ATHLETIC TRAINING, B.S. at University of Wisconsin

The information included here in the Guide is still provided as a resource for admitted undergraduate students.  

In May of 2015, the AT Strategic Alliance released an official statement recommending the elevation of the professional degree for athletic training to the master’s level. Consequently, the UW–Madison AT Program has suspended admission to the undergraduate AT program and is transitioning the professional preparation program to a new master’s degree. Pending approval, students will first enroll in the new master’s degree program in the summer of 2021. Contact the Kinesiology department for additional information.

The Athletic Training Degree Program prepares students for healthcare careers as athletic trainers. Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), the program provides students with the evidence-based theoretical and clinical foundation needed to succeed in a wide range of athletic training healthcare settings. 

This program places an emphasis on the basic sciences. In addition to introductory courses in athletic training, anatomy, and first aid, applicants must complete prerequisite coursework in biology, chemistry, and physics as part of the application process. Students must also complete a minimum of 20 hours of clinical observations prior to applying to the AT program.

The professional requirements include (1) athletic training courses that encompass the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions, (2) content area coursework in general medical issues with full-semester courses in nutrition and pharmacology, and (3) course credit for athletic training clinical and field work, including one experience taken in conjunction with a high school rotation.