The ATP is designed to meet and exceed the educational and clinical standards established by CAATE. The Competencies in Athletic Training serve as the basis for student education and provide the delineation for the national certification examination content. Students must maintain an acceptable overall GPA and HSC GPA. Additionally, the student must achieve the grade of “C” or better in athletic training professional courses.
EDUCATIONAL PLAN
Each academic year has a specific focus on preparing an athletic training student (ATS) to become a health care professional and the knowledge and skills developed in one course carry over to future courses. Throughout the course of their education ATS will learn where, how, and why athletic trainers fit into health care and develop an appreciation for the moral and ethical duties of athletic trainers. The following is an overview of the program’s educational plan:
Freshman Year
During the freshman year the aim of the program is to provide the student with an introduction to the athletic training profession, develop first responder and professional level CPR skills and fulfill many of the general education and science courses.
Sophomore Year
During the sophomore year the student will begin the application process while completing prerequisite courses in anatomy, physiology and kinesiology and fulfill many of the general education and science courses.
Junior Year
Once the student has been accepted into the ATP the student begins to develop their basic clinical and evaluation skills through three courses taught during the summer: Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries,Prophylactic Taping, Bracing and Equipment Fitting, and Clinical Evaluation; Diagnosis of the Lumbar Spine & Lower Extremity.
The ATS is educated regarding evaluation and assessment of the upper extremity, head, and neck, therapeutic modalities, exercise physiology and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. The junior year will provide the ATS with the knowledge necessary to return an injured athlete to competition or pre-injury status.
Senior Year
The final year of college will provide the ATS with a refined knowledge and understanding of the administrative demands of the practicing athletic trainer and will prepare an ATS to enter the job market or graduate school. The ATS will also develop a research project. During the final four weeks of the senior spring semester ATS will conduct research and develop their findings into a journal article-style report and present their findings during Senior Research Seminar. The ATS will also develop knowledge of various illnesses and diseases associated with the physically active through the General Medical Conditions course.
