Exercise and Nutritional Sciences

OFFICE: Exercise and Nutritional Sciences 351
TELEPHONE: 619-594-5541
WEBSITE: https://ens.sdsu.edu

Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education for Athletic Training.

Faculty

Emeritus: Aufsesser, Carter, Francis, Franz, Friedman, Harris, King, Kolkhorst, LaMaster, Landis, McKenzie, T., Mechikoff, Nichols- Bernhard, Patterson, Rushall, Selder, Simmons, Sleet, Sucec, Verity, Wells, Williamson
Director: Mahar
Professors: Buono, Enwemeka, Hong, Hooker, Kahan, Kern, Levy, Mahar, Maluf, Rauh
Associate Professors: Baweja, Cannon, Domingo, Gombatto, Hooshmand, Kressler, Lebsack, Tuttle
Assistant Professors: Bhutani, Liu, McClain, O’Connor, Post, Rosenthal
Lecturers: Arellano, Comana, Greicar, Lane, Meredith, Moyer, Prescher, Soto

The Major

Athletic Training. The athletic training major is a CAATE accredited undergraduate major. The program leads students to a career in athletic training and eligibility to sit for the Board of Certification athletic training examination. Certified athletic trainers are responsible for the prevention, management, and rehabilitation of athletic and physically active injuries. They work in such diverse areas as high schools, community colleges, universities, sports medicine clinics, corporate/industrial settings, and professional athletics. The athletic training program is comprised of two components of study, a preprofessional program and a professional program. The professional program requires application to the program and includes a clinical education component. The clinical education component is an intensive, hands-on service learning program that provides students with the opportunity to apply psychomotor skills in a real athletic environment under the direct supervision of a certified athletic trainer. Students are given the opportunity to practice what they learn in a variety of clinical education settings included, but not limited to, the Department of Athletics at San Diego State University, University of California, San Diego, University of San Diego, Grossmont Community College, San Diego Mesa Community College, Cuyamaca Community College, San Diego City College, Southwestern Community College, Rancho Bernardo High School, and Cathedral Catholic High School. Due to the required supervision of the clinical education component, there are a limited number of spaces for students in the professional program per year. Therefore, the application process is competitive and based upon a variety of criteria outlined under “Standards for Admission.” Students interested in the athletic training major should meet with the program director as soon as possible in their academic career for the most current information.

Kinesiology. The kinesiology major with emphases in exercise science generalist, fitness specialist, and prephysical therapy presents to students the study of the processes through which individuals obtain optimal health, physical skill, and fitness. The professional, whether in a laboratory, school, medical or business setting, is ultimately concerned with improving the health and well-being of people.

The uniqueness of the academic area known as kinesiology is the study of human movement. The academic foundation for the study of human movement is covered by courses that explore movement as it affects and is affected by physiological, psychological, developmental, sociocultural, and mechanical parameters. Application of movement concepts evolves from an academic foundation and is covered by courses that study how movement is quantified, how learning experiences are sequenced to modify movement behaviors, and how movement is modified for special needs.

Emphasis in Exercise Science Generalist

Students in the exercise science generalist emphasis often find employment in the private and public sectors concerned with the fitness and health of employees. This emphasis prepares students to meet the academic requirements necessary to (1) evaluate and develop exercise programming for apparently healthy persons in diverse fitness and health settings, and (2) attain certifications that reflect knowledge of the scientific principles that govern leadership in exercise and health enhancement programs. Graduates work as fitness professionals in corporate, community, clinical, and commercial fitness programs. There are also career opportunities for employment in the business sector to include fitness and wellness, and community programs. Graduates in the exercise science generalist emphasis are not as well prepared as those coming from the fitness specialist and may not be as competitive for employment or admission to graduate kinesiology programs.

Emphasis in Fitness Specialist

Students in the fitness specialist emphasis often find employment in the private and public sectors concerned with the fitness and health of employees. This emphasis prepares students to meet the academic requirements necessary to (1) evaluate and develop exercise programming for apparently healthy persons in diverse fitness and health settings, and (2) attain certifications that reflect knowledge of the scientific principles that govern leadership in exercise and health enhancement programs. Graduates work as fitness professionals in corporate, community, clinical, and commercial fitness programs. There are also career opportunities for employment in the business sector to include fitness and wellness, community programs, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, and clinical research.

Emphasis in Prephysical Therapy

The prephysical therapy emphasis prepares students to meet the academic requirements necessary for entry to postgraduate education for rehabilitative professions such as physical therapy, chiropractic, occupational therapy, physician assistant, and podiatry. Students find employment in a broad range of medical environments. Students wishing to meet all requirements for postgraduate education for a professional degree should meet with the undergraduate adviser as well as contact potential postgraduate education sites to obtain specific entry requirements.

Retention Policy

The College of Health and Human Services expects that all athletic training and kinesiology majors will make reasonable academic progress towards the degree. Premajors who have completed major preparatory courses, earned 60 units, but have less than a 2.8 GPA for athletic training or 2.9 GPA for kinesiology may be removed from the premajor and placed in undeclared.

Standards for Admission

Admission to the University

Applicants must be eligible for admission to the university. See “Regulations: Admission and Registration ” section of this catalog. Once accepted to the university, students interested in the athletic training major are subject to further screening by the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences and the athletic training professional program.

Admission to the Athletic Training or Kinesiology Major

Refer to Impacted Programs ” section of the Exercise and Nutritional Sciences section of this catalog.

Admission to the Athletic Training Professional Program

The application packet for the athletic training professional program can be obtained from the athletic training advising office or is available on the program website at: http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/athletic/athletictraining/.

Application Deadline. Application for admission is accepted each spring for the following fall. Program applications are due February 1. There is no spring admission cycle.
Prerequisite Courses. The following courses, or their equivalents, are required for admission to the athletic training professional program:

BIOL 212 - Human Anatomy Units: 4
CHEM 200 - General Chemistry Units: 5
ENS 265 - Care and Prevention of Athletic and Recreational Injuries Units: 2
ENS 265L - Care and Prevention of Athletic and Recreational Injuries Laboratory Units: 1

Premajor Courses. Students are expected to have most, if not all, of the premajor courses completed by the end of the spring semester in which they apply. This ensures transition into the major and major coursework.
Minimum Overall Grade Point Average. Applicants must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.8. Please note that having the minimum grade point average does not guarantee admittance.
Grade Point Average Requirement. Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in BIOL 212 , ENS 265 and ENS 265L .
CPR and First Aid Certification. Students are required to have current CPR as a Health Care Provider through the American Red Cross or as a Professional Rescuer through the American Red Cross. In addition, they must have first aid certification at the time of application, and are expected to maintain current certifications in both CPR and First Aid throughout the time of enrollment in the program.
Volunteer Clinical Hours. Prior to program admission, students must obtain a minimum of 60 hours of observational experience in a traditional athletic setting under the supervision of a certified athletic trainer. These settings include athletic settings at a high school, community college, or university. A list of approved settings and locations can be obtained from the athletic training program director.
Technical Standards for Admission. All students upon admission to the athletic training professional program must have medical clearance by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant for the following abilities and expectations. In the event a student is unable to fulfill these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, the student will not be admitted into the program. The Student Disability Services office will evaluate a student who states he/she could meet the program’s technical standards with accommodation and confirm that the stated condition qualifies as a disability under applicable laws. If a student states he/she can meet the technical standards with accommodation, the university will determine whether it agrees that the student can meet the technical standards with reasonable accommodation; this includes a review of whether the accommodations requested are reasonable, taking into account whether accommodation should jeopardize clinician/patient safety, or the educational process of the student or the institution, including all coursework, clinical experiences, and internships deemed essential to graduation.

Candidates for selection must demonstrate:
1. The mental capacity to assimilate, analyze, synthesize, integrate concepts and problem solve to formulate assessment and therapeutic judgments and to be able to distinguish deviations from the norm.
2. Sufficient postural and neuromuscular control, sensory function, and coordination to perform CPR, primary and secondary surveys, emergency transport and transfers, appropriate physical examinations, and manual therapeutic exercise procedures; including the safe and efficient use of equipment and materials during the assessment and treatment of patients.
3. The ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and colleagues, including individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds; this includes, but is not limited to, the ability to establish rapport with patients and communicate judgments and treatment information effectively. Students must be able to understand and speak the English language at a level consistent with the competent professional practice.
4. The ability to write effectively as it relates to the discipline.
Transfer and Retention. Transfer students should check with the advising offices of the respective institutions for transfer equivalents and admission criteria. Once students are accepted into the athletic training professional program/major, there is a retention policy that requires students to maintain both academic and clinical standards for continuation in the program. Academically, students must achieve a semester GPA of 2.80 or better each semester enrolled in the professional program and clinically they must obtain a grade of B (3.0) or better in the ENS 389A , ENS 389B , ENS 389C , ENS 389D - Practicum in Athletic Training , series coursework or they will be put on academic or clinical probation. Should a student have two semesters of probation, they will be dismissed from the program.
Appeal Policy. Should a student have special circumstances that he/she feels should be considered regarding an admission decision or retention decision, there is a formal appeal process that can be applied. Refer to the athletic training policies and procedures manual for a copy of these policies. This manual is available in the athletic training advising office or on the athletic training website.

Athletic Training Professional Program Expectations

If accepted to the athletic training professional program, the following expectations apply:

Become a student member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association within four months of program admittance. Student membership rate is $125 per year.
Become a member of the Future Athletic Trainers Society within four months of program admittance. Membership rate is $40 per year.
Obtain Student Professional Liability Insurance by the first start date of clinical placement. Student rate is $20 per year.
Provide own transportation to off-campus clinical education sites.
Be enrolled as a full-time student (at least 12 units), unless special circumstances are approved for part-time enrollment by the program director.
Maintain current CPR certification through the American Heart Association (AHA), health care provider course, or American Red Cross (ARC) professional rescuer course.
Engage in a clinical education program that averages 20 hours per week at a designated clinical site for a minimum of four semesters. Clinical exposure may commence in early August and might extend into December or January.
Adhere to designated policies and procedures for program retention and progression. A copy of the policies and procedures manual is available on the program website or can be obtained from the advising office.

Impacted Programs

The athletic training major and the kinesiology major with emphases in exercise science generalist, fitness specialist, and prephysical therapy are impacted programs.

To be admitted to the athletic training major or a kinesiology major emphasis, students must meet the following criteria:

Complete with a grade of C (2.0) or better: ENS 200 and BIOL 212 . These courses cannot be taken for credit/no credit (Cr/NC). BIOL 212 must be completed with a grade of B (3.0) or better for students in the athletic training major;
Complete a minimum of 60 semester units applicable to the lower division General Education requirements to include all Preparation for the Major requirements for kinesiology major emphasis, and electives to reach 60 units. ENS 200 and BIOL 212 must be completed before taking upper division major courses. Preparation for the Major courses cannot be taken for credit/no credit (Cr/NC);
Have a cumulative GPA of 2.9 or better in a kinesiology major emphasis.
For the athletic training major, have a cumulative GPA of 2.80 or better. This GPA is also required for application submission and program consideration.
For the athletic training major, students must be accepted into the professional program.
For the athletic training major, complete with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0: BIOL 212 , ENS 265 , ENS 265L . These courses cannot be taken for credit/no credit (Cr/NC).

To complete the major, students must fulfill the degree requirements for the major emphasis described in the catalog in effect at the time they are accepted into the premajor at SDSU (assuming continuous enrollment).

Major Academic Plans (MAPs)

Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/mymap for the recommended courses needed to fulfill your major requirements. The MAPs website was created to help students navigate the course requirements for their majors and to identify which General Education course will also fulfill a major preparation course requirement.