Athletic Training Program
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Academic Program
The mission of the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) at Emory & Henry College is to provide students with a comprehensive liberal arts education and clinical foundation utilized by an entrylevel athletic trainer. The program provides the student with opportunities that develop technical and clinical skills used to enhance the quality of health care for the physically active. The curriculum design is guided by the Educational Competencies and Clinical Proficiencies identified by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Athletic Training (JRC-AT).
About Athletic Training
Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association as an allied health care profession. With more emphasis on preventative care in today’s health care environment, the role of athletic trainers is becoming increasingly important in preventing, assessing, and rehabilitating sports injuries.
The Board of Certification (BOC) is the official certifying agency for athletic trainers. Anyone wishing to become a BOC-certified athletic trainer must have graduated from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation on Athletic Training Education (CAATE). In response, Emory & Henry has obtained CAATE accreditation and is one of a small number of educational institutions with this designation. Through a blend of classroom instruction and clinical experience, the program teaches the prevention, management, and rehabilitation of athletes’ injuries and illnesses. Our faculty offers exciting opportunities and challenges in a demanding but rewarding curriculum.
Degree Program
E&H offers two majors in athletic training. One major, leading to a B.S. degree, can be completed in four years and is designed for students who wish to pursue graduate studies in athletic training or physical therapy and to sit for the BOC exam. The second major, leading to a B.A. degree, is for the student wishing to teach as well as to prepare to sit for the BOC exam. This major takes an additional year to complete.
The 12 areas of Athletic Training are as follows: Educational Competencies: Risk Management and Injury Prevention, Pathology of Injuries and Illness, Assessment and Evaluation, Acute Care of Injury and Illness, Pharmacology, Therapeutic Modalities, Therapeutic Exercise, General Medical Conditions and Disabilities, Nutritional Aspects of Injury and Illness, Psychosocial Intervention and Referral, Health Care Administration and Professional Development and Responsibilities
Admissions Requirements
After participating in orientation and observation experiences in the clinical setting of the athletic training room, students may apply to the ATEP at the end of the second semester of their first year. For more information, visit the ATP department website.
Career Opportunities
Athletic training is a growing profession providing a wide selection of career opportunities. The following are settings in which athletic trainers may find employment:
Secondary Schools. Athletic trainers with teaching certificates are often in greater demand because of the dual certification. Students may opt for an additional year after graduation to obtain their teacher certification. Many athletic trainers in this setting also teach classes in various academic subjects.
Colleges and Universities. Athletic trainers’ jobs in this area generally fall into two categories: athletic department staff and teacher/athletic trainer. These positions frequently require a master’s degree.
Pre-Physical Therapy. Students may take all the prerequisite courses necessary to apply to graduate school in physical therapy.
Professional Sports. Athletic trainers work in one sport, such as football, baseball, basketball, hockey or soccer. Although the teams operate only a few months of the year, athletic trainers work throughout the year in conditioning and rehabilitation.
Sports Medicine Clinics. This fast- growing setting provides athletic trainers the opportunity to work with a number of different health care professionals and a diverse patient population. A number of these clinics also provide athletic training services for secondary schools.
Other possible athletic training employment opportunities include corporate health programs, health clubs, and clinical and industrial health care programs.
Examples of Alumni
Kari Arnold, ‘07, head athletic trainer, Radford High School, Radford, Va.
Eliza Widener, ‘07, Watauga Orthopedics, Kingsport, Tenn.
Brianne Kilbourne, ‘01, member of the athletic training faculty, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.
Faculty
Program Director
Dennis C. Cobler, dccobler@ehc.edu
E&H (’95) Ed.D., East Tennessee State University.
Melissa Davis, mdavis@ehc.edu
assistant athletic trainer
M.A., East Tennessee State University.
Beth Funkhouser, bfunkhouser@ehc.edu
clinical coordinator
M.Ed., University of Virginia.
James Westfall, jwestfall@ehc.edu
Assistant Athletic Trainer
M.A., University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Major Checklist
Athletic Training
