Where Should Athletic Training Programs Be Housed?

Abstract

Context: Where a professional athletic training education program (ATEP) should be housed within a college/university has been a topic of discussion for many years. While individual institutions have unique preferences and priorities that suit its specific situation, it is essential that the field as a whole develops a consistent and cohesive model to guide ATEPs in their initial or continued development as programs. The current literature investigating the appropriate location of both undergraduate and graduate professional ATEPs is limited. Objective: To begin a discussion on what ultimately will be the best situation to ensure the sustained growth of ATEPs and, therefore, the profession. Conclusion: The current literature is inconclusive as to the optimal location for professional ATEPs within a college/university community. It is the author's opinion that undergraduate ATEPs should maintain their traditional place in physical education/kinesiology departments, as that is the most appropriate location for students to receive well-rounded, multi-disciplinary educational opportunities. Professional graduate ATEPs, on the other hand, should be housed in schools or departments of health sciences, because of the similarities between their two-year intense professional focus and those of other allied health fields.