Athletic Training
Program Advisor(s)
Dr. Evan Vail Hellwig, Associate Professor of Athletic Training, Department Chair
Mr. Christopher Cross, Assistant Professor of Athletic Training
Mr. Robert D. Duchardt, Assistant Professor of Athletic Training
Program Description
Cedarville's Athletic Training major qualifies you to work with both amateur and professional athletes in high schools, colleges, and sports medicine clinics. As a recognized allied health profession, a career in athletic training requires a significant level of scientific and medical preparation. You should complete college preparatory courses in biology, chemistry, and advanced biology (or human anatomy and physiology) during your high school experience. Cedarville prepares you for the real world of athletic training with many opportunities for practical experience. The athletic training major is designed to help you pass the N.A.T.A. examination for certification. Cedarville students do well on their examination and are in demand by some of the top training facilities in the United States.
Online Catalog
View the catalog information about this program.
Program Requirements
View the course requirements and descriptions for this program.
The athletic training major at Cedarville is a four-year program that leads to a bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree. Due to the program’s strict requirements for clinical education experiences, space is limited
to approximately 10 students per academic class (10 seniors,
10 juniors, and 10 sophomores). There is no limit to how many freshmen may declare athletic training as a major, but if more
than 10 students desire to continue as athletic training majors, a competitive admissions process is enforced. Transfer students are considered on an individual basis and may be directly accepted into the athletic training program if space is available and they have completed the necessary prerequisites.
Accreditation standards require that students spend at least two full years in the clinical education component of the curriculum. Athletic training majors need to be available during varsity practice and game times to fulfill this requirement. Freshmen must accumulate at least 150 hours of clinical experience to be eligible for admission into the athletic training program. Sophomores will be scheduled to work (approximately 8-10 hours per week) with every team each semester on a rotation basis to expose them to all aspects of collegiate athletic training services. The junior and senior years are devoted to completing extensive clinical assignments; this includes assisting a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) with a lower extremity sport, upper extremity sport, and equipment-intensive sport (football) as well as undergoing a general medical clinical experience that includes assisting with the management of Cedarville’s athletic training facility. Upperclassmen can anticipate working between 12-18
hours per week.
Career Opportunities
Cedarville athletic training graduates may take the three-part Board of Certification (BOC) examination to be credentialed as Certified Athletic Trainers in any state. Graduates of Cedarville’s program have a 15% higher pass rate than the national average on the three-part certification exam. They readily obtain positions in high schools, universities, clinical settings, and private practices across the nation.
Many athletic training graduates pursue additional graduate studies and are readily accepted by universities like:
- Andrews University
- Columbia University
- Manhattan College
- Rush University
- State University of New York
- The Ohio State University
- University of Dayton
- University of Virginia
- Wright State University
Some Cedarville athletic training graduates use their undergraduate training as a stepping stone to related careers and are now serving as physician’s assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, teachers, nurses, paramedics, and strength and conditioning specialists.
