Contact

For more information about the
Athletic Training Education Program, contact:

Jennifer Earl-Boehm Ph.D., LAT
ATEP Director
jearl@uwm.edu
(414) 229-3227

Human Movement Sciences:
B.S. Athletic Training

Program Overview

Welcome to the Athletic Training Education Program!

CHS Athletic training student helps stretch the leg muscles of a UWM Women's Basketball player before a big game.

Athletic training is a health care profession, practiced by athletic trainers who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients. Athletic training includes the prevention, diagnosis, and intervention of emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities. To become an athletic trainer one must earn a degree in Athletic Training from a college or university with an education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, and pass the national Board of Certification exam.

To learn more about athletic training, visit the National Athletic Trainer's Association website.


Athletic training education at UWM

The Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP)  is part of the Department of Human Movement Sciences in the College of Health Sciences.  Upon completing the 130 credit major, students earn a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training degree, and are eligible to sit for the national Board of Certification examination.

The ATEP provides students with a diversified education that includes a solid and rigorous curriculum as well as a variety of clinical education experiences that prepare them to enter the profession of athletic training.  The program begins with foundational coursework in the natural and human movement sciences, and is followed by formal instruction in areas such as injury/illness prevention, first aid and emergency care, assessment of injury/illness, human anatomy and physiology, therapeutic modalities, and nutrition.  Traditional classroom learning is enhanced by hands-on clinical education experiences that begin during the freshman year.

The program blends didactic (classroom) learning with opportunities to apply such knowledge and clinical skills in a practical athletic training environment under the guidance of an Athletic Trainer. These clinical education experiences take place in multiple settings including Division I and III collegiate athletics, high schools, clinics and physician offices, and a variety of others.  Students gain experience working with patients and clients who are diverse in age, ability, and sociocultural background.

Graduation data, successful completion of the Board of Certification Examination, and job/graduate school placement rates demonstrate that the UWM ATEP not only meets, but also exceeds the educational standards set by its accrediting body. The faculty and staff recognize the importance of providing an educational foundation based upon scientific inquiry and experiential learning opportunities.  The faculty includes three doctorally trained athletic trainers who have active research laboratories that conduct research to add to the knowledge of injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

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ATEP Highlights

Education
  • Students begin their hands-on, clinical education, in the spring of freshman year.
  • Approximately 85% of graduates pass the Board of Certification examination on the first attempt, compared to the national average of 60%.
  • Coursework is delivered by master’s and doctorally trained athletic trainers, as well as physicians, physical therapists, certified strength and conditioning specialists, and physician assistants. 
  • The student to instructor ratio for athletic training core courses is less than 16:1. 
  • Students have the opportunity to observe surgical procedures, as well as additional contact sports such as football, wrestling, and ice hockey at area high schools and colleges.
Facilities
  • Student’s learning is enhanced with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. The brand new 5800 sq ft athletic training room opened in January 2006, and includes a Biodex isokinetic dynamometer, Swim-Ex exercise pool, athletic training student study-area and locker room.
Research
  • Four doctoraly prepared athletic trainers maintain active research agendas related to lower extremity injuries and biomechanics (Drs Earl and Cobb), injury rehabilitation (Dr Earl), and muscle physiology and function (Dr. Ebersole).
  • Students have the opportunity to engage in research projects and independently develop new research projects from proposal to presentation at local and regional professional meetings. 
Diversity
  • Students interact with a diverse student population that encourages cultural growth and preparedness for providing athletic training services to a diverse patient population.
  • We currently have over 50 clinical affiliates in the greater Milwaukee area for additional clinical experiences and internships including ATI Physical Therapy, AthletiCo, Aurora Sports Medicine, Froedtert Sports Medicine, Blount Orthopaedics, QuadMed,
  • Clinical education opportunities with professional organizations such as the Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Wave, Milwaukee Rampage, and Milwaukee Ballet. 
Community Outreach
  • The Society of Athletic Training Students (SATS) is an active student organization which volunteers in the community, and provides support for students to pursuing educational and professional development, such as attending professional workshops and conferences.
  • Faculty and staff engage in high school career days and on-campus pre-college programming