Majors
Athletic training major
If you are interested in becoming an athletic trainer, Central College is an excellent choice. Central's athletic training education program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. The athletic training major offers educational experiences in collaboration with faculty and healthcare professionals, enabling you to master competencies and clinical proficiencies to become a professional entry-level athletic trainer. Our athletic training program occurs within a liberal arts framework that expands your educational background and makes you a critical thinker. You will be enriched intellectually through interactions with staff, faculty, mentors and healthcare professionals on campus and through local, state, national and international experiences.
"The new athletic training classroom in the Exercise Science building is awesome! It strengthens our connection between practical and classroom applications in sports medicine," says John Roslien, associate professor of exercise science.
"Central students have a unique balance between classroom concepts and real life situations when they graduate. They have marketable skills that facilitate their placement as graduate assistants in graduate programs in many disciplines, including physical therapy and athletic training," Roslien says. "Our students are in high demand by the most respected graduate programs. All of our students get in to the programs they choose."
Faculty
- John Roslien, M.S., associate professor of exercise science, director of Athletic Training Education Program,
roslienj@central.edu
- Leslie Duinink, M.S., associate professor of exercise science, assistant athletic trainer, Class Dean, duininkl@central.edu
- Chris Viesselman, M.Ed., instructor of exercise science, assistant athletic trainer, interim director of Athletic Training Education Program, viesselmanc@central.edu
- Dustin Briggs, M.S., instructor of exercise science, assistant athletic trainer, briggsd@central.edu
- Shelli Green, M.S., instructor of exercise science, assistant athletic trainer, greens@central.edu
- Frank Neu, M.S., instructor of exercise science, head athletic trainer, neuf@central.edu
News about Athletic training
Setting the Bar
Junior athletic training major Katelyn Paul interned with the Auburn University gymnastics team and the Kennedy Space Center.
Score One for the Athletic Trainers
The athletic training program started off as a tiny classroom and a few students under the direction of John Roslien. Today it’s one of the largest and most demanding academic programs on campus—and there aren’t any signs of slowing.
From Athletes to Soldiers
Sarah Newman ’01 treats both athletes and soldiers as an athletic trainer. She works with the U.S. Paralympic Alpine Ski Team and the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Battalion.
Athletic Trainers for All
Passionate about the idea that everyone needs an athletic trainer, students petitioned the city council to make March Athletic Training Month in Pella.
A Healthy Dose of Spanish
A new Central College Abroad program in Yucatan will allow future medical professionals to explore health care in Latino culture.
Successful Careers
- Assistant athletic trainer, Grand View University, Des Moines, Iowa
- Assistant athletic trainer, DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana
- Athletic trainer, Select Medical Corp. and Olympia High School, Orlando, Florida
- Clinic director, physical therapist and athletic trainer for Physiotherapy Associates, West Des Moines, Iowa
- Assistant athletic trainer, Green Bay Packers, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Athletic trainer, Athletico, Chicago, Illinois
- Athletic trainer, U.S. Navy, San Diego, California
Graduate school placement:
- Sports science, A.T. Still University, Mesa, Arizona
- Sports psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Doctoral program in physical therapy, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
- Dental school, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
- Medical school, Des Moines University, Des Moines, Iowa
- Doctoral program in physical therapy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Athletic training, Indiana State University, Terra Haute, Indiana
- Health administration, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
- Kinesiology and exercise physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
- Athletic training, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
- Athletic training Ph.D., Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia
- Masters of anatomy, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
Internships
- Green Bay Packers, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Lister Hospital, London, England
- Denver Broncos, Denver, Colorado
- San Diego Chargers, San Diego, California
- Iowa Cubs, Des Moines, Iowa
- Des Moines Orthopedic Surgeons, Des Moines, Iowa
- Des Moines Menace Soccer, Des Moines, Iowa
- Pella Family Dentistry, Pella, Iowa
- Iowa Barnstormers, arena football, Des Moines, Iowa
Learn more about internships at Central.
Courses
- Human anatomy and physiology
- Introduction to athletic training
- Foundations of exercise science
- First aid and sports injuries
- Anatomy and kinesiology
- Fitness assessment and exercise prescription
- Exercise physiology
- Exercise physiology lab
- Level 1: clinical rotation 1
- Level 1: clinical rotation 2
- Sports nutrition
- Athletic injury assessment: lower
- Athletic injury assessment: upper
- Level 2 clinical rotation 1
- Therapeutic exercise
- Therapeutic modalities
- Level 3: clinical rotation 1
- Level 3: clinical rotation 2
- Exercise physiology lab
- Medical conditions for Athletic Trainer
- Administration for Athletic Training
- Pharmacology in Athletic Training
Sample Schedule
Curious about courses you’ll be taking your first year at Central as an athletic training major? A typical first-year schedule for each of the program areas includes:
- Human anatomy and physiology
- Introduction to athletic training
- Foundations of exercise science
- First aid and sports injuries
- Core courses and/or electives
Get more details from the course catalog! (Note: this is a PDF file)
Facilities
- Central's state-of-the-art exercise science building, built in 2010, features four technologically-equipped classrooms as well as an athletic training classroom completely dedicated to the athletic training education program. The athletic training classroom features stools and tables instead of desks and also includes taping stations. The building also features two conference rooms, which are completely computer integrated, a hydrostatic underwater weighing tank, which is one of only three that exists in the Midwest, and is located in the human performance lab. The building also showcases LCD screens for teaching instead of projection screens and also features classroom capture, which enables all classes to be videotaped for review by students.
- The Ron Schipper Fitness Center opened in 1999 and features a 2,000-square-foot athletic training area.
Department Web site
Central’s athletic training education program maintains its own website with even more information about majoring in athletic training.
Organizations
Athletic training students might be interested in CAAT's (Club Associated with Athletic Training), Central's Exercise Science Club, or Health Professions Club. No matter what your interests are, Central has a student group or organization that you’ll want to join! Learn how you can get involved with groups and organizations at Central.
Study Abroad
Students are encouraged to study abroad with one of Central’s eight international programs to enhance their development as global citizens, or with Central’s Chicago program and the Washington, D.C., program. Learn more about Central’s study abroad programs.
