Athletic Training, BS

The Athletic Training program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) and is designed to prepare students for a career in the field of athletic training, or may serve as the pre-professional course of study for physical therapy and sports medicine. The course of study leading to the Bachelor of Science Degree includes one year of pre-athletic training, a selection process, and three years in the professional and clinical education phase of the program. Admission to the Athletic Training Program is competitive. Because of enrollment limitations, students who have completed the pre-athletic training year at Longwood cannot be assured admission to the professional and clinical education phase of the Athletic Training Program.

Formal Admission to the Athletic Training Curriculum Program

Students must be formally admitted to the Athletic Training curriculum program before they can declare a major or register for upper division Athletic Training curriculum courses. Only those students admitted to the curriculum program (see admission criteria below) may declare an Athletic Training major.

All new freshmen and transfer students interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training will be admitted to the “Pre-athletic Training” program. Upon their successful completion of the criteria for and formal admission to the Athletic Training curriculum, the student will declare the Athletic Training major.

Admission to the Athletic Training Program is competitive. Because of enrollment limitations, students who have completed the pre-athletic training year at Longwood cannot be assured admission to the professional and clinical education phase of the Athletic Training Program.

Admission to the athletic training program is contingent upon the student satisfactorily completing the following prerequisites:

1. written application;
2. 75 hours of athletic training directed observation/work experience at one of the program’s clinical sites;
3. 30 credit hours of college course work;
4. a 2.5 overall grade point average (GPA),
5. a 2.75 GPA or better in all athletic training major and supporting courses are required at the time of application (ATTR 200 , ATTR 210 , BIOL 207  and BIOL 206 , with no grades lower than C- in these courses);
6. completion of all Level I Skill Competencies and Proficiencies, and
7. demonstration of appropriate clinical performance and conduct as determined by clinical preceptor evaluations of the directed-observation experience.

Admission to the Longwood University Athletic Training Program is a three stage process. In the first stage students must (a) meet a number of grade and grade point criteria, (b) file a formal written application for admission, (c) successfully complete prerequisite courses, and (d) complete a directed observation requirement.

Once those criteria are met the student will enter the second stage which includes (a) obtaining updated grade estimates and (b) participation in an admission interview. Assessments for each student are placed in rank order for each component of the application process. A final rank ordering is based on the total of all components of the application process. Preliminary admission decisions are made by the Athletic Training Review Committee based on collective results across all pre-admission categories. At the completion of stage two, students will be informed by the program director of the preliminary admission decision or denial.

Students granted preliminary admission enter stage three. In this stage, final semester grades are subject to the grade and grade point criteria. The program director verifies that the student’s final semester grades meet the grade and grade point requirements. Final admission decisions are made following the verification of candidates’ semester grades.

Students (freshmen) may apply for admission to the program after the completion of the first academic year or the first semester on campus (transfer students) providing that all prerequisite courses are completed. The admissions process will be administered at the end of the spring semester. Students will be informed by the program director of exact dates.

Students who are accepted into the program are required to accumulate a minimum of 800 hours of supervised clinical experience with the Longwood intercollegiate athletic program or an affiliated site. Students will also complete an off campus clinical internship at a site of their choice during the final semester of the program. Graduates of this program are eligible to sit for the Board of Certification examination. The course of study for students planning to participate as a member of an intercollegiate athletic team is five years.

The technical standards set forth by the Athletic Training Program establish the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to this program 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 (CAATE). Technical standards for program admission are published in the Athletic Training Program Curriculum Handbook.

Internship Requirements

Eligibility for the Clinical Internship in Athletic Training (ATTR 492 ) requires the successful completion of all coursework in the curriculum. The student must maintain a 2.5 overall grade point average and a 2.75 grade point average in all major coursework. The internship reflects a 480 hour, minimum of 12 weeks placement to be taken during the final semester of enrollment. Placement must be in an agency or educational institution under the supervision of a certified athletic trainer (ATC). University and CAATE standards will be adhered to throughout this experience.