Kinesiology with a Concentration in Athletic Training
Kinesiology is the scientific study of human movement. It’s often used as an umbrella term to describe the study of the interrelationship between the physiological processes and anatomy of the human body. It’s a great field if you’ve always wanted to know what the human body is capable of, and how you can both help it perform better and protect it from injuries.
Athletic Training
An athletic trainer is responsible for care and prevention of injuries in athletics. As an athletic trainer, you’re the first responder at athletic events who evaluates injuries and determines appropriate care. You’ll also be required to develop exercise programs to rehabilitate and prevent injuries. Athletic training is not only about diagnosing and treating the injury. It’s also about finding the cause of the injury and using the knowledge to correct the problem and prevent it from reoccurring.
To Become a Kinesiology Major
Before students can take on the advanced courses in Kinesiology, they must earn a 2.5 GPA in three courses: Introduction to Cell Biology, College Trigonometry, and General Chemistry. After passing these courses, they can progress in the major and choose a concentration, such as Athletic Training.
Advanced Coursework and Christian influence
It takes a special person to be an athletic trainer. You need to be patient and compassionate when working with athletes, coaches, and administrators for long hours. Therefore, a person who serves in the spirit of Christ will excel in this profession.
As a student, you’ll also learn from a wide array of science classes, from anatomy and physiology, and exercise physiology, to kinesiology and biomechanics. The study of anatomy and physiology prepares you to take more advanced courses, such as Orthopedic Evaluation of the Upper Body and Orthopedic Evaluation of the Lower Body, where you’ll learn to assess and identify injuries and diseases of joints in the body. Your coursework in physics and biomechanics will help you analyze mechanics of human movement. Understanding how the body moves will help you create prevention protocols as well as give you tools to return patients back to normal functioning as soon as possible.
Preparation for an Advanced Degree
Students in the Athletic Training concentration shadow a certified athletic trainer, which means you’ll get rigorous, hands-on experience before graduation. Opportunities range from shadowing high school athletic trainers to Division I and II athletic trainers.
To ultimately become a certified athletic trainer by the National Athletic Training Association Board of Certification, you must earn a master’s degree in athletic training from an accredited program and pass a national certification exam. Thanks to AU classes in advanced nutrition, biomechanics, strength and conditioning, and orthopedic evaluation, you’ll be prepared to tackle the exam’s questions on pain control, modes of immobilization, and specialized diets for athletes, among others.
Your Future as a Trainer
A diversity of organizations seeks graduates trained in kinesiology with a Concentration in Athletic Training. You could work at a bracing and orthotics company, where your knowledge of human mechanics can help design splints for injured athletes or braces to treat scoliosis. Or, you could pursue a traditional route for an athletic trainer and work at any level of athletics, from high schools to professional leagues.