The Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) at Marietta College was one of the first in the nation to be approved as a full major by the National Athletic Trainer's Association (NATA). It is also currently one of approximately 250 undergraduate A-Z Programs that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). It was the first program in the state of Ohio to receive national recognition to have a full academic major designed to prepare students to become certified athletic trainers. And it has long been regarded as the premiere program of its kind among small, liberal arts colleges.

At Marietta, Athletic Training is a full major, not a part of health and physical education, as it is at so many other schools. Our program is designed to prepare students to develop the competencies essential to embark on a professional career in athletic training, to build a foundation for graduate study, or prepare for professional programs in medicine, physical therapy, nursing, or athletic training.

ATEP will teach you about everything from athletic training, physical assessment, applied nutrition, pharmacology, and therapeutic rehabilitation, to kinesiology, pathophysiology, and anatomy. Our advanced anatomy class even uses human cadavers as lab components; unheard of within other undergraduate programs. The curriculum focuses on all aspects of ATEP, not just those related to sports. The structured curriculum integrates intensive study of both medicine and the health sciences. Meanwhile, our exceptional liberal arts foundation helps you develop the strong critical thinking and communication skills demanded in the health care industry.

Our varsity sports teams serve as natural laboratories for Athletic Training students. After being admitted into the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP), students will be assigned to an Approved Clinical Instructor (ACI) to gain clinical experience. All Athletic Training majors can expect to accrue a minimum of 800 clinical hours during a minimum of four semesters. Athletic Training Students receive comprehensive training by managing athletic injuries and overseeing treatment and rehabilitation of the injuries. In addition students gain experience by observing the team physician evaluate patients at a local clinic. Other clinical sites include Selby General Hospital’s emergency room, two area family practice offices, two out patient physical therapy clinics, and the in-patient physical therapy clinic at Marietta Memorial hospital. At these various off campus sites the athletic training students will gain experience working with MD’s, DO’s, PT’s, OT’s RN”s, and the non-athletic population.

Marietta College's Athletic Training Clinic is impressive. It features treatment rooms, a taping room, classrooms, areas for electrotherapy and hydrotherapy, a cadaver room, and the latest in modern equipment for teaching and treatment processes. Our field house and stadium also house satellite-training rooms.

Successful graduates of our Athletic Training program are qualified to sit for the BOC exam to become certified athletic trainers (ATCs). Our students have also been sought by the nation's top health-related graduate programs, where they pursue study and eventually careers in athletic training, physical therapy, medicine, corporate fitness, exercise physiology, nutrition, and nursing. Those who enter the work force immediately after graduation work as athletic trainers at the high school level, at colleges and universities and with professional teams. Other jobs include athletic training clinics, fitness centers, and corporate fitness programs.

The Athletic Training major at Marietta College has long been regarded as the premier program of its kind. This demanding program was one of the first in the nation to be approved as a full major by the NATA. It was the first program in the state of Ohio to receive national accreditation through the CAATE.

Why all the accolades?
The program integrates rigorous coursework and hands-on experience in the health sciences and medicine with a thorough grounding in the liberal arts, enabling you to develop the strong critical thinking and communication skills demanded by the health care industry. And you'll have all the benefits of a small college setting—small class sizes, personal attention from faculty, and the opportunity to participate fully in the campus life.

To qualify as Registered Physical Therapist (RPT), most states require an advanced degree—usually at the master's level. Thanks to its challenging, medically oriented structure, Marietta's Athletic Training major provides excellent preparation for students entering medical school, physician assistant or physical therapy programs.

One of the most important features of a Marietta education is the heavy emphasis placed on good advising. We believe it is essential for faculty to work closely with students to determine career goals and in preparing to meet those goals. If you're considering a career in medicine, our pre-medical advisors will work with you to select an appropriate major.

If you are planning to enter medical school, you will have the opportunity during your junior and senior year at Marietta to accompany physicians on their rounds at Marietta Memorial Hospital. The "Rounds" Program provides an unparalleled way to gain a greater understanding of the medical profession and the responsibilities of a physician. There are eight areas of expertise to which students can be exposed. Of particular relevance to athletic training majors are surgery, radiology, emergency medicine, and orthopedics. Students also have the opportunity to do rotations in hospital operating and emergency rooms, working under the guidance of local physicians.