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The Pre-Athletic Training track at Â鶹ɫÇéƬ is designed to prepare students for entry into athletic training careers or graduate pathways. Students interested in this track may be looking to become athletic trainers, who can complete the appropriate undergraduate prerequisites before enrolling in and completing a graduate athletic training program leading to a master’s degree.

Students from any undergraduate major can pursue the Pre-Athletic Training track alongside their degree requirements. While many students pursuing Pre-Health pathways major in the sciences, graduate athletic training programs do not require or prefer a particular undergraduate major. On the Pre-Athletic Training track, students complete their chosen major while also taking the prerequisite courses required by the graduate athletic training programs they plan to pursue. Common prerequisites for graduate athletic training programs include coursework in chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology, physics, statistics or mathematics, and psychology. Most athletic training programs also require kinesiology and exercise physiology.

Students can meet one-on-one with the Director of Pre-Health Programs to discuss course selection and experiences outside the classroom. Pre-Health students also have access to professional-school visits, alumni sessions, application workshops, and guidance on gaining experience through work, internships, volunteering, or shadowing in athletic training and related health care settings.

More detailed information on which Â鶹ɫÇéƬ courses will be taken to satisfy Pre-Athletic Training requirements can be found on the Â鶹ɫÇéƬ Pre-Health Bridges site.

At Â鶹ɫÇéƬ, we have a wide variety of majors in both the natural and social sciences that pair well with a pre-health pathway. Pre-Health students are always encouraged to major in a field that they are passionate about, and then connect with the Pre-Health office to ensure they are taking the proper coursework for their desired field. One of the benefits of an Â鶹ɫÇéƬ education is the ability to develop your academic plan the way you want, and Pre-Health is no exception!

Did you know that 80% of our graduates leave Â鶹ɫÇéƬ with more than just one major? Adding a minor or a second major to your academic program is a great way to differentiate yourself amongst other applicants. Given the academic programs that we offer, it is attainable to double-major in areas of study that you are excited about, all while satisfying the appropriate prerequisites for graduate school. You can even create an individualized major with University approval.

Listed below are some of the most popular majors for our Pre-Health students, yet all Â鶹ɫÇéƬ majors can be paired with Pre-Health:

• Anthropology + Sociology
• Applied Mathematics
• Biology
• Biochemistry
• Chemistry
• Environmental Science
• Marine Biology
• Physics
• Psychology
• Public Health

For all health professions schools, prospective students need to not only demonstrate a deep understanding of prerequisite courses, but also demonstrate that they have an understanding of the professions that they wish to pursue. This happens in several ways, but almost always falls into one category: Experiential Learning.

Experiential Learning can take place in several different ways. A few activities that successful Pre-Health students have engaged in:

• Shadowing healthcare providers in one’s desired field
• Conducting research, either on-campus or off-campus
• Gaining a professional certification to work hands-on with patients, such as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Engaging in community service work in your college or home community
• Completing an internship, co-op, or practicum in one’s desired field
• Participating in high-impact learning opportunities, like the Honors Program or an independent research project
• Taking leadership roles in on-campus organizations and clubs

It’s not expected that applicants to the health professions will have completed all of the activities above, but successful applicants will have engaged substantially outside of the classroom before submitting their applications. At Â鶹ɫÇéƬ, you’ll work with the Pre-Health Program to identify your interests as they relate to the health professions, and collaborate to locate and engage in these experiences. You can also receive assistance from the  and the excellent suite of tools that they have for students, including workshops, 1-1 advising, Handshake, and more!

The health professions are competitive – we want our healthcare providers to know their stuff! Competitive GPAs for most of these programs begin at around 3.5, and many have even higher expectations of their applicants. At Â鶹ɫÇéƬ, we know that all healthcare providers have found themselves struggling or overwhelmed with one of their courses, whether it was Organic Chemistry, Calculus, or even Creative Writing. At Â鶹ɫÇéƬ, you have access to excellent resources including our prolific Tutoring Center, staffed by over one hundred students and staff whose goal is to help you better understand your material and retain it long-term. At The Tutoring Center, a particular emphasis is placed on STEM, and the center is open 6 days a week, including most evenings. Additionally, all Â鶹ɫÇéƬ faculty have office hours where students are encouraged to drop in to better understand their coursework.