Athletic Training, B.S.

Athletic Training

The Athletic Training (ATR) major provides educational opportunities that prepare students for a career as entry-level Certified Athletic Trainers. Students begin their pre-professional phase of the ATR Program during their freshman year at the University. At the conclusion of the freshman year, formal application to the program must be made by each student. Throughout their course of study, students gain a sound educational basis for beginning professional practice, which is infused with Franciscan values and traditions as well as a strong liberal arts base.

Selection for admission into the ATR major is made prior to the beginning of each Fall semester. Pursuit of a major in Athletic Training requires that students first be formally accepted into the major following successful completion of their pre-professional phase. Applicants to the major must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 and must achieve a grade of “C” or higher in ATR 100, Introduction to Athletic Training ; ATR 189, Level I Practicum ; ATR 205, Integrated Functional Anatomy for Athletic Training  and ATR 220, Emergency Response: First Aid and CPR , all of which are taken during the student’s pre-professional phase (freshman year) prior to application for the major.

Formal application to the major involves the completion of a Major Application Form and an interview with the Selection Committee, which is comprised of faculty, clinical instructors, administrators, and Athletic Training students. Students must also meet specific technical standards prior to admission to the ATR major. A copy of these standards may be obtained from the office of the Program Director.

Students are chosen to enter the major each year in compliance with Neumann University guidelines concerning clinical instructor-to-student ratios. Selection into the ATR major is competitive, and satisfaction of the minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee admission. Following selection to the major, completion of the program requires a minimum of six consecutive semesters.

The ATR Program is designed so that students, at the program’s conclusion, attain the competencies and proficiencies established by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), which are essential to professional practice as a Certified Athletic Trainer. In addition, the ATR Program prepares students to continue their education in graduate study and/or other medical fields, such as Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Strength and Conditioning, and Physician’s Assistant.

Details of the Athletic Training Program are printed annually in the University’s Undergraduate Catalog. Program advising sheets are updated by the Program Director as required and provide the most current information on degree and other requirements. Course descriptions of all ATR courses are contained in this Undergraduate Catalog and can also be obtained on the Neumann University web site at www.neumann.edu.

Mission

In accordance with and reflective of the Mission of Neumann University, the Athletic Training Program provides a service-oriented education for students who seek a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Athletic Training. Students acquire the knowledge and skills of athletic training through classroom and clinical instruction. Graduates are prepared to carry out diverse responsibilities in roles with flexible boundaries, to view learning as a lifelong process, and to value the inherent dignity of human beings regardless of individual differences.

A Statement of Philosophy

Recognizing the ever-changing environment of health care in the world today, the faculty of the Athletic Training Program strongly believe that the profession of athletic training is quickly becoming a career that is both highly desirable and respected. To respond to this changing environment, a new generation of educators and health care professionals are emerging who are more flexible and better educated in a wide range of disciplines. This type of professional aptly describes the athletic trainer, an individual who must be ready to assume a variety of new roles in the profession, such as meeting mandates by state education systems for all high schools to employ athletic trainers, responding to the armed forces requirement to have an athletic trainer at all military installations, or being prepared for insurance carriers awarding provider numbers for athletic trainers. The future of the profession is certainly one without boundaries, and Neumann University is in the position to educate students to succeed in this evolving profession of athletic training.

Classroom learning in the Athletic Training Program is supplemented by clinical rotations that provide students with the opportunity to develop skills and experiences in many different settings, with a wide range of sports, and with all types of athletes. The clinical educational component of this program covers the areas defined by CAATE standards of accreditation during a six-semester clinical rotation sequence. During these clinical experiences, the student follows a logical progression of courses in order to gain a level of competency associated with a certified practitioner. A positive environment with the opportunity for sequential skill acquisition is afforded the student at all rotations in order to provide a mode of education that is consistent with the model of progressive learning over time.

Accreditation

Neumann University’s Athletic Training Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), 2201 Double Creek Drive, Suite 5006, Round Rock, TX 78664; Telephone: 512-733-9700; Fax: 512-733-9701; or http://www.caate.net/.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will earn a Bachelor of Science with a major in Athletic Training and will be able to:

• Utilize, through competent practice, the cognitive knowledge and clinical proficiency which are required in emergency care, the care of patients, the prevention of injury and illness, as well as the assessment of injury and illness.
• Demonstrate a thorough working knowledge of therapeutic modalities, therapeutic exercise, general medical conditions, nutrition, strength and conditioning, pharmacology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, health care administration, and human anatomy/physiology.
• Master the skills and knowledge included in Educational Competencies and Clinical Proficiencies, as published by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA Council, 2011).
• Demonstrate currently acceptable professional practices in athletic training, and apply that knowledge in the care of patients.
• Function in a positive manner in varied settings with all other health care professionals, coaches, athletes, and media.
• Make and implement clinical plans that are consistent with documented practices and with the patient’s well-being.
• Demonstrate the ability to make timely and effective decisions related to athletic training.

Admission Criteria

Candidates for admission to the Athletic Training major are required to:

• Complete a minimum of 24 credit hours which are applicable toward graduation with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
• Complete the following courses with a minimum grade of “C”: ATR 100, Introduction to Athletic Training ; ATR 189, Level I Practicum ; ATR 205, Integrated Functional Anatomy for Athletic Training  and ATR 220, Emergency Response: First Aid and CPR .
• Complete the application to the major.
• Complete the following Technical Standards for Admission to the Athletic Training Program, which requires candidates, with or without reasonable accommodations, to:
  • Demonstrate the mental capacity to assimilate, analyze, synthesize, integrate concepts, and problem solve to formulate assessment and therapeutic judgments and be able to distinguish deviations from the norm.
  • Possess sufficient postural and neuromuscular control, sensory function, and coordination to perform appropriate physical examinations using accepted techniques; and to accurately, safely, and efficiently use equipment and materials during the assessment and treatment of patients.
  • Have the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and colleagues, including individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds; this includes, but is not limited to, the ability to establish rapport with patients and communicate judgments and treatment information effectively. Students must also be able to understand and speak the English language at a level consistent with competent professional practice.
  • Demonstrate the ability to record physical examination results and a treatment plan clearly and accurately.
  • Have the capacity to maintain composure and continue to function well during periods of high stress.
  • Demonstrate perseverance, diligence, and commitment to complete the Athletic Training Program as outlined and sequenced.
  • Possess flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in clinical environments.
  • Demonstrate affective skills as well as appropriate demeanor and rapport that relate to professional education and quality patient care.
    [NOTE: Candidates for selection to Neumann University’s Athletic Training Program are required to verify that they understand and meet these Technical Standards for Admission or that they believe that, with certain accommodations, they can meet the standards.]
• Submit a statement of personal and professional goals to the Program Director (minimum one full page, double-spaced, typed).
• Successfully complete an interview with the Program Director and/or Selection Committee. This interview should demonstrate the student’s understanding of the profession, his/her specific career goals, and general verbal communication skills.
• Present proof of a current Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance, Pennsylvania Criminal Background Clearance, and an FBI Fingerprint Clearance. Additional clearances may be required for selected clinical sites and may require additional fees.
• Review and demonstrate an understanding of the Neumann University Student Athletic Trainer’s Manual.
• Attain First Aid and CPR certification. (Additional fees may be required.)
• Attend an OSHA compliant workshop. (Additional fees may be required.)
• Attend 2 HIPAA/FERPA Compliant Workshops. (Additional fees may be required)
• Read and sign ATR program’s Communicable Disease Policy
• Complete a Health Physical and submit the results to the Office of Health Services. (Additional fees may be required.)
• For students from a non-English speaking country or for whom English is a second language, results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must be submitted. A minimum score of 84 on the TOEFL exam is required. Neumann also accepts a minimum score of 109 from the ESL Language Centers Exam. In addition, applicants are also required to complete an interview and demonstrate facility with reading, writing, and speaking English.

Progression Criteria/Degree Requirements

Progression in the Athletic Training major leading to a Bachelor of Science degree requires students to:

• Demonstrate the competencies outlined in the Technical Standards for Admission form.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher.
  NOTE: If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below a 2.50, he/she is placed on Program Probation for one semester. If the student’s cumulative GPA remains below a 2.50 after one semester of Program Probation, he/she is then dismissed from the program. The student may reapply for admission to the Athletic Training Program once his/her cumulative GPA is at or above a 2.50. At that point, however, the student must repeat all admission requirements as stipulated by the Program Director.
• Attain a grade of “C” or better in all major and allied course requirements.
• Maintain required immunizations through Health Services.
• Maintain First Aid and CPR certification.
• Maintain proof of a current Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance, Pennsylvania Criminal Background Clearance, and an FBI Fingerprint Clearance. Additional clearances may be required for selected clinical sites and may require additional fees.
• Attend an OSHA compliant workshop addressing blood-borne pathogen training. (Additional fees may be required.)
• Obtain membership in NATA. (Additional fees may be required.)
  
• Complete a minimum of 124 credits.

Athletic Training Repeat Policy  

Students must achieve a minimum grade of “C” or better in all athletic training and allied courses*. If a student achieves a grade below “C” in any athletic training or allied course, the student must repeat the course and earn the minimum grade. Students may repeat each athletic training and allied course one time. Students may make a third attempt to achieve the minimum grade in only two athletic training or allied courses. Students will be dismissed from the Athletic Training Major if they do not to achieve the minimum grade in two athletic training or allied courses after the 3rd attempt. Placement in an athletic training course depends upon the enrollment of those students taking the course for the first time.
*Allied courses = BIO 130 /BIO 135 , BIO 131 /BIO 136 , CHEM 101 /CHEM 111 , MATH 102 , PSYCH 101 , SCI 215 .

Clinical Education

To complete the Athletic Training Program at Neumann University, students must complete six semesters of clinical education with a minimum of 1,000 contact hours. Students must have successfully completed all prerequisites and maintain a cumulative GPA that supports successful completion of the program prior to each clinical rotation. ATR 288 Level II Practicum 1 /ATR 289 Level II Practicum 2 , occurs in the sophomore year; ATR 388 Level III Practicum 1 /ATR 389 Level III Practicum 2 , occurs in the junior year; and ATR 498 Internship In Athletic Training I /ATR 499 Internship In Athletic Training II , occurs in the senior year.

Transportation

Each Athletic Training student is responsible for transportation to and from clinical practice sites throughout the entire Athletic Training Program.

Limitation on Transfer Credit

In addition to the University requirement of a grade of “C” or better for all courses accepted in transfer, transfer courses in anatomy and physiology, nutrition, and pharmacology must have been taken within five years of application to the University. Waiver of this policy may be requested in writing by those currently working in the field and may be granted at the Dean’s discretion.

Course Requirements: 124 Credits

Suggested Four-Year Curriculum: 124 Credits