Academics > Colleges/Schools and Departments > College of Health Sciences and Human Services > Applied Health Sciences > Athletic Training > Future Athletic Training Students > Admission > Admission and Retention Standards
Admission and Retention Standards
Murray State University: Exercise Science Area, Emphasis in Athletic Training
New Admission and Retention Standards:
Requirements for Admission Exercise Science/Athletic Training Emphasis
Students should understand that a considerable time commitment is required to successfully complete all the requirements in the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP). To be considered for admission into the Athletic Training Program, students must achieve and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, complete at least 30 observation hours and/or pass EXS 270, meet the Technical Standards (found at the referenced website below), and apply by the dates given (by the first Friday in November or the first Friday of the spring semester). The ATEP Admission Committee reviews the following materials for admission: application, candidate interview, overall college GPA, ACT/SAT scores, prior experience, certifications/professional memberships, performance reviews during their observation hours and/or EXS 270, college courses completed, and three letters of recommendation. Only those candidates admitted into the ATEP and have successfully completed an approved CPR/First Aid course may take the clinical experience courses (EXS 271, 371, 372). These courses must be taken in residence at MSU. Students may transfer into the program, based upon their credentials, courses completed at other institution(s), space availability, and permission from the ATEP Director. Transfer student candidates may transfer in EXS 301, 320, 390, 402, 403, 420, and 471 only after departmental approval. If the student’s cumulative GPA drops below the required 2.5, the student will be subject to disciplinary action according to the Program’s GPA Policy found on its website listed below.
A grade below a C for a major course is unacceptable, and the course must be retaken the next semester offered. Students must achieve a cumulative overall GPA of 2.5 or higher prior to enrolling in EXS 320, 390, 402, 403, 420, and 471 and to graduate from the ATEP. Students must maintain confidentiality at the clinical site(s), show respect for faculty, staff, and student-athletes at all times, and demonstrate adequate performance of the Essential Skills (found at the referenced web site below) to be admitted and retained in the ATEP.
All students must meet the Technical Standards established to assure the health and safety of the candidate, other athletic training students, faculty and staff, and student-athletes or other physically active persons. All candidates are required to complete a physical exam upon acceptance into the ATEP, provide proof of proper immunizations, and either proof of Hepatitis B vaccination (HBV) or a signed waiver.
All full-time athletic trainers carry personal liability insurance to a level of no less than $1,000,000/incident, $3,000,000 aggregate. Athletic training students are covered under a blanket policy that is renewed annually at the athletic training students’ expense. Athletic training students must be covered under this policy or approved alternative prior to beginning clinical rotations or field experiences. Other costs to the student include purchasing proper attire to be worn at the clinical sites, any costs associated with annual training and/or certifications, and those described on the Program’s website. The Athletic Training Program attempts to keep these costs at a minimum. Athletic training students are required to provide their own transportation to their Clinical Experience Sites.
Any student who, after reasonable accommodations, cannot perform the Essential Skills may not be permitted to continue in the ATEP. It is the student's responsibility to notify the Director, Office of Equal Opportunity/ADA Coordinator, Murray State University, to request a reasonable accommodation. All requests for accommodation must be accompanied by appropriate documentation from a qualified professional referencing the condition and specific need for the accommodation requested.
Please contact the ATEP director at (270) 809-4517 or e-mail the department for further information.
Essential Skills:
The essential skills necessary to succeed in the ATEP and be a successful entry-level certified athletic trainer, include:
Critical thinking: Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment; sufficient powers of intellect to acquire, assimilate, integrate, apply, and evaluate information and solve problems.
Interpersonal: Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, economic, and intellectual backgrounds.
Communication: Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form. Utilizes effective communication skills to interact with patient/client, peers, and other health care personnel of various ages, cultural, economic, and intellectual backgrounds in a variety of settings.
Behavioral: Sufficient motivation, responsibility, and flexibility to function in new, ever-changing, and stressful environments. Must exercise good judgment while maintaining a mature, sensitive, and effective professional relationship with faculty, staff, students, patients/clients, and other members of the health care team.
Sensory: Sufficient use of the senses of vision, hearing, touch and smell; to observe, assess, and evaluate effectively (both close at hand and at a distance) in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical setting.
Motor Skills: Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective athletic training care. Ability to move from room to room, athletic sidelines to athletic playing field, lift and position, maneuver in small places, and maintain the physical health and stamina needed to carry out athletic training procedures. Ability to get self to clinical areas.