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Frequently Asked Questions

How new is the Athletic Training Program? When will it start?

New York State and the Marist College Board of Trustees approved this new B.S. degree program in early 2000. The program started with our first class of freshmen in Fall 2000.

Is the program accredited?

Marist's B.S. in Athletic Training curriculum is registered with New York State as a licensure-qualifying degree program and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education programs (CAATE).

What is the mission of Marist's Athletic Training Program?

Our mission is to provide students with the strong scientific foundation and extensive practical experience they need to become certified Athletic Trainers (ATC) within the framework of the liberal arts tradition.

What is Athletic Training?

Athletic Training is an area of health care concerned with the prevention, recognition, care, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic-related injuries and illnesses to the physically active. Athletic Trainers work as part of a comprehensive health care team that includes physicians, physical therapists, and other allied health professionals working in high schools and colleges, medical clinics and hospitals, or corporate and industrial settings.

What career and educational opportunities await graduates of the program?

Our program qualifies students for entry level professional positions in high schools, colleges and universities, professional sports organizations, hospitals and clinics, and corporate and industrial settings. Students may also go on for further study in graduate and professional schools, including schools of medicine and physical therapy and chiropractics. Upon completion of the B.S. degree in Athletic Training, graduates will be eligible to sit for the certification examination administered by the Board of Certification (BOC). Those passing this exam will be certified as Athletic Trainers by the BOC.

Are there any special admissions requirements for this program?

Effective for the incoming freshman class of 2003, the Athletic Training program will consist of a one year pre-professional phase with application to be fully accepted into the program for the sophomore year. The application deadline is November 1st (transfers) and March 1st (transfers and freshmen). Application material is available in the Department of Athletic Training.

What are the coursework requirements for the degree?

Marist's Athletic Training program starts with a strong foundation in science as students complete a year of General Biology and General Chemistry, including lab, as freshmen. During the first year students are also introduced to the field of Athletic Training via enrollment in two introductory athletic training courses. This first year curriculum is almost identical to that completed by students majoring in other science disciplines at Marist. As sophomores, students enroll in Human Anatomy & Physiology, including lab, additional coursework in Athletic Training, and begin support coursework in Health. Advanced coursework in Athletic Training and in support areas such as Exercise Physiology and Sports Psychology continue in the junior and senior years. Students also complete Marist's Core/Liberal Studies program with coursework during all four years. The recommended program sequence lists all courses by semester required in the program.

Are internships/practica required?

Yes - all students must complete 800 hours of structured, supervised clinical practica/internships under the direction of a certified athletic trainer. These clinical practica occur over the sophomore, junior, and senior years, after admittance to the professional phase of the program at Marist College and off-campus sites including local high schools, colleges, and clinics.

What are the facilities like?

Basic science courses are taught in laboratories in Donnelly Hall, whereas athletic training courses and those in the health sciences are taught in the James J. McCann Recreation Center, close to our athletic training rooms.