Exercise Science - Athletic Training

A study referencing the Department of Education’s data has named Ripon College as one of the top schools for Heath and Wellness majors in Wisconsin. A student majoring in exercise science-athletic training will be introduced to the fundamental concepts of prevention, recognition, care, evaluation and rehabilitation of common athletic injuries. Students completing this pre-professional major are prepared to enter graduate school in any of a number of therapeutic healthcare fields such as physical therapy, athletic training, occupational therapy, cardiac rehab, physician assistant and nurse practitioner.

Completion of this major will prepare students as integral parts of the healthcare and wellness team. Students will develop a professional philosophy of healthcare that is patient-centered and consistent with current professional standards. Graduates will be proficient at critically evaluating contemporary research relative to physical activity to ensure safe, valid, reliable assessment, evaluation, treatment and program design, while also considering social, cultural, economic and political factors that influence sport, physical activity, rehabilitation and health/wellness programs.

Department Mission Statement

The mission of the Exercise Science Department is to prepare, educate, and empower students in their individual journeys toward becoming critical practitioners skilled at evaluating, deconstructing, and addressing the problems and issues central to the narrower topic of sport, as well as the broader issue of physical activity across the lifespan. By blending scholarly study and professional practice, department faculty create learning opportunities and experiences that nurture students’ exploration of the physical, psychological, social-humanistic, and professional aspects of physical activity, and their associated impact on health, society, and quality of life.