Athletic Training Curriculum

Become eligible for the Board of Certification’s national Athletic Trainer Certification Examination and licensure.

Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training (BSAT) 

Ohio State’s professional Athletic Training curriculum is housed at the Columbus Campus and leads to eligibility for the Board of Certification’s national Athletic Trainer Certification Examination and to obtain a license to practice in any state. 

It uses an innovative 4-year plan of study with one year as a Pre-Athletic Training student followed by 3 years in the Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training (BSAT) program. 

First year students complete the yearlong Pre-Athletic Training phase comprised of prerequisite courses / clinical observation and apply for selective secondary admission to the BSAT program during spring semester. 

Thirty students are admitted to the BSAT program each year and they begin hands-on clinical fieldwork in early August of their 2nd year. 

Students admitted to the BSAT program typically complete coursework in the mornings and clinical fieldwork (avg. 20-25 hrs/wk) in the afternoons, evenings, and weekends. 

Most clinical fieldwork is on-campus, but some required clinical fieldwork is community based within a 25-mile radius of campus. Students provide their own transportation. Athletic Training courses are not available at Ohio State’s regional campus. Students beginning at a regional campus typically require two years to complete their prerequisite courses.

Typical Plan of Study

Below is a typical 4-year plan of study. Your own plan will likely differ and you should work with an advisor to create it. 

New students (freshmen) do not directly enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training (BSAT) program. Instead, they begin as Pre-Athletic Training majors completing prerequisite courses and clinical observation. Admission to the BSAT is selective and students traditionally apply after beginning prerequisite coursework. There is an Early Admission Pathway. See the Admissions Requirements page for details.

Professional courses in Athletic Training (course numbers 2100 and higher) are only available to students admitted to the professional program. 

Required clinical fieldwork experiences are associated with courses numbered XX89 and occur in the professional phase of the program.

Freshman Year (31 hours)

Freshman Year (31 hours)

Autumn: 
  • HLTHRHSC 1100 (1) — Health & Rehabilitation Sciences Survey 
  • ATHTRNG 2000 (3) — Basic Athletic Training 
  • Math 1148 (4) — Algebra & Trigonometry 
  • Anatomy 2300.04 (4) — Human Anatomy General Education Course (3)  
NOTE: Math placement score of "M" would result in placement into MATH 1150 & permit CHEM 1210 to be taken this term with Anatomy moved to the spring.

Spring: 

  • ATHTRNG 2010 (1) — AT Preclinical skills 
  • BIOL 1113 (4) — Biological Sciences - Energy Development & Transfer  
  • CHEM 1210(5) — General Chemistry 1 
  • HLTHRHSC 2500 (3) — Medical Terminology 
  • ENGLISH 1110 (3) — English Composition 

Summer: 

After admission to the BSAT program, students complete pre-season fieldwork starting the first week of August.

Sophomore Year (34 hours)

Sophomore Year (34 hours)

Autumn: 

  • ATHTRNG 2189 (3) — Introduction to Clinical Care 
  • ATHTRNG 2300 (3) — AT Diagnosis & Acute Management 1 
  • ATHTRNG 2200 (3) — Foundations of Athletic Training Diagnosis 
  • HLTHRHSC 5900 (3) —Health Sciences Research Interpretation 
  • EEOB 2520 (3) — Human Physiology 
  • PSYCH 1100 (3) — Introduction to Psychology 
Spring: 
  • ATHTRNG 2289 (3) — Field experience: OSU Multi-Facility 
  • ATHTRNG 2100 (1) — AT Skills Assessment 1 
  • ATHTRNG 2310 (3) — AT Diagnosis & Acute Management 2 
  • ATHTRNG 3800 (4) — Care of Emergencies Trauma & Disease 
  • Physics 1200 (5) — Physics: Fluids, Mechanics & Waves 
Summer: None

Junior Year (32 hours)

Junior Year (32 hours)

Autumn: 

  • ATHTRNG 3100 (1) — AT Skills Assessment 2 
  • ATHTRNG 3189 (5) — Field experience: Collegiate 1 
  • ATHTRNG 3500 (3) — AT Therapeutic Modalities 
  • ATHTRNG 3600 (3) — AT Biomechanics 
  • KNHES 5500 (4) — Science of Physical Activity for Healthcare Professionals 
Spring: 
  • ATHTRNG 3110 (1) — AT Skills Assessment 3 
  • ATHTRNG 3289 (5) — Field experience: Collegiate 2 
  • ATHTRNG 3700 (3) — AT Therapeutic Exercise 
  • ATHTRNG 3750 (1) — Musculoskeletal Screening & Corrective Techniques 
  • HLTHRHSC 4530 (3) — Nutrition for Sport General Education Course (3) 
Summer: 
  • ATHTRNG 3389 (1) — Elective Field experience: clinical for students with spring rotations extending into May (e.g. baseball, softball, etc.)

Senior Year (32 hours)

Senior Year (32 hours)

Autumn:

  • ATHTRNG 4100 (1) — AT Skills Assessment 4
  • ATHTRNG 4189 (5) — Field experience: High School
  • ATHTRNG 4500 (3) — Administration in AT
  • HLTHRHSC 5510 (2) — Pharmacology in Allied Health
  • General Education Courses (6)
Spring:
  • ATHTRNG 4110 (1) — AT Skills Assessment 5
  • ATHTRNG 4120 (1) — AT Skills Assessment 6
  • ATHTRNG 4289 (1) — Field experience: General Medical
  • ATHTRNG 4389 (variable) — Elective Field experience
  • ATHTRNG 4600 (3) — Psychosocial Aspects of Rehabilitation
  • STAT 1350 or 1450 (3) — Statistics
  • General Education Courses (6)
Summer: None

Athletic Training Courses

Athletic Training Courses

Athletic Training courses are listed under the ATHTRNG prefix in the university Course Catalog where course descriptions, prerequisites, and enrollment permission requirements can be found. 
  • Students seeking a General Sports Medicine course but who do not plan to enroll in the BSAT program should enroll in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (HTHRHSC) 5550 - Survey of Sports Medicine (3 cr hr). This course is offered in the Spring Semester only and covers topics including common sports injuries and their prevention and immediate care as well as risk management related to sports injuries.
  • ATHTRNG 2000 - Basic Athletic Training is offered exclusively for students planning to apply for admission to the BSAT program. It is NOT open to non-AT majors even though several other programs accept it as a substitute for HTHRHSC 5550.  If you are not currently a pre-AT major but you plan to apply for admission to the BSAT program, contact the AT Division for enrollment permission in this course.  This course is only available at the Columbus campus.
  • ATHTRNG courses numbered 2100 and higher teach professional Athletic Training content and skills and are only available to students admitted to the BSAT program.