Athletic Training at West Virginia University is housed within the School of Physical Education. The program is designed to prepare professional practitioners to undertake the health care of athletes. Athletic Training consists of 128 credit hours. Students may combine Athletic Training with another major; however, an additional one to two years may be required to complete both areas of study. Majors in the School of Physical Education Athletic Coaching Education B, M Athletic Training B, M Physical Education Teacher Education B, M, D Sport and Exercise Psychology B, M, D Sport Management B, M B=Bachelor's; M=Master's; D=Doctorate For more information, contact either Lynn Housner at 304-293-3295, ext. 5287, lhousner@mail.wvu.edu, or Carol Straight at 304-293-3295, ext. 5265, cstraig@mail.wvu.edu. Visit us on line at: www.wvu.edu/~physed/

The WVU School of Physical Education
To serve students effectively, the School of Physical Education is divided into five programs: Athletic Training, Athletic Coaching Education, Sport and Exercise Psychology, Sport Management, and Physical Education Teacher Education.

The School of Physical Education is well known for its state-of-the-art facilities. They include the Coliseum, which houses a reading room, classrooms, a gymnasium, a dance studio, and racquetball courts; E. Moore Hall, a building on the downtown campus with a gymnasium, dance studio, and swimming pool; bowling lanes and game rooms at the Mountainlair; the Natatorium, a swimming complex; and the Shell Building, the site of an indoor track, courts for tennis, volleyball, and basketball, weight training, and wrestling rooms, and a rifle range. Outdoor areas include tennis courts, an archery range, an outdoor track, and baseball, soccer, and hockey fields.

Admission
When students enter WVU, it is recommended that they immediately sign up for the Prospective Athletic Training Student (PATS) Program. This program allows students interested in Athletic Training to observe a limited number of hours each week in the WVU athletic training facilities. PATS participants also attend a weekly in-service during the fall semester and observe a minimum of 75 hours in the WVU athletic training rooms. This helps students become familiar with athletic training and the opportunities WVU has to offer. Students may begin the PATS Program as soon as their freshman year and continue until they are admitted to the major.

In the spring of their freshman year, students are eligible to apply to the Athletic Training curriculum. Before the April 1 application deadline, students must have completed or be enrolled in ATTR 121, ATTR 122, BIOL 101 and 103, BIOL 102 and 104, ENGL 101, and the PATS Program to be eligible to apply. Applicants must have a cumulative 2.75 GPA, a grade of C or better in each of the prerequisite classes, and a grade of B or better in ATTR 121 and ATTR 122.

Once the application is complete and the student meets all of the minimum requirements, Athletic Training faculty, staff, and graduate assistants interview each candidate. Each student is evaluated based on academics, work habits, and personal characteristics. Academics, reference evaluation forms, and outside experiences are also considered positive factors toward admission, but do not ensure admittance.

Once admitted, students are required to complete three years of additional course work and a variety of clinical experiences under the direct supervision of a NATA-certified athletic trainer and approved clinical instructor (ACI).

Curriculum
The course work within the Athletic Training curriculum has been developed to allow a progressive learning experience. Course content is coordinated with the student’s clinical experience to encourage practical application.

Accreditation
West Virginia University is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

The curriculum is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. The NATA serves as the governing body for athletic training in the United States. West Virginia is one of approximately 300 schools in the country with an accredited undergraduate curriculum.

Graduate School Opportunities
Upon graduation from the WVU Athletic Training Program, students are eligible to take the national certification exam through the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification. Successful completion of the certification exam provides job opportunities at the high school, college, professional, clinical, or corporate levels. However, most students go on to graduate school to obtain a master’s degree. WVU offers a master’s degree in Athletic Training.

Salary Range
Should a student seek employment immediately after graduation, starting salaries range from $25,000 to $32,000 annually.