Admission and Retention Requirements

Acceptance into the Athletic Training Program (ATP) requires a secondary application process beyond that required for admission into Marist College.

The ATP begins with a pre-professional phase during which time students will take introductory athletic training, health and science courses in preparation for full acceptance into the ATP. During the pre-professional phase students will also complete 60 hours of observation which will require them to shadow upper class (professional phase) students and their Certified Athletic Trainer supervisors. The students will work with a faculty member to schedule the observation hours. Traditional first-year and most transfer students will complete and submit an application for acceptance into the professional phase of the program at the end of the first year. The deadline for application to the ATP is April 1st for first-year and transfer students during the first full year at Marist College and November 1st for transfer students with sophomore status. Admission to the program is competitive and based upon academic performance, faculty references and an essay, as well as successful completion of the first year's coursework and the observation hour requirement. Interviews may be requested.

The following admission criteria are used:

• Minimum GPA of 2.50 for all courses
• Minimum GPA of 2.75 for all required coursework in the Athletic Training Major. This includes all courses with ATHT, BIOL, CHEM, HLTH, CSIS, MATH and PSYC prefix
• Obtain a grade of C or better in ATHT 104, BIOL 130, BIOL 131 and HLTH 202
• Complete 60 hours of observation
• Positive faculty references
• Positive observation evaluations
• Must adhere to the National Athletic Trainers' Association Code of Ethics

The official Athletic Training major GPA is calculated by the ATP Director using all courses required for the Athletic Training major including transfer credit.

Enrollment in the ATP is limited to allow an effective ratio of students to clinical instructors that enable personalized educational opportunities. Thus, it is suggested that each potential Athletic Training student carefully consider the necessary commitment to the ATP, and discuss these demands with an Athletic Training faculty member and/or their academic advisor. It is possible that an applicant who is deficient in any of the above criteria can be accepted into the ATP on a probationary status.

Transfer students must adhere to the same admission requirements however it is possible that the pre-professional phase can be completed in one semester. This will depend on the courses that the student transfers to Marist College.

Retention Policy

Students in the Professional Phase of the ATP must be in compliance with the Retention Policy of the program as described below (See also the Marist College catalog and/or ATP Policies and Procedures manual).

The following retention criteria are used:

• Minimum GPA of 2.50 for all courses
• Minimum GPA of 2.75 for all required coursework in the Athletic Training Major. This includes all courses with ATHT, BIOL, CHEM, HLTH, CSIS, MATH and PSYC prefix
• Obtain a grade of C or better in all Athletic Training major required courses (ATHT, BIOL, CHEM, HLTH, CSIS, MATH and PSYC prefix)
• Adhere to the National Athletic Trainers' Association Code of Ethics

The official Athletic Training major GPA is calculated by the ATP Director using all courses required for the Athletic Training major including transfer credit.

Students deficient in any of the retention requirements will be placed on probation and will receive a letter from the ATP Director informing them of the specific deficiencies. The probation will be in effect for a period of one academic year, during which time any deficiencies must be resolved. During this period, the students are able to enroll in all major courses, including Clinical Practica. If the deficiencies are not resolved within one academic year or any new deficiencies arise, the student will be suspended from the ATP. Any student placed on suspension cannot continue to the next Clinical Practicum in the ATP course sequence and thus cannot graduate with a major in Athletic Training. Any student suspended from the program does have the opportunity to reapply to the Professional Phase for acceptance however all application and retention criteria will apply. Applications for reacceptance will not be considered until all deficiencies have been resolved and simply resolving criteria deficiencies does not assure acceptance.