50 years of impact
Athletic Training at Oregon State
For five decades, OSU’s Athletic Training program, housed in the College of Health, has trained some of the country’s most competent, high-profile, caring AT professionals.
These former students, now leaders in sports medicine, are represented in the nation’s professional sports leagues: National Football League, National Basketball Association, and National Hockey League.
They’re also in universities and colleges; high schools; youth leagues; police and fire departments; the military; hospitals and clinics; and even businesses, working to maintain and improve the health of athletes and prevent work-related injuries among employees.
In short, faculty in this accredited program, who are athletic trainers or clinicians (sports psychologist, physician, sports dietitian), set students up for success as holistic practitioners in a growing profession.
During their studies, students benefit from rigorous academic instruction and participate in two years of hands-on clinical experiences.
As they complete the program, they are eligible to sit for the Board of Certification examination, which serves as the entry-level credential for the profession.
Opportunities to support the athletic training at OSU
You can support the program any time on the OSU Foundation’s giving page.
(Use "HHP Scholarship in Athletic Training Fund" in the "I want to give to ..." field.)
50 years of Athletic Training impact
The program has maintained continuous accreditation for 50 years and is proud of its hundreds of program alumni.
OSU was one of the first 12 schools in the nation to offer an athletic training program, which began in fall 1972 as an undergraduate degree before transitioning to a professional master’s degree in 2016.
AT program’s first director, Dick Irvin, defines AT as “… the art and science of prevention and management of athletic trainers.” (1975 Oregon Stater article)
In 1975, seven men and seven women were enrolled in the program. “With the explosion in women’s athletics, many women’s trainers are needed,” Dick said.
Family forever
“We think of our students as future peers and part of the OSU athletic training family forever. We push them to be the best they can be while supporting them to reach their goals.
Athletic training is a challenging profession, and we want them to be prepared for that, and we also want them to know that we are there for them even after they graduate.”
Sam Johnson, PhD, ATC, CSCS
AT program director
National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame
Are you an OSU Athletic Training alum?
If so, we’d love to hear from you! Sign up to receive the alumni newsletter by emailing Sam Johnson.
You can also contact the college’s marketing and communications team and let them know you’d like to share what you’ve been up to since leaving Oregon State.
Interested in becoming an athletic trainer?
Learn more about our accredited master’s degree in Athletic Training.
Ask Alumni event
Hear directly from AT alum Mackenzie Marques, MATrn ’18, assistant athletic trainer with the Seattle Seahawks, and other alumni as part of the “Transition from college to health careers” Ask Alumni event.
Athletic Training program stories and news
William "Ropes" Robertson (1915-1980) was OSU's first athletic trainer and co-creator of the athletic training education program now in the College of Health. A WWII veteran with a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, he spent 34 years caring for Beaver athletes and became a legendary figure in OSU athletics history.
Yu-Ting Tzeng, an athletic training student, reflects on hands-on internship experience with pediatric patients at diverse clinical sites and the guidance of OSU faculty.
Katie Walsh Flanagan, MS, EdD, LAT, ATC, Oregon State University alumna and 1980 Physical Education graduate, has been inducted into the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Hall of Fame. Her 43-year career in athletic training began with a chance injury during her time at OSU, leading her from pre-veterinary studies to becoming a leader in the athletic training profession.
Implementing injury prevention programs in high school soccer significantly reduces ACL injuries and associated healthcare expenses.
Lisa Hall, an athletic training student, gains hands-on experience providing injury assessment and rehabilitation support for Western Oregon University football athletes while pursuing her master's degree in athletic training at Oregon State.
Mason Fox's clinical experience with OSU Athletics included creating rehabilitation plans to supporting athletes at the Sun Bowl, PAC-12 Wrestling Championship, and NCAA Baseball Regionals.