Curriculum Course Descriptions

REQUIRED COURSES

HAL 515 - Foundations of Athletic Training

This course introduces the student to athletic training and the role of the athletic trainer.  Topics include the historical development of the profession, concept of the sports medicine team and injury documentation.  Emphasis is placed on strategies for injury prevention, assessment and treatment. Students will receive instruction in the recognition and management of medical emergencies, training and conditioning techniques, and the fabrication and application of taping, wrapping, supportive, and protective devices.  A laboratory component is included.

HAL 520 - Principles of Physical Agents

This course introduces the student to the use of therapeutic interventions in order to manage a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. Emphasis placed on an evidence-based practice approach to making sound clinical decisions for the use of therapeutic modalities. Topics include tissue response to injury, pain physiology, psychological response to injury, and therapeutic interventions for inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions.

HAL 525 - Evidence Based Practice

This course introduces the student to the concepts of evidence-based practice (EBP) in athletic training.  The student will learn how to obtain, process, examine, and appraise peer reviewed journal articles.  The goal of this course is to become a consumer of literature and form a foundation for clinical practice as well as identifying areas of interest for future research projects through literature searches and round table discussions of literature.

HAL 530 - Critical Care

This course instructs the student in the recognition and management of emergent medical conditions in persons experiencing acute trauma or critical illness. Topics include patient assessment, head and spine injury management, basic life support measures, environmental emergencies, and sudden cardiac arrest. Students are required to have current certification in Basic Life Support CPR.

HAL 535 - Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment I

This course focuses on the principles of clinical diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic injuries to the lower extremity. Emphasis will be placed on the components of the comprehensive orthopedic clinical evaluation and diagnosis including: history, inspection, palpation, functional testing, special evaluation techniques and the establishment and implementation of therapeutic interventions.

HAL 540 -  Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment II

This course focuses on the principles of clinical diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic injuries of the head, cervical spine, and upper extremity. Emphasis will be placed on the components of a comprehensive orthopedic clinical evaluation and diagnosis including: history, inspection, palpation, functional testing, special evaluation techniques and the establishment and implementation of therapeutic interventions. 

HAL 545 - Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment III

This course focuses on the principles of clinical diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic injuries of the thoracic and lumbosacral spine. Emphasis will be placed on the components of a comprehensive orthopedic clinical evaluation and diagnosis including: history, inspection, palpation, functional testing, special evaluation techniques and the establishment and implementation of therapeutic interventions. 

HAL 550 - Advanced Therapeutic Interventions

Progression of previously learned therapeutic interventions. Emphasis is placed on the use of therapeutic exercise and manual therapy techniques in order to rehabilitate patients from both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic conditions. 

HAL 555 - Healthcare Management

This course provides students with the ability to analyze various issues, policies, and procedures encompassing the ethical administration of athletic training in a managed-care model. This includes US federal health care laws, legal liability issues, personnel management, facility organization and design, equipment maintenance, budgeting, record keeping, health care services, informatics, counseling, and public relations. Students will also be exposed to principles that enhances their networking, professional development, and personal branding skills. 

HAL 560 – Nutrition and Supplement Use for Sport Performance

This course is designed to provide an understanding of basic nutrition science as well as the use of supplements to enhance athletic performance. Students will become familiar with the principles of diet planning, food labeling, biological functions and food sources of primary nutrients, energy balance, weight management and physical activity; the role of nutrition in chronic disease development; nutrition throughout the life cycle and current nutrition-based controversies. You will learn the advantages and disadvantages to using dietary supplements. Scientific research on recommended dosage and potential side effects will be addressed. Both the needs of competitive athletes’ and everyday needs and concerns will be addressed. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to evaluate and make recommendations about diet plans, dietary supplements, as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Students will also be able to analyze the needs of various athletes and determine if specific supplements should be recommended for them to improve performance.

HAL 565 - Research Design

This course will acquaint students with research designs and related methods commonly used to contribute to the evidence-based practice of athletic training.  It will provide the necessary tools for students to process and apply the skills needed to develop independent research studies.  This will include conducting literature searches, appraising scientific literature, formulating a research question or hypothesis, and selecting appropriate research designs and methods.   This information will be presented in the context of protecting human subjects and health information based on the policies and procedures of the Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (CORIHS) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

HAL 570 - Research Methods

This course introduces the student to research in athletic training.  The student will learn about the research process, read, examine, and comprehend peer reviewed journal articles.  The student will begin assembling a research project on a topic related to athletic training through the development of a research question and the composition of a literature review and methodology based on their proposed topic.  The culmination of this course will result in submission of an application to the IRB.  

HAL 571 - Research Seminar I

This course is intended to review parametric and nonparametric statistics that will be implemented into students’ research design in an effort to draw statistical inferences and answer research questions.  Once students receive IRB approval time will be allotted for students to recruit subjects and pilot test their research projects.  If students complete their pilot testing they will be afforded time to begin their final projects.

HAL 572 - Research Seminar II

This course is the culmination of the athletic training program’s research curriculum.  Upon receiving IRB approval, students will recruit subjects and collect data to answer their research questions.  The goal of this course is to complete the proposed research projects and develop a publishable manuscript and a poster that can be presented at a state, regional, or national conference.

HAL 575 - General Medical Conditions

This course is designed to provide the student with a working knowledge of the pathophysiology and management of common diseases and other medical disorders or disabilities as they relate to athletes and the physically active.

HAL 581 - Athletic Training Clinical I

This course provides the student with their first clinical experience. The student will be supervised by a preceptor at all times during their clinical experience. The student will practice patient care and professional skills and behaviors on a daily basis. Emphasis is placed on topics related to the student’s previous areas of classroom study (foundations of athletic training, principles of physical agents, evidence-based practice, lower extremity evaluation, diagnosis, and therapeutic intervention) and immediate incorporation of concurrent classroom topics (upper extremity evaluation, diagnosis, and therapeutic intervention, critical care). 

HAL 582 - Athletic Training Clinical II

This course offers assignments in clinical settings related to the student’s area of study (Principles of Physical Agents, Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment I & II, Critical Care).This course will give the student the opportunity to observe and integrate skills under the supervision of a preceptor. The student will practice comprehensive patient care and professional skills and behaviors on a daily basis in preparation for independent clinical practice upon graduation.

HAL 583 - Athletic Training Clinical III

This course provides the student with their third clinical experience. The student will be supervised by a preceptor at all times during their clinical experience. The student will practice comprehensive patient care and professional skills and behaviors on a daily basis in preparation for independent clinical practice upon graduation.

HAL 584 - Athletic Training Clinical IV

This course provides the student with their fourth clinical experience. The student will be supervised by a preceptor at all times during their clinical experience. The student will practice comprehensive patient care and professional skills and behaviors on a daily basis in preparation for independent clinical practice upon graduation. 

HAL 585 - Athletic Training Clinical V

This course provides the student with their fifth clinical experience. The student will be supervised by a preceptor at all times during their clinical experience. The student will practice comprehensive patient care and professional skills and behaviors on a daily basis in preparation for independent clinical practice upon graduation. 

HAL 586 - General Medical Clinical

This course provides the student with a general medical clinical experience through rotations with health care providers in different settings.  The student will be supervised by a preceptor at all times during their clinical experience. The student will practice comprehensive patient care and professional skills and behaviors on a daily basis in preparation for independent clinical practice upon graduation. 

ELECTIVE COURSE

HAL 510 - Strength and Conditioning for the Healthcare Professional

Designed to provide a comprehensive overview of strength and conditioning for the future or practicing healthcare practitioner. Emphasizes exercise sciences (including anatomy, exercise physiology, and biomechanics), nutrition, exercise technique, program design, organization, administration, testing, and evaluation. Prepares students for nationally- accredited Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification exam.

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