Health and Sport Sciences

Rocks (Department Chair), Capwell, D’Arcy, Davis, Doup, Esselstein, Fischer, Goodwin, Kiger, Klein, Koons, Loth, A. Moore, R. Moore, Payne, Peters, Powell, Reynolds, Richardson, Sexton, Sullivan, Torman, Walter, Welsh, Wilkins, Wilson.

Mission and Programs

The Health and Sport Sciences Department will prepare students to become competent, self directed professionals through sound curricular programming, dedicated faculty, and appropriate facilities and equipment. Our mission will be accomplished by offering curricular programs that meet the requirements for both professional certifications* and the liberal arts education. Faculty will seek excellence in their classroom teaching methods by remaining current in their fields, and employing practical and relevant learning activities. Likewise, faculty will provide academic advising to the students in order to ensure appropriate course selection, to assist them in identifying their personal strengths, and to enable them to pursue professional activities and opportunities commensurate with their talents. In addition, our facilities and equipment will support the academic programs of the department and complement the learning experiences provided by the faculty.

The Health and Sport Sciences Department is also dedicated to developing a positive life-long attitude toward a healthy lifestyle among all Otterbein students by providing appealing and innovative HPES series, which offers courses in health, fitness, recreation, and sport areas.

*National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), American Association of Health Education (AAHE), Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM).

Health Education Teacher Licensure concentration (Multi-Age)

Additional requirements for students seeking Health Education Teacher Licensure are listed in the Teacher Education Programs handbook available in the Education Department. Requirements for the health education major and teacher licensure may differ, but both must be met to become licensed and the major must be completed to receive a Bachelor’s degree. To be recommended for teacher licensure, a student must:

have minimum Math & English scores of 20 on ACT or 500 on SAT, or Praxis I score of 172, and
have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better, a 2.5 grade point average in the teaching area, and a C or better in all major and education required courses, and
be in good standing with the Education Department, and
have positive recommendations from student teaching, and
have successfully passed the appropriate Praxis II exams.

Physical Education Teacher Licensure (Multi-Age)

Requirements for students seeking physical education teacher licensure are listed in the Teacher Education Programs handbook available in the Education Department. Requirements for the physical education major and teacher licensure may differ somewhat, but both must be met to become licensed and the major must be completed to receive a Bachelor’s degree. To be recommended for teacher licensure, a student must:

have minimum Math & English scores of 20 on ACT or 500 on SAT, or Praxis I score of 172, and
a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better, a 2.5 grade point average in the teaching area, and a C or better in all major and education required courses, and
be in good standing with the Education Department, and
have positive recommendations from student teaching, and
have successfully passed the appropriate Praxis II exams.

Program Outcomes

The Athletic Training education program is accredited by CAATE (Commission on Accreditation for Athletic Education Training Programs) and the Joint Review Committee on Athletic Training (JRC-AT).

The B.A. in Athletic Training is designed to qualify the student to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) National Exam as well as prepare the student for work in a clinical, high school, or industrial setting where the Bachelor of Arts degree is the highest degree earned. The addition of statistics and a research design course also helps prepare the student for graduate school programs in exercise physiology, athletic training, physician’s assistant, or other allied healthcare professions. Students are encouraged to consider postgraduate work, especially if collegiate and professional settings are aspired.

A double major in secondary education is also possible with the B.A. in the Athletic Training track. Any area of teaching licensure may be possible, although those in health education, physical education or the biological sciences are most easily combined with the athletic training curriculum. Students selecting the double major (secondary education and athletic training) will most likely teach and perform athletic training duties in a secondary school.

The B.S. in Athletic Training is designed to qualify the student to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) National Exam as well as allow the student to seek postgraduate education in science-demanding fields, such as medicine, athletic training or physical therapy. This program contains significant chemistry and physics components to help meet the prerequisites of such graduate programs.

Program Entrance Requirements: For entry into the athletic training program, the following first year requirements must be met:

Completion of L SC 108 and 109 with a grade of C or higher.
Completion of ATHT 160, 161, and 162 with a grade of C or higher.
Completion of directed observation hours.
Completion of the Program Application Form.
Achievement of an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Health Requirements: Athletic Training students are held to the same health care standards as all athletes who participate in intercollegiate athletics. Therefore, all athletic training students are required to complete the physical exam process by the College’s team physicians. Students must also provide proof of up-to-date immunizations as specified by the Student Health Center.

Technical Standards Requirements: In addition to the requirements stated in the application procedures for entry into the Otterbein College Athletic Training Program, the student will also need to submit documentation of satisfactory qualifications illustrating that they are physically and mentally qualified to participate in the expected athletic training academic and clinical requirements. In order to accomplish the aforementioned requirements, the student will need to complete a physical, which is identical to the athlete’s physicals, which will be conducted by our Team Physician. At that time, the student will be reminded of the academic and physical demands of the program and can freely discuss any concerns or needs for accommodations with the appropriate medical personnel. In the event that accommodations are necessary, the student and athletic training program personnel will coordinate the necessary needs of the individual student athletic trainer. The paragraphs below will give the potential student a more detailed explanation of what is to be expected in the athletic training program.

I) Physical demands

The potential athletic training student should be aware of the physical and mental requirements needed to pass the academic and clinical components of the Athletic Training Education Program. If the student is unable to pass the physical requirements of the Athletic Training Program, they will be unable to pass the national certification exam required to become a Certified Athletic Trainer. If the potential athletic training student has physical limitations that may prevent them from completing the clinical component of the program, written permission from a physician must be provided to ensure that they can perform the required physical duties in a safe manner. This can be completed at the time the student completes their physical examination with the Otterbein College Team Physician.

Some examples of the physical requirements include:

Transporting injured athletes from the field
Carrying heavy 10 gallon water containers
Carrying heavy medical kits
Completing physical testing procedures of muscles and ligaments to all body joints, etc.
Completing all taping procedures in a reasonable amount of time.
Running across uneven field surfaces in a reasonable amount of time to care for emergency situations.
Assist in lifting injured athletes and carrying such athlete for a short distance so they are out of harms way.
Be able to perform CPR and First Aid procedures.

II) Confidentially

Additionally, as a member of the Otterbein College medical staff, each student should be aware of the confidential nature of medical files and circumstances that they will experience. All medical information that is presented to each athletic training student must be kept and handled in a confidential manner. Athletic training students must understand that they will be placed in the position where the athletes they are caring for, may come to them in confidence regarding their health issues.

III) Cognitive and Communication abilities

The Athletic Training Program contains rigorous coursework that at times, may give the sense of feeling mentally overloaded with too much to learn and/or too many responsibilities to handle. In addition, students will be expected to demonstrate the ability to analyze, think critically, synthesize and integrate information both from previous athletic training courses and within current athletic training course so they may be able to collectively apply the knowledge they are acquiring. In the case where the student feels overburdened with any academic expectation, they are strongly encouraged to contact their supervising certified athletic trainer to develop a plan to handle the academic and/or clinical requirements of the Athletic Training Program. Every effort will be made to ensure the academic success of each student enrolled in the Athletic Training Program. Please note that a minimum of a 2.5 GPA at Otterbein is required to enter the athletic training program.

Athletic training students will also be expected to demonstrate and acquire interpersonal skills, which are appropriate for the many different personal and professional situations that they may encounter during their educational processes. Likewise, students must be able to demonstrate the ability to speak and write the English language in order to complete the requirements of the athletic training program.

IV) Requesting Special Needs

At the time of completion of the physical examination, students who feel that they need special accommodations in order to complete the athletic training program, may do so on the advice of the team physician, athletic training program director, and head athletic trainer of Otterbein College. All potential needs will be designed in accordance with institutional standards and academic policies. Students may contact the Academic Dean’s office at any time if they wish to discuss available academic support services that are offered at the college.

V) Immunizations

As stated in the athletic training student manual, athletic training students are also required to have a complete immunization record. This is the same requirement of athletes and the immunization record should be complete at the time that the physical is conducted.

Athletic training students, upon admission to the Athletic Training Program, must receive a physical that is identical in nature to the physical received by all athletes wishing to participate at Otterbein College. At the time of the physical, the athletic training student will be given the technical standards statement of the Athletic Training Program, and they will be required to sign and date the statement. A signature will indicate that each student fully understands the physical and cognitive requirements of the program.

Students wishing to enter the Athletic Training Program who have either a physical or cognitive disability will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine the degree of accommodations that must be made in order to comply with the demands of the Athletic Training Program. Accommodations may take the form of physical help or accommodations from faculty, staff and students, assigning a tutor or academic help through the Academic Support Center, or other means to seek the health, safety, and academic success of each athletic training student.

The course of study in Health Education may lead to licensure for teaching health in the public schools. Students not interested in teaching licensure but are considering a career in health-related work should review the program in Health Promotion and Fitness. Students will be prepared to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist Exam.

Health Promotion and Fitness majors will combine the skills of a health promotion specialist with a major emphasis in the service areas to allow them to seek careers in corporate wellness, pesonal training and community health. Possible employment would be in corporations, recreation centers, fitness clubs, non-profit health agencies, health-care facilities, government agencies and state and local health departments. This major has a science background.

The course of study in Physical Education may lead to the special licensure for teaching physical education in the public schools. Students not interested in licensure may consider related fields and careers and should review the programs in Sport Management and or in Health Promotion and Fitness.

The academic coursework in the Sport Management major allows for skill and knowledge development that will prepare individuals for possible employment with professional sports teams, colleges and universities, corporations, and commercial sport establishments. Individuals wishing to pursue an advanced degree in sport management will have received a strong academic and practical skill foundation in sport and business that will enable them to continue their education.

About Otterbein

Apply to Otterbein

Campus Life

On Campus

Contact Otterbein

Health and Sport Sciences

Mission and Programs

Health Education Teacher Licensure concentration (Multi-Age)

Physical Education Teacher Licensure (Multi-Age)

Program Outcomes

I) Physical demands

II) Confidentially

III) Cognitive and Communication abilities

IV) Requesting Special Needs

V) Immunizations

Health and Sport Sciences Courses

Health and Sport Sciences

Courses