Pre-Athletic Training @ SoM
At the WVU School of Medicine Health Professions, we offer undergraduate pre-health degrees for every interest, that will help you graduate prepared for your future in healthcare. Considering a career in athletic training? Learn how our undergraduate Exercise Physiology (EXPH) major is designed to help you meet Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) prerequisites while building a strong foundation in human movement, injury prevention, and rehabilitation.
Katelyn Scott
Athletic Training
“Athletic training allows me to build relationships and really get to know the athletes that I work with. Working with them for injury prevention, doing rehab and treatment, and being a large support system for them is extremely rewarding.”
How will Exercise Physiology help me prepare for grad school and a career in athletic training?
Exercise Physiology courses examine how the body responds and adapts to exercise. During their senior year, students apply what they have learned through clinical internships providing direct client care at sites like the WVU Human Performance Laboratory.
WVU also offers the Athletic Training Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's (ABM) program. Designed for well-qualified, first-time freshmen who are admitted to EXPH and who meet certain high school GPA and math placement requirements, the ABM provides a pathway for students to enter the WVU MSAT program early and complete both their undergraduate and graduate degrees within five years.
What other opportunities are there in the curriculum to strengthen my application to athletic training programs?
Students in EXPH can customize their studies through minors in areas like rural health, healthcare data analytics, disability studies, and performing arts medicine. Additionally, EXPH students can choose the Aquatic Therapy area of emphasis, which - like the Performing Arts Medicine minor - helps them build niche expertise and apply rehab principles in specialized settings and with specific populations.
How soon should I start preparing for graduate study in athletic training?
Choosing to major in EXPH at WVU is a great first step towards a career in athletic training. Below are key milestones to keep you on track:
- Sophomore year:
- Speak with your advisor about area of emphasis or minor options (e.g., Aquatic Therapy, Performing Arts Medicine).
- Junior year:
- Start identifying clinical observation opportunities in athletic training; see the WVU AT website for information on clinical observation requirements.
- Identify individuals willing to serve as a reference when you apply; see the WVU AT website for information on letters of recommendation.
- Between junior and senior year:
- Apply to program(s) via ATCAS.
- Senior year | Fall term:
- Work with WVU Career Services or the Pre-Health Professional Development Office to prepare for interviews (occur on a rolling basis).
If you are accepted into the Athletic Training Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's (ABM), your timeline and admissions process will be accelerated, and you should work closely with your assigned advisor to ensure you meet required timelines.