Admission into the Athletic Training Major
Regular Option
The Regular Option is designed for students attending SDSU. Students interested in athletic training should complete coursework to meet system and institutional general education requirements, as well as AT 164 Introduction to Athletic Training. They will be assigned an adviser within the AT program. Each year the AT program admits (1) new cohort of students who begin their plan of study during the Fall semester. Admittance to the AT program is on a competitive basis. Students complete a secondary selective admissions application process during their sophomore year. Students who are admitted into the AT program will complete the program over the course of their final two years at SDSU. Students must complete BIOL 221 Human Anatomy, BIOL 325 Physiology, and PE 354 Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries by the final semester of the application year. Transfer students must complete the same or equivalent requirements.
Qualified Transfer Student
A Qualified Transfer Student (QTS) is an individual who is not currently attending SDSU, but would like to complete the professional portion of the Athletic Training major at SDSU and has the opportunity to work with a Certified Athletic Trainer at his/her current institution. The QTS will complete an application process for the athletic training major that is comparable to the application process for students currently enrolled at SDSU. The ability to complete a parallel application process would enable the QTS to qualify for an interview and acceptance directly into the fall semester of the professional program. The QTS is a student who has a strong interest in athletic training as his/her chosen profession, can complete the prerequisite coursework for the athletic training education major, and has access to a certified athletic trainer at his/her current institution to assist his/her with observation hours and taping competency completion. These students preferably have some experience as an “athletic training student” at their current institution.
During the application year, students will complete the following requirements: attendance at monthly meetings, clinical observations, proficiencies in taping skills, a letter of interest, health assessment, three letters of recommendation, formal application, and a personal interview. The number of students accepted into the clinical experience each year is based on the availability of clinical experience opportunities and certified staff.
For the qualified transfer student, application for admission into the AT program may also begin during or after a student’s sophomore year (approximately 32 credit hours). Students choosing the QTS option are strongly encouraged to complete an on-site visit with an adviser in the AT program early in the fall to begin the application process and establish open communication. The QTS should also identify a sponsor who is a certified athletic trainer (ATC). The function of the sponsor is to assist a student in completing his or her observations as well as achieving proficiency in taping skills. The ATC sponsor will also be asked to write a letter of recommendation for the student into the SDSU ATprogram. The basic selection criteria are similar to the regular option: acceptance into SDSU; interest and desire of student to become an athletic trainer; sophomore status (more than 32 credits); successful completion (C or better) of courses comparable to AT 164 Introduction to Athletic Training, BIOL 221 Anatomy, BIOL 325, and PE 354 Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries; competed application process, which culminates with a letter of interest; three letters of reference and personal interview; cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better; completed Health Assessment; and verification of technical standards.
Technical standards set the guidelines for the application process and progress in the major by describing the essential skills considered necessary for admitted students to possess in order to complete the responsibilities associated with being an athletic training student and subsequently, a practicing certified athletic trainer. They are requirements set by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Technical standards are assessed at the time of application as well as during progress and at completion of the program. Skills are described in five areas: cognitive ability and skills, psychomotor skills, affective behaviors, interpersonal skills, and knowledge or/interest in the profession of Athletic Training. The technical standards also describe policy statements regarding accommodations, standards for English as a second language, and eligibility requirements for the BOC national certifying examination.
