Athletic Training

In Clarke’s Athletic Training Program (ATP), you’ll study a variety of subjects, including anatomy with a cadaver lab, chemistry, psychology, ethics, and research. The athletic training degree courses focus on discipline-specific topics, such as diagnostics, interventions, administrative principles, current issues, and management practices necessary for obtaining and working in an athletic training career. You will complete hands-on clinical experiences supervised by licensed and certified athletic trainers and/or clinical faculty/preceptors.

Athletic trainer classes that make an impact

Here is a sampling of the types of classes you’ll explore as a Clarke University Athletic Training student:

CLINICAL EDUCATION IN ATHLETIC TRAINING courses—Students have the opportunity to go to Clarke University-affiliated athletic training facilities to practice skills specifically in injury assessment.

CARE & PREVENTION OF INJURIES—You’ll gain knowledge of the basic science related to the prevention, care, and recovery of injuries.

ACUTE & EMERGENCY CARE and BASIC LIFE-SAVING TRAINING FOR HEALTHCARE AND PUBLIC SAFETY—Learn acute, immediate, and emergency situation recognition, intervention, care, and referral skills.

Athletic Training Rotations

Clarke’s Athletic Training students complete clinical experiences/rotations in Dubuque, Iowa, and other area high schools, colleges, physician offices, health care facilities, and health services offices, including:

• Clarke University
• University of Dubuque
• Senior High School
• Hempstead High School
• Wahlert Catholic High School
• East Dubuque High School
• Medical Associates Clinic
• Tri-State Dialysis Clinic

Athletic Training Clinical Experiences associated with Clinical Education courses

Students must log a minimum of 1000 hours and a maximum of 2000 hours of clinical education time in order to graduate. Ordinarily, no student is allowed to log more than 20 hours and no less than 2 hours in a calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) during full academic weeks. During summer, intersection, and non-academic calendar weeks students may log up to 40 hours per week. A student must have a minimum of 1 day off in every 7 calendar days. Students must submit any exceptions to the amount of time spent in clinical education in writing to the Athletic Training Program Director and Clinical Education Coordinator/Clinical Supervisor. Clinical experience hours follow the Clarke University, departmental, programmatic and accrediting body and/or affiliated site’s guidelines and policies as applicable for the credits assigned to the related Clinical Education courses rather than the federal and institutional guidelines for lecture courses or the institutional guidelines for internships. All students must track and report/submit their own hours in accordance with professional/ethical behaviors.

Athletic Training Board Pass Rates

Clarke University students’ overall Athletic Training Board Pass Rates for the past six years for those with an athletic trainer degree have been between 90-100%, with 72-100% of those students passing the first time. In addition, last year, all Clarke AT graduates secured a job in their field or enrolled in graduate school by August.

Clarke University has received full accreditation for its Athletic Training Program (Bachelor of Science) for a maximum of 10 years from CAATE (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education). With this successful accreditation review, Clarke University intends to move toward the offering of a Masters in Athletic Training.

BS Curriculum Guide

BS phasing out:
Students apply for admission to the Athletic Training Program during the spring semester of their first year. Qualified Clarke University students will be given priority for the (approximately) 12 openings in the program per year. Some qualified applicants may not be accepted due to space limitations.

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Apply to Clarke today to begin your journey.

• Application to Clarke 
• Admission & Progression Requirements 
• Clarke Scholarships & Awards 
• Athletic Training Department 

Master of Athletic Training
After receiving notice of successfully achieving the maximum 10-year continued accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training (CAATE), Clarke is setting its sights on launching the Master of Athletic Training (MAT) in the near future. The MAT is the new entry-level standard of preparation for athletic training students. Clarke aspires to continue its tradition of preparing industry-leading athletic trainers to the ever-growing and changing healthcare system.

MAT phasing in: The Clarke University ATP is structured as a 3+2 accelerated program for Clarke students. Clarke students apply for admission to the ATP during the fall semester of their junior/third year of undergraduate studies. Normally, non-Clarke students apply for admission to the ATP during the fall semester of their final year of their bachelor’s degree program. However, due to the pandemic, we have extended our application window, and we are still accepting applications for a July 2021 start. Qualified Clarke University students will be given priority for the (approximately 18) openings in the program per year. Some qualified applicants may not be accepted due to space limitations.