Academic Calendar 2025-26

May 04, 2025

Academic Calendar 2025-26

Athletic and Exercise Therapy (Bachelor’s Degree)

Total Credits:	132
Credential:	Bachelor of Athletic and Exercise Therapy
Program Code:	AET.BDEG
CIP:	51.0913

Overview

The Bachelor of Athletic and Exercise Therapy (BAET) is a comprehensive four-year applied degree program focused on preventing, assessing, treating, and managing orthopaedic injuries and health related conditions. Students gain advanced knowledge and skills in athletic and exercise therapy, exercise science, and high-performance sport, ensuring graduates are ready to contribute to the field of health and wellness in a variety of settings.

In this applied program, students will integrate theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills through classroom and laboratory activities in conjunction with practical placements in clinical and field settings.

Students apply essential knowledge to the assessment and treatment of a variety of musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. Using critical thinking and evidence-informed decision-making processes, students design and implement conditioning and rehabilitation programs to aid individuals in their return to sport, work, and activities of daily living. Hands-on learning allows students to apply sports-related emergency care and physical fitness assessment and optimization.

Students learn to use professional and administrative skills to successfully operate a practice. They learn to educate and counsel clients on physical, psychological, and emotional well-being, while promoting a holistic approach to health and wellness.

The BAET program is accredited by the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA). Graduates must successfully complete the CATA National Certification Examination to be eligible for designation as a Certified Athletic Therapist.

Through extensive clinical and fieldwork experiences, our program offers students theoretical foundations, practical competencies, and prerequisites essential for pursuing additional certifications.

Career Opportunities:

An array of career opportunities exists for program graduates, including as athletic therapists (CATA), exercise therapists, strength and conditioning coaches (NSCA), exercise physiologists (CSEP), or kinesiologists (BCAK) in a variety of settings, including private or multidisciplinary clinics, private or post-secondary schools, sports teams, public health, and rehabilitation programs.

Graduates have successfully pursued further education in the areas of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic care, medicine, and research.

Admissions

One of:

C+ in English 12
C in English 12 Camosun Alternative

One of:

C+ in Anatomy and Physiology 12
C+ in Anatomy and Physiology 12 Camosun Alternative

One of:

C in Chemistry 11
C in Chemistry 11 Camosun Alternative

And one of:

C+ in Math 11
C+ in MATH 073
C+ in MATH 075
C+ in MATH 077

Note: Acceptance to the Bachelor of Athletic and Exercise Therapy Program is based on the cumulative grade point average (GPA) for the above four courses. The minimum cumulative GPA to qualify for consideration is a “B” grade or equivalent.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, the learner will be able to

Develop and implement preventative and rehabilitative programs for acute and chronic injuries
Educate and counsel on matters pertaining to the physical, psychological, and emotional health and well-being of the client
Determine the need for and provide advanced care for sports-related emergency conditions
Synthesize and apply knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology for assessment, treatment, and care for orthopedic conditions and diseases
Apply critical thinking and use evidence-informed decision-making to provide safe and effective care
Administer appropriate assessments and testing techniques to determine physical fitness in order to optimize performance and function
Communicate and collaborate with coaches, athletes, and other members of the multi-disciplinary team within field and clinical settings
Provide culturally safe and equitable care to diverse populations in the context of athletic and exercise therapy
Apply ethical principles and standards to professional practice and maintain individual accountability
Advocate for the health and well-being of clients and champion the needs of the profession

Curriculum

Year One

Academic Term One

All of:

BIOL 150 - Human Anatomy Credits: 3
ENGL 151 - Academic Writing Strategies Credits: 3 *
KIN 220 - Resistance Training & Group Exercise Instruction Credits: 3
PHYS 160 - Biomechanics of Sport Credits: 3
PSYC 160 - Sport & Exercise Psychology 1 Credits: 3

Academic Term Two

All of:

AET 201 - Placement 1 Credits: 3
AET 260 - Emergency Conditions 1 Credits: 3
AET 272 - Field Prevention/Injury Care 1 Credits: 3
BIOL 151 - Human Physiology Credits: 3
KIN 230 - Behavioural Fitness Credits: 3

Note:

* Student may use ENGL 161 or ENGL 163 or ENGL 164 in lieu of ENGL 151 toward program completion.

Year Two

Academic Term Three

All of:

AET 265 - Musculoskeletal Anatomy Credits: 3
AET 320 - Human Motor Control Credits: 3
KIN 210 - Exercise Physiology Credits: 3
KIN 240 - Fitness & Health Assessment Credits: 3
KIN 310 - Research Methods Credits: 3

Academic Term Four

All of:

AET 202 - Placement 2 Credits: 3
AET 310 - Pathophysiology Credits: 3
CHEM 214 - Nutrition for Fitness Credits: 3
KIN 241 - Exercise Prescription & Design Credits: 3
KIN 341 - Training for Performance Credits: 3

Year Three

Academic Term Five

All of:

AET 261 - Emergency Conditions 2 Credits: 3
AET 273 - Field Prevention/Injury Care 2 Credits: 3
AET 301 - Placement 3 Credits: 6
AET 365 - Applied Musculoskeletal Anatomy Credits: 3
AET 381 - Clinical Skills 1 Assessment of Orthopedic Injuries Credits: 3

Academic Term Six

All of:

AET 302 - Placement 4 Credits: 6
AET 330 - Therapeutic Modalities Credits: 3
AET 440 - Anatomy of the Spine Credits: 3
AET 470 - Pharmacology and Exercise Credits: 3
AET 482 - Clinical 2 Rehabilitation of Orthopedic Injuries Credits: 3

Year Four

Academic Term Seven

All of:

AET 401 - Placement 5 Credits: 6
AET 430 - Concepts of Manual Therapy Credits: 3
AET 450 - Ergonomics Credits: 3
AET 481 - Clinical 3 Spine Credits: 3
KIN 400 - Chronic Disease Management Credits: 3

Academic Term Eight

All of:

AET 402 - Placement 6 Credits: 6
AET 420 - Business Management for Therapists Credits: 3
AET 490 - Athletic Therapy Capstone Credits: 3
Two (2) electives - 300 level or higher courses Credits: 6*

Note:

*Electives must be 300 or higher level academic courses.

Program Participation Requirements

The student must attend the program orientation session scheduled by the Athletic and Exercise Therapy Department. Clear expectation for the program will be addressed at this time.
The student is required to submit a portfolio which includes two (2) reference letters addressing ethical and professional capabilities.
A Criminal Record Check is required.
The student must purchase a Bachelor of Athletic and Exercise Therapy Urgent Care Kit to participate in the AET 260 course.
A valid Standard First Aid certificate and a valid BLS (Basic Life Support) certificate, submitted prior to the last day of the term in which the student is registered in AET 260.
The student must purchase a Bachelor of Athletic and Exercise Therapy Placement Medical Kit to participate in the AET 301 course.
The student must obtain a First Responder Certificate after completing the Emergency Conditions courses (AET 260 and AET 261). Proof of certification is required prior to placement hours in AET 302.

Please note that the student will be responsible for any costs associated with the Program Participation Requirements listed above.

The student is required to apply to the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) as a Certification Candidate 18 months prior to graduation from the program. The student will maintain their status throughout the remainder of their course of study in the program at Camosun to be eligible for the CATA certification exam upon graduation.

The students is responsible for the fees associated with CATA membership and certification.

Program Completion Requirements

A minimum GPA of 3.0 (C+) is required to graduate from the program.
Must obtain a minimum of a C grade in each course.

Additional Information

The student who completes the four-year program and graduates with the Bachelor of Athletic and Exercise Therapy credential is eligible to sit the examination process for the Canadian Athletic Therapy Association. Completing the BAET program and obtaining the credential does not automatically allow graduates to be registered and/or licensed as CATA Certified Athletic Therapists. Graduates must apply for and successfully pass the CATA certification exam to become Certified Athletic Therapists CAT(C).
The work environment in which the student will be employed requires demanding lifting and moving techniques and extensive hand washing.
Due to the nature of the Bachelor of Athletic and Exercise Therapy program scope and sequence of coursework and the pre requisite linkages among courses it is highly recommended that a student who wished to do the program in more than 4 years connect with Bachelor of Athletic and Exercise Therapy Program Leader to establish a Personal Learning Plan.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Athletic and Exercise Therapy program can also seek with this bachelor’s degree, beyond the CATA certification as an Athletic Therapist, the following certificates:

CSEP - Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologists

CSEP - High Performance Specialist

NSCA - Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

BCAK - Member of the BC Association of Kinesiologists

The student is responsible for covering the fees for gaining the certifications.