Athletic Training Education Program

The Athletic Training Education Program at the University of Connecticut is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The program is a highly competitive academic program that prepares students for a professional career in the field of athletic training. Athletic Training is an allied health care profession which has been formally recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) since 1991. The Certified Athletic Trainer, in cooperation with physicians and other allied health care professionals, is an integral member of the health care team who cares for the physically active. You can learn more about the profession of Athletic Training and the organization itself by visiting the web page of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association.

The Athletic Training Education Program is located in the Department of Kinesiology which is situated in the Neag School of Education. Graduates of the Athletic Training Education Program receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training. Currently, there are 3 full-time faculty members and two graduate assistant laboratory instructors who are responsible for the academic curriculum instruction. Among the Department faculty, there are several nationally renowned experts in a number of key areas including exertional heat illnesses, hydration, sports nutrition, exercise physiology, and strength and conditioning. In addition, there are nearly 30 approved clinical instructors who supervise our Athletic Training Students during their clinical practicum experiences.

Students who are accepted into the Athletic Training Education Program will complete 2 ½ years of academic and clinical education. The academic portion of the program includes courses such as anatomy, human and exercise physiology, kinesiology, orthopedic evaluation and assessment, pathology and treatment of illness, therapeutic modalities and therapeutic exercise, in addition to pharmacology, nutrition, counseling, and professional development.  A majority of the Athletic Training courses in the curriculum are taught in the state of the art Athletic Training Learning Laboratory. The clinical education component of the Athletic Training Education Program provides students the opportunity to participate in clinical experiences at the University of Connecticut, local high schools and small colleges, private boarding schools, local hospitals, sports medicine clinics, and other allied health care settings.  Athletic Training Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the off-campus clinical education sites. Upon completion of the program the student is eligible to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) certification examination. Once a student successfully passes the BOC examination the student is eligible for athletic training licensure, which is required to practice in Connecticut, as well as many other states.