Pre-Athletic Training
Central College’s curriculum combines classroom concepts with real-life situations. Whether you want to become an athletic trainer or prepare for a pre-health program, you’ll benefit from collaboration with seasoned faculty and health care professionals. The content of this program will prepare you for top graduate programs.
The Central Difference
Learn in Nationally Recognized Facilities
You’ll spend a great deal of time in the Ron Schipper Fitness Center, which features a 2,000-square-foot athletic training area. In Central’s state-of-the-art exercise science building, you’ll find a dedicated classroom that features taping stations and exam tables instead of desks. The human performance lab features a hydrostatic underwater weighing tank, one of only three in the Midwest. The building uses LCD screens and classroom capture, which enables all classes to be videotaped so you can review them later.
Baseball is Life
Central’s athletic training program helped Shane Nelson ’11 make the rounds as a minor league trainer.
Off-Campus Experiences
Central students can study off-campus — both internationally or domestically in the United States. These opportunities give students the chance to prepare to be global citizens, equipped to compete in the global job market. Students can check out experiences led by Central faculty or attend select academic programs across the world that provide opportunities for study, service, internships and other types of experiential learning. Options include experiences in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Central America, Ghana, England, the Scottish Highlands and more.
Beyond Central
Putting the “Hire” in Higher Education
Central College graduates have found successful careers in athletic training.
- Alison Troutman ’21, athletic trainer, Jennie Edmundson Hospital
- Sadie Baugher Brown ’19, assistant athletic trainer, Central College
- Josh Brunk ’18, occupational therapist, Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation Spruce Pine
- Brandon Zumbach ’18, athletic trainer, Houston Astros Minor League Athletics
- Rachel Evans Kleis ’15, assistant professor of kinesiology, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
- Taryn Pennington ’13, high-performance health care services provider, United States Olympic and Paralympic Training Center
- Jessica Edler ’12, clinical education coordinator and assistant professor of kinesiology & health promotion, Grand View University
- Bethany Druvenga ’12, head athletic trainer, University of Mary Washington
Organizations
- CAAT (Club Associated with Athletic Training)
- Exercise Science Club
- Health Professions Club
No matter what your interests are, Central has a student group for you! Learn how you can get involved with groups and organizations at Central.
Master’s Degree Program Affiliations
- Central and the University of Iowa have entered into an articulation agreement to admit Central’s pre-athletic training students into the University of Iowa’s Master’s in Athletic Training program.
- This is in addition to similar agreements between Central and Drake University, Central and Grandview University, and Central and Loras College.
Graduate Placement
- Des Moines University, physical therapy
- Old Dominion University, athletic training
- Texas A&M University, athletic training
- University of Colorado, athletic training
Internships
- Auburn University
- Illinois State University
- Iowa Ortho
- Iowa State University
- Physiotherapy Associates
- Quad City Steamwheelers
- Sterling Physical Therapy
Courses & Faculty
Pre-athletic training students at Central progress through an educational sequence that stresses critical thinking skills and fulfills prerequisite requirements for top graduate programs.
The pre-athletic training major is affiliated with exercise science.
Learn more about this discipline in the course catalog.
Meet the Faculty
- Leslie Duinink, B.A., M.S., Registrar and Associate Professor of Kinesiology
- Katelin Valster, B.A., M.S., Ph.D., Lecturer of Kinesiology
- Shelli Green, B.A., M.S., D.A.T., Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and Clinical Education Coordinator of Kinesiology
- Frank Neu, B.A., M.S., Head Athletic Trainer and Clinical Instructor of Exercise Science
- Dave Pavlat, B.S., M.S., Ed.D., Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Director of Strength & Conditioning and Personal Training
- Pam Richards, B.S., M.S., Ed.D., Associate Professor of Kinesiology
- John Roslien, B.S., M.S., Kinesiology Department Chair and Associate Professor of Kinesiology
- Jake Schubert, B.A., M.A., Assistant Athletic Trainer/Preceptor
- Sara Shuger Fox, B.S., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Kinesiology
Sample Coursework
First Year
- Theory and Practical Applications of Skill-Related Fitness
- Theory and Practical Applications of Health-Related Fitness
- Foundations of Health and Exercise Science
- First Aid and Sports Injuries
- Introduction to Cells
- Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology + lab
- Psychology
Sophomore Year
- Introduction to Physics
- General Chemistry + lab
- Human Anatomy and Kinesiology
- Fitness Assessment and Exercise Prescription
Junior Year
- Principles and Theories of Strength and Conditioning
- Principles of Personal Training
- Sport Nutrition
- Introduction to Statistics of Applied Statistics
Senior Year
- Biomechanics
- Epidemiology of Physical Activity
- Motor Learning
- Exercise Physiology + lab
Learn More
Want to find out more about Pre-Athletic Training at Central? Contact us to learn more about this discipline and our other strong academic programs.
Visit campus to observe classes and experience The Central Difference firsthand.
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