Athletic Training program, visit this page.

The King’s College Athletic Training (AT) Program provides students with individualized, learning-centered athletic training education in the liberal arts tradition, which enables them to become confident, skilled, and principled Certified Athletic Trainers. Certified Athletic Trainers are recognized by the American Medical Association as allied health professionals who specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses. The AT Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The emphasis of the AT Program is on providing the student with an excellent foundation of academic and clinical knowledge.

Degree Offered: Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Pre-Professional Phase

This component of the curriculum is designed to provide the Athletic Training Student with the Core Curriculum of the College as well as introductory study and clinical experiences in Athletic Training. Athletic Training Students in the Pre-Professional Phase will have the opportunity to immediately become involved with the daily operation of the Sports Medicine Clinic and Athletic Training Facilities during their freshman year. The Athletic Training Student is also encouraged to utilize the state-of-the-art facilities and equipment by assisting in the treatment of various athletic and orthopedic injuries.

In the Pre-Professional Phase, the Athletic Training Student will take courses such as Introduction to Athletic Training, Emergency Care of Athletic Injuries, Anatomy and Physiology, Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries, Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology, and Principles of Health.

The Athletic Training Program has Technical Standards for Admission.  The Technical Standards establish the essential qualities that are considered necessary for students to achieve the knowledge, skills, and competencies of an entry-level Athletic Trainer, as well as meet the expectations of the program’s accrediting agency.  Before beginning any clinical experiences in the Pre-Professional Phase, and in order to be successfully admitted to the Professional Phase, students must read these Technical Standards and indicate that they can meet the Technical Standards either with or without reasonable accommodations.  The Technical Standards for Admission may be viewed by visiting the AT Program website or by contacting the Program Director.  For more information concerning this requirement, please contact the Program Director.

The AT Program also requires students to have a physical examination which has been documented and signed by a physician (MD or DO), physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.  This document must be presented to and kept on-file at the King’s College Student Health Center before the student can begin any clinical experiences in the Pre-Professional Phase and in order to be successfully admitted to the Professional Phase.  This physical must also include an immunization record which documents that the student has received the immunizations required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which are the immunizations for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (commonly known as the MMR vaccination).  For more information concerning this requirement, please contact the Program Director.

There are extra costs that are required for successful completion of the Pre-Professional Phase of the program, for successful entry into the Professional Phase of the program, and for successful completion of the Professional Phase of the program.  These costs include, but may not be limited to:  professional certifications such as American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers and First Aid, clothing that is compliant with the program dress code, and transportation to and from clinical sites.  For more information concerning this requirement, please contact the Program Director.

Transfer Students:

A student who transfers to King’s College with the intent to pursue the Athletic Training major must start in the Pre-Professional Phase of the major.  In addition, the transfer student must complete at least one full semester in the Pre-Professional Phase to be eligible for acceptance into the Professional Phase of the AT Program.  If accepted into the Professional Phase, the student must complete the Professional Phase and all other requirements for graduation from King’s College.

Acceptance or non-acceptance of transfer courses to King’s College in place of the following courses will be at the discretion of the King’s College Registrar in consultation with the Program Director: any course that has the AT prefix, BIOL 219, BIOL 219L, BIOL 220, BIOL 220L, CORE 154, and MATH 126.  Students seeking transfer credit for any of these courses may be asked to demonstrate the appropriate cognitive and psychomotor knowledge, skills, and abilities by passing a comprehensive exam.  Should the Registrar and the Program Director determine that any Athletic Training courses/credits taken previously will not transfer, the prospective transfer student may be required to remediate the course work at King’s College.  All courses at King’s College with the AT prefix that are 300-level or higher and the related clinical education experiences must be taken at King’s College.  For more information regarding these requirements, please contact the Program Director.

Requirements for Entry into the Professional Phase:

1. Completion of all 100- and 200-level AT Program courses (AT prefix) and required science courses (refer to the Pre-Professional Phase course listing).

2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75.

3. A minimum Athletic Training major grade point average of 2.75 (includes all AT courses, required science courses, and CORE 154 [if taken]).

4. A minimum grade of “C” in all 100- and 200-level AT courses and in all required science courses.

5. Current American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers certification and First Aid certification. (These will be earned    in AT 165).

6. The Athletic Training Student must apply and be admitted to the Professional Phase of the program. Application is typically made in the spring of the Sophomore year, with the written application due in March. A formal interview will take place in April. An Advisory Committee evaluates the candidates for the Professional Phase and it is the objective of the Committee to admit only qualified Athletic Training Students. The Committee evaluates the following selection criteria:

A.    Application Form and Essay – 15% of selection criteria

B.    Grade Point Averages – 40% of selection criteria
(This is a combination of the candidate's Athletic Training major GPA and cumulative GPA.)

C.    Pre-Professional Phase Clinical Experiences – 15% of selection criteria
(This is the average of grades received in AT 202 and AT 203 [clinical courses].)

D.    Faculty Evaluation of the Student – 5% of selection criteria
(This is an evaluation of the candidate's classroom performance by a faculty member outside of the Department of Health and Human Performance.)

E.    Entrance Exam Score – 10% of selection criteria
(This is a cumulative exam based on the candidate's Pre-Professional Phase courses. The Program Director will notify the candidate of the date, time, and location.)

F.    Entrance Interview – 15% of selection criteria
(This is a formal interview that takes place in April. The Program Director will notify the candidate of the date, time, and location.)

7. The applicant earns points based on each component of the selection criteria and must earn a minimum combined score of 75 (out of 100) to be eligible for full admittance.

Following the spring semester, each candidate will receive notification from the Program Director regarding their acceptance status. When the Athletic Training Student receives acceptance, the two-year Professional Phase will begin. Acceptance into the Professional Phase of the program is competitive and approximately sixteen applicants are selected into the Professional Phase annually.  Athletic Training Students who are not accepted may, if they choose, attempt to rectify any deficiencies and reapply to the Professional Phase the following year.

Professional Phase

This phase of the program is designed to provide the Athletic Training Student with high-level, comprehensive, academic and clinical experiences. Some of the courses to be completed in the Professional Phase include: Evaluation and Diagnosis in Athletic Training; Therapeutic Modalities, Therapeutic Exercise; Pathology and Pharmacology in Athletic Training; Nutrition and the Athlete; Research Methods and Design in Athletic Training; Current Trends and Topics in Athletic Training; and Organization and Administration of Athletic Training. As the Athletic Training Student progresses through the Professional Phase, he or she will be given greater responsibilities and become more directly involved in the care of patients.

Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of all courses in the AT Program curriculum.

2. A minimum grade of “C” in all AT courses.

3. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50.

4. A minimum Athletic Training major grade point average of 2.50.

5. Current American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers certification and First Aid certification.

6. A minimum of fourteen Professional Activity Points must be earned, documented and approved by the Program Director.

Pre-Professional Phase Courses

  • BIOL 219 Anatomy & Physiology I
  • BIOL 219L Anatomy & Physiology I Lab
  • BIOL 220 Anatomy & Physiology II
  • BIOL 220L Anatomy & Physiology II Lab
  • CORE 154 Introduction to Psychology
  • AT 101 Introduction to Athletic Training
  • AT 165 Emergency Care of Athletic Injuries
  • AT 202 Athletic Training Clinical I
  • AT 203 Athletic Training Clinical II
  • AT 230 Prevention & Care of Athletic Injuries I
  • AT 231 Prevention & Care of Athletic Injuries II
  • AT 245 Principles of Health
  • AT 280 Kinesiology
  • AT 290 Exercise Physiology

Professional Phase Courses

  • CORE 154 Introduction to Psychology (if not taken in Pre-Professional Phase)
  • MATH 126 Introduction to Statistics
  • AT 302 Athletic Training Clinical III
  • AT 303 Athletic Training Clinical IV
  • AT 305 Evaluation and Diagnosis in Athletic Training I
  • AT 306 Evaluation and Diagnosis in Athletic Training II
  • AT 310 Therapeutic Modalities
  • AT 310L Therapeutic Modalities Lab
  • AT 311 Therapeutic Exercise
  • AT 311L Therapeutic Exercise Lab
  • AT 325 Nutrition and the Athlete
  • AT 402 Athletic Training Clinical V
  • AT 403 Athletic Training Clinical VI
  • AT 422 Organization & Administration of Athletic Training
  • AT 445 Pathology & Pharmacology in Athletic Training
  • AT 460 Current Trends & Topics in Athletic Training
  • AT 480 Research Methods and Design in Athletic Training