Pre-Athletic Training at Wesleyan

Advisor: Dr. Virginia Wilcox 
vwilcox@wesleyancollege.edu

Passionate about sports medicine and helping athletes recover from injuries? At Wesleyan, we'll prepare you for graduate programs in athletic training while you pursue any major that interests you. Our pre-athletic training concentration ensures you complete required coursework and gain the clinical experience needed for competitive applications.

🚨 Important Program Update
All new athletic training programs must be at the master's degree level. The profession has transitioned to requiring graduate education for entry-level practice. This means you'll need to complete a Master's in Athletic Training (MAT) after your undergraduate degree.

What Do Athletic Trainers Do?

Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled healthcare professionals who provide medical services under the direction of or in collaboration with physicians. They serve as part of the healthcare team, providing primary care, injury prevention, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation.

Important: Athletic trainers provide medical services to all types of patients, not just athletes. They work in schools, hospitals, clinics, industrial settings, and professional sports teams.

Academic Requirements

Academic Standards

• Minimum GPA: 3.0+ required
• Competitive GPA: Higher preferred
• Graduate Exam: GRE often required

Clinical Experience

• Extensive supervised patient contact hours
• Multiple certified athletic trainer supervisors
• Diverse settings (schools, clinics, teams)

Certifications

• CPR certification
• AED certification
• First Aid certification

Required Coursework

Prerequisites for Graduate Programs:

• General Biology (4 credit hours)
• General Chemistry (4 credit hours)
• Physics (4 credit hours)
• Anatomy & Physiology (8 credit hours)
• Psychology (3 credit hours)
• Statistics (3 credit hours)
• English (3 credit hours)
• Nutrition (3 credit hours)

Your Four-Year Journey

Year 1: Build Your Foundation
Meet with Dr. Wilcox, begin prerequisite courses, learn about the profession
Year 2: Gain Experience
Start shadowing Wesleyan's athletic trainer, research graduate programs
Year 3: Build Clinical Hours
Complete extensive internships, prepare applications and references
Year 4: Apply and Interview
Take graduate exams, submit applications, complete remaining clinical hours

Essential Clinical Experience

Critical Requirement: Most programs require documented shadowing/observation hours under certified athletic trainers. You'll need experience in diverse settings with multiple supervisors and detailed logs of your hours.

Local Opportunities

• Wesleyan Athletic Trainer - Shadow our campus athletic trainer
• Mercer University - Excellent experiences for former Wesleyan students
• Local High Schools - Contact athletic trainers at area secondary schools
• Sports Medicine Clinics - Hospital-based and private practice settings
• Your High School - Often the easiest place to start shadowing

After Graduation

Upon completing an accredited master's program, you must pass the BOC (Board of Certification) exam and obtain state licensure (required in 49 states and DC). Ongoing continuing education maintains your certification.

Ready to Get Started?

Athletic training is a competitive field that requires dedication to both academic excellence and extensive clinical experience. Start building your clinical hours early and work closely with Dr. Wilcox to create your personalized plan.

Download the Complete Pre-Professional Guide for more information