Athletic Training

The NATA Accredited Graduate Athletic Training Program at Illinois State University provides students with advanced knowledge in athletic training focused in the area of application of various manual therapy techniques and biomechanical principals related to the prevention, evaluation, and treatment of musculoskeletal pathologies.

The curriculum focuses on critical inquiry and reasoning for certified athletic trainers. The sequence requirements incorporate a variety of teaching methods, philosophies, and experiences to facilitate practical knowledge beyond that of an entry-level athletic trainer, thereby providing the student a unique opportunity to learn different ideologies and skills within sports medicine.

Recent graduates have earned positions with high schools, universities, professional sports, sports medicine clinics, hospitals, fitness clubs, research laboratories, and industrial settings. Others have continued on to earn a terminal degree in sports medicine or education.

Manual Therapy Techniques Taught

• Advanced joint mobilizations
• Graston Technique (successful completion results in Graston licensure)
• Myofascial release
• Trigger point therapy
• Muscle energy techniques

Athletic Training Faculty and Research Interests

Jeremy Hawkins, PhD, Brigham Young University
The inflammatory process as it relates to athletic injury and how the therapeutic modalities we use in physical medicine help or hinder that process.

Noelle Selkow, Ph.D., University of Virginia, Coordinator of Graduate Athletic Training Education
Musculoskeletal imaging, muscle blood flow with modality use, muscle energy technique, and low back pain

Athletic Training Curriculum

Students admitted to the graduate athletic training program must complete a minimum of 33 total credit hours, including 6 credit hours in the research core, 15 credit hours in the athletic training sequence, 6 to 9 credit hours in a cognate area, and either 6 credit hours of thesis or 3 credit hours of an advisor-approved independent study project. This curriculum is outlined below:

Research Core - 6 hours

• KNR 497, Introduction to Research Methods
• KNR 445, Statistics in Applied Science and Technology

Athletic Training Sequence Core - 18 hours

• KNR 485, Advanced Seminar in Athletic Training (Even Fall only)
• KNR 486, Advanced Assessment & Treatment of Musculoskeletal Injuries (Every Spring)
• KNR 487, Sports Medicine: Medical Aspects (Odd Fall only)
• KNR 490, Injury Biomechanics (Every Fall)
• KNR 494, Modern Manual Therapy I (Every Fall)
• KNR 496, Modern Manual Therapy II (Every Spring)

Cognate Area - 3 hours (for thesis option) or 6 hours (for non-thesis option) in courses approved by your graduate advisor

Culminating Experience - 3-6 hours with approval by your graduate advisor

• KNR 499, Thesis, 6 hours or KNR 400, Independent Study, 3 hours

Recommended Sequence of Coursework

If you begin the program in the fall of an ODD year, your course schedule will be as follows:

Fall (ODD)	Spring (EVEN)	Fall (EVEN)	Spring (ODD)
487	445	485	496
490	486	494	499 & cognate*
497	Cognate	499*	400 & cognate**
		Cognate**

* Thesis student
**Non-thesis student

If you begin the program in the fall of an EVEN year, your course schedule will be as follows:

Fall (EVEN)	Spring (ODD)	Fall (ODD)	Spring (EVEN)
485	445	487	496
490	486	494	499 & cognate*
497	Cognate	499*	400 & cognate**
		Cognate**

* Thesis student
**Non-thesis student

Athletic Training Admission Requirements

Prospective students who meet the requirements of the KNR Graduate Program should also have graduated from a CAATE accredited undergraduate athletic training program. Those students who desire an athletic training graduate assistantship should be BOC-certified and have applied for Illinois Licensure as an athletic trainer by August of the first year of admission. GA positions are typically available with Illinois State Athletics, Illinois Wesleyan University Athletics, local high schools, and local sports medicine clinics. There are also instructional opportunities with the School of KNR.

Application materials for State licensure are available.

Questions about Athletic Training?

Contact Dr. Noelle Selkow, Athletic Training Graduate Program Director