Best Athletic Training Programs in the US: Fantastic athletic exploits are on display when we watch championship sports like the Super Bowl or the World Series. The best athletes of our generation are pushing their bodies and minds to do things that were previously unthinkable.
But we often don’t see how they accomplish it.
Athletic trainers are there to keep great athletes safe and healthy in addition to coaches who provide guidance. Without the assistance of knowledgeable athletic trainers, no athlete can win a race or score a goal.
Athletic trainers need to be very knowledgeable about the human body and current medical procedures. They collaborate with performers to manage injuries, create wellness plans, offer stretching techniques, and more. They assist common people in schools and health facilities as well as major leaguers and Olympians on occasion.
Athletic trainers need to have top-notch training despite the fact that the job is quite enjoyable and useful. The selection of a school is crucial for this reason. Both good teachers and chances for success are priorities for students.
Each institution on this list satisfies those requirements. Students in these programs learn from educators with extensive expertise, but they also get to practice their skills in the athletic department of the school. Students who want to help the community’s health find internships around the end of their studies.
Also Read: United Nations Internship Program 2023: Salaries, Application Process.
Best Athletic Training Programs in the US
Here are the best athletic training programs in the US:
1. Texas Christian University Harris College of Nursing & Health Professionals
The athletic training program at Texas Christian University’s Harris College of Nursing & Health Professionals, which is housed in the Department of Kinesiology, puts the needs of the students first. The program equips students with all they need to work in the sporting field of their choosing by combining classroom instruction with practical experience.
The element involving clinical experience sits at the heart of the curriculum. Students put their abilities to use by working one-on-one with a preceptor and working with athletes. Students start off by practicing on college athletes on campus before moving on to internships in medical offices and high schools.
This strategy has helped the TCU sports conditioning department build a strong reputation. 88% of graduates over the previous three years were successful on their first try at passing the license exam. Better yet, 96% of graduates have found work in the industry.
2. Ithaca College (Ithaca, NY)
Ithaca College’s athletic training education program is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the country, having been founded in 1975. With a curriculum founded on medical science, they get this respect.
Humanitas (humanities), anotomia (anatomy), physiologia (physiology), and kinesis are the core concepts of the school’s 4 Pillars Plus curriculum (movement). Each course students take emphasizes one of these ideas. Students graduate from the program having acquired a broad understanding of the human body.
That statement gives some indication of how hard the athletic training regimen may be. But with resources like the Kent Scriber Fund, Ithaca assists in attracting the best and brightest to the program (KSF).
The KSF, which was established in 2014, provides funding for extracurricular activities and academic pursuits that are not part of the regular curriculum. With this money, students can research certain areas of interest, which will help them become more knowledgeable and perceptive educators.
3. California State University Department of Kinesiology, Long Beach (Long Beach, CA)
In Fall 2022, the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, Long Beach, which is the youngest department on our list, will start providing an MS in athletic training. The school has assembled an exceptional group of faculty and resources and is currently accepting applications.
Dr. Sean P. Flanagan, one of the faculty members, holds a Ph.D. in Biokinesiology (with a focus on Biomechanics) from the University of Southern California. Dr. Flanagan is a certified athletic trainer, strength and conditioning specialist, and exercise physiologist with decades of experience in the industry.
Dr. Danielle N. Jarvis obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in 2015, and she is now the head of the Laboratory for Evaluating Athletic & Aesthetic Performance at CSU-Long Beach (LEAAP). Dr. Jarvis teaches courses in dance, biomechanics, and athletic conditioning while drawing from her studies on the stresses placed on the joints during jumping movements.
4. University of Georgia (Athens, GA)
The MS in athletic training, a two-year program situated in the Mary Frances Early College of Education, prepares graduates for a variety of employment. Students who complete the program go on to a variety of jobs, including teaching positions in performing arts colleges, careers in law enforcement, and working with professional athletes.
The program starts off with a curriculum built on fundamental scientific concepts. Clinical anatomy, clinical evaluation, therapeutic advances, and other topics are covered in courses for students. Students get the theoretical knowledge and medical skills they need to deal with patients with the help of this information.
During their clinical education semesters, students start working with patients. Students practice their talents on University of Georgia athletes first, under the guidance of faculty partners. However, students soon go on to internships in high schools, doctor’s offices, and other organizations that correspond to their bigger professional ambitions.
5. University of Hawaii (Manoa, HI)
Students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa gain knowledge about human body healing in one of the most breathtaking settings on the planet. U Hawai’i, a top research university, combines rigorous academic study with island traditions.
That society places a strong emphasis on the idea of mlama, which is Hawaiian for “care and protection.” From this angle, athletic trainers are seen as more than just experts; they are also caregivers who improve the lives of those they assist. In order to develop innovative methods of patient treatment, the program works to interact with the surroundings and cultural heritage of the people.
The faculty members at the institution embody this idea of mlama. Associate Professor Erin E. Centeio is one such instance. She recently received a $2.85 million grant from the US Department of Education to implement health programs for Hawaiian children.
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6. University of Connecticut’s Kinesiology Department (Storrs, CT)
The University of Connecticut’s kinesiology department offers an MS in athletic training, similar to the majority of the institutions on this list. The training students obtained during their undergraduate studies is expanded upon by this two-year degree. U Conn is developing an accelerated curriculum, nevertheless, that will enable students to earn their BS and MS in sports training in just five years.
The state-of-the-art resources of U Conn are advantageous to students regardless of the course they pick. The program collaborates with faculty from other areas as well as the renowned athletic program at the school. U Conn approaches sports care holistically by integrating the fields of physical therapy, exercise science, and athletic training.
As a top-tier research university, U Conn works to enhance the industry. The Korey Stringer Institute, so named in honor of the Minnesota Vikings star who died of heatstroke, seeks out novel treatments for diseases that affect sports.
The Sports Optimization and Rehabilitation (SOAR) lab explores cutting-edge methods for enhancing health and wellness via the use of state-of-the-art technology and a network of top academics.
7. University of Central Florida Kinesiology and Physical Therapy School (Orlando, FL)
The School of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, which is a part of the College of Health Professions and Sciences at the University of Central Florida, has a strong network of clinical locations. Students acquire practical experience working anywhere, from neighborhood high schools to community hospitals to the Kennedy Space Center, as they are ready to enter the careers of their choice.
This range of choices shows how important student choice is to the UCF sports training department. The curriculum aims to give students the confidence to pursue their passions and direct their education in those directions.
The accomplishments of UCF graduates demonstrate the effectiveness of our student-centered methodology. Kids in the athletic training department collaborated with Japanese judo schools in 2020 to train students in therapeutic techniques. This illustration shows how UCF students benefit people’s health all throughout the world.
8. Penn State University College of Health and Human Development (University Park, PA)
The athletic training department at Penn State University provides students with the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies because of its location in the College of Health and Human Development.
The Biomechanics Laboratory at Penn State enhances our knowledge of the biomechanical principles driving neurological and motor processes. Researchers and students can better care for athletes by examining the characteristics of skeletal structures and muscle movements using the technologies contained inside the lab.
The Noll Laboratory, which is committed to examining the connection between disease and physiology, develops novel physical activities to counteract the negative consequences of inactivity on health. Students learn the finest strategies for assisting athletes in staying active and healthy while collaborating with knowledgeable faculty researchers.
These kinds of tools enable students to advance the health sciences into the next generation while also providing them with the fundamental knowledge they need to practice their trade.
9. University of Michigan Kinesiology School (Ann Arbor, MI)
One of the most outstanding athletic programs in the nation has long been present at the University of Michigan. It comes as no surprise that the school has a top-notch athletic training program that prepares students to assist in caring for their star players.
The program is focused on U of M’s research projects. Students get access to the most recent knowledge on the functioning of bodies thanks to labs devoted to anything from brain behavior to musculoskeletal biomechanics. With this understanding, they can treat athletes’ bodies more accurately and successfully.
However, U of M works to provide a program that is oriented on the needs of students rather than relying on its reputation. The school maintains small class sizes due to its very selective admittance policy, which results in a student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1. Students learn the skills and practical experience necessary to complement the sophisticated research being conducted at the school while collaborating closely with knowledgeable faculty members.
10. Florida State University College of Health and Human Sciences (Tallahassee, FL)
Due to its rigor and concentration, Florida State University’s MS in Athletic Training program is among the best. FSU only takes the brightest and most motivated students, making it conceivably the most selective program on this list. FSU provides a rigorous program that expects the best of its students while working with a remarkable group of students.
The accomplishments of FSU’s teachers reflect the university’s dedication to excellence. Michele Garber, the department chair, has been a certified sports trainer for over 25 years and has garnered various teaching accolades. She wants to make sure that the pupils are aware of the connection between physical fitness and athletic performance.
Academic research of exercise training and its connection to muscle strength and body composition have been written by Professor Lynn Panton. Her research on the benefits of resistance training in female breast cancer survivors offers fresh perspectives on the training of athletes.
It is clear why FSU is producing the best athletic trainers in the nation when such outstanding instructors collaborate with top-notch students.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a big demand for Athletic Trainers?
Athletic trainer jobs are becoming more and more in demand. By 2030, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 23 percent rise in the number of jobs in this industry.
What is the highest athletic trainer salary?
An athletic trainer's annual pay can go up to about $77,000. These pay are frequently reserved for professionals with years of experience working for a single employer or those who land jobs in fields where their skills are in high demand.
Is it worthwhile to become an athletic trainer?
For those who appreciate dealing with physically active people and are looking to help others, a career in athletic training is fantastic. One of the main motivations for becoming an athletic trainer is having concern for the health and wellbeing of athletes.
What distinguishes an athletic trainer from a personal trainer?
Personal trainers often assist the general population in increasing their level of fitness by working at gyms and health clubs. While helping patients or clients recover from injuries, athletic trainers are most frequently seen at universities, hospitals, clinics, and professional sports teams.
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