Athletic Training BS/MS
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How does Athletic Training differ from Exercise Science?
A. Athletic Training is the prevention, care, and treatment of injuries to athletes. Ankle taping, brace fitting, and muscle strengthening are example of injury prevention. Controlling bleeding, assessing a concussion, testing ligaments of a "blown out" knee, or splinting a fracture all constitute caring for an injury. Designing rehabilitation exercises/programs that will return an athlete to play after an injury is a large part of the treatment of the injury. Athletic Training involves all of these and more.
Athletic Training is a "sports medicine" field, whereas Exercise Science focuses more on the physiological aspects of the body during exercise. Concepts from Exercise Science are incorporated into strength and conditioning programs, cardiac rehab programs and various areas of medicine and rehabilitation. Exercise Science prepares the Athletic Training student to better perform the "prevention" part of their job by providing an in-depth physiological understanding of the strength and conditioning principles. If you are interested in the injury aspects of sports, Athletic Training is the field you are looking for. If, on the other hand, you are interested in 'training' athletes to perform better through strength and conditioning techniques, Exercise Science may meet your career goals better.
Q. What is an "Entry-Level" program?
A. An entry-level program is a program that does not require you to already be a certified Athletic Trainer to enter. We teach you all the skills (from basic to advanced) during the program. UB's program is only open to students who are not already certified or eligible to sit for the certification (BOC) exam. Anyone who is certified should consider our Masters program in Exercise Science or one of the post-certification Athletic Training graduate programs listed on the NATA website at http://jrc-at.org (under "Graduate Education").
Q. What if I already have a Bachelor's degree? Can I just complete my master's degree at UB rather than doing the entire BS/MS program? Or what if I just want my Bachelor's degree and not the Masters, can I do that?
A. The BS/MS program is a "package deal" so to speak. It is a special program in which the student earns both degrees simultaneously. The two degrees cannot be split apart. Thus, a student who already holds a degree would enter as a junior, and then complete the program in three years.
Q. What happens if I don't get accepted into the Athletic Training Program?
A. Students who aren't accepted into the Athletic Training Program but meet the requirements for the upper division courses in Exercise Science can continue in that program and receive a BS degree in Exercise Science. For more information on the Exercise Science program, see http://sphhp.buffalo.edu/ens/esbs/.
Q. Is it possible to take courses at another college?
A. Core athletic training courses from other schools will not transfer into UB's program. All Athletic Training core courses in accredited programs are linked to specific required competencies and proficiencies, with athletic trainers specially trained by their own university to assess each student according to that school's progressions of learning. Because of the linking differences from school to school and because of the training required by each school to assess the students, core courses cannot be transferred. Courses not linked directly to the competencies or proficiencies are transferable.
Q. What will my schedule be like if I enter the Athletic Training program?
A. Most of your classes are scheduled in the mornings and early afternoons to allow you to be in the athletic training room later in the afternoons. A majority of the Athletic Training clinical hours are between 2:00 and 6:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday, with variable times on the weekends.
Athletic Training students can expect to work 20 hours per week in the clinical setting. Students can also expect to work weekends. Clinical hours and days off are scheduled with the supervising certified athletic trainer in advance. Students are always able to request additional time off for exam prep, illness, etc.
Students normally report to campus to assist with pre-season sessions at least two weeks prior to the beginning of fall semester classes. Football, however, usually reports on or around August 1. Pre-seasons are optional, but strongly encouraged, for incoming juniors. Seniors and fifth year students are required to attend pre-season training camp.
You will be assigned to a certified athletic trainer and a UB varsity athletic team each semester. You will assist the certified athletic trainer with the daily taping and pre-practice/pre-event preparations. In addition, you will assist with on-field care of injuries during practices and events and will help with the development and implementation of rehabilitation programs for injuries that occur. You will also experience high school athletic training, and various medical practices including surgical rotations.
Athletic training clinical hours are scheduled around classes. Students should never miss classes or other academic requirements in order to attend practices. Students may, however, be forced to miss classes if they are traveling with a team to an away contest.
Q. Can I hold a full-time job and also do the Athletic Training program? What about a part-time job?
A. The Athletic Training program is a very intense program that requires a large time commitment. Although we do not place specific restrictions on outside jobs, we do not allow students to hold positions that conflict with their assigned athletic training duties. Many students work a part-time job for 10-12 hours per week which is the maximum recommended. It is not possible to hold a full-time job during the academic year while in the program.
Q. Can I count my clinical hours that I did with my high school athletic trainer (or other athletic trainer or physical therapist) as part of my hours for this program?
A. Hours accumulated prior to entering UB's program do not count toward the hours required in the Practicum experiences. Prior experience with an athletic trainer or physical therapist is valuable in that it gives you a better understanding of Athletic Training, but you must complete 250 hours in each of four Practicum experiences while enrolled in the program at UB.
Q. What is the difference between Athletic Training and personal training?
A. Athletic Training is the prevention, care, and rehabilitation of injuries to athletes. (See Question #2 above for more detail), whereas personal training is developing specialized strength and cardiovascular conditioning programs for individuals. Athletic Trainers focus on preventing and caring for injuries; Personal trainers work in fitness centers or go into people's homes to set up individualized programs to help a person "get into shape." Personal fitness may include weight-gain/weight-loss programs, cardiovascular fitness programs, weight-lifting programs, nutrition programs, etc. Athletic Trainers are well-versed in personal training and fitness skills and incorporate these principles into the daily care of their athletes.
Q. What is the difference between Athletic Training and Sports Medicine?
A. The term "Sports Medicine" is often used interchangeably with Athletic Training. "Sports Medicine" is actually a broad term that covers several career areas that work with injuries to athletes. Orthopedic surgeons who work with athletes and athletic trainers are two examples of sports medicine professionals.
Q. Do you have any Graduate Assistantships or other scholarships available for Athletic Training students? If so, where do I get information on them?
A. The Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences does have a limited number of graduate assistantships available for its students, however, Athletic Training students are normally not awarded these assistantships. This is for two reasons. First, Athletic Training students are considered undergraduate students for their first year in the program. (They become graduate students for the next two years). Since graduate assistantships are only awarded to students holding graduate status, first year Athletic Training students are not eligible for the assistantships. Secondly, Athletic Training students’ schedules usually prohibit them from accepting assistantships. Assistantship duties involve teaching labs in undergraduate Exercise Science classes. These labs, however, conflict with the Athletic Training students’ schedules, thus, our students are normally not able to accept assistantships.
Some scholarships are available through the School of Public Health and Health Professions. These scholarships are competitive and are available to students currently enrolled in programs within the School. Information on these scholarships can be found on the School’s webpage (http://sphhp.buffalo.edu). Other scholarships are available through Athletic Training professional organizations, federal agencies, and local sponsors. Students are alerted of these scholarships when they become available.
Q. How do I find out about tuition, housing, financial aid, etc. at UB?
A. The following links will assist you with questions you may have about tuition, housing, financial aid, national salaries and other statistics for Athletic Trainers, and certification exam pass/fail rates.
Tuition at the University at Buffalo:
http://src.buffalo.edu/studentaccount/springtuition.shtml
Housing at the University at Buffalo:
On-Campus (Residence Halls/Apartments):
http://www.ub-housing.buffalo.edu/
Off-Campus (rentals):
http://www.subboard.com/och/
Financial Aid at the University at Buffalo:
http://src.buffalo.edu/financialaid/
Salaries, positions, gender differences, and degree differences for Athletic Trainers nationally (2000 Salary Survey):
http://www.nata.org/members1/members.cfm?url=/members1/canworc/docs/2003.10.salarysurveyweb.pdf
(Reference: New York State and Pennsylvania are District 2)
What is the pass/fail rate of the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification exam?
http://www.nataboc.org/fut_ATC/docs/other/
If you have questions that you would like to ask, contact the program director at kfk@buffalo.edu.
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