Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP)

General Information/Careers

The Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) is an allied health care professional specializing in athletic health care. The ATC functions in a cooperative environment with physicians and other allied health care personnel in a variety of employment settings. The ATC can deliver athletic health care services in the following settings:

Secondary schools: Various employment opportunities are available to ATC's at both the public and private secondary school settings. This work setting continues to grow as administrators and parents alike have discovered the benefits that an ATC offers in the prevention and care of athletic injuries.
Colleges and universities: ATC's can find employment in a collegiate setting in one of two ways. One option is to be a staff member in the athletic department. The primary responsibilities in this position include working in the athletic training room as well as designation to specific sports teams. Another option in the collegiate setting is a combination athletic trainer/teacher. This would involve classroom instruction as well as the daily responsibilities in the athletic training room. Collegiate positions remain stable, but most colleges and universities will require completion of a master's degree for employment.
Professional and Olympic sports organizations: This setting offers employment with one specific sport/team. The responsibilities of this position include in-season prevention and care, as well as off-season rehabilitation and conditioning. However, due to a limited number of teams, employment in this setting is also limited.
Sports Medicine Clinics: Employment in the clinical setting offers a variety of experiences. An ATC may work strictly in the clinic, or they may split their time to provide services for secondary schools as well. Clinics provide a diverse patient population, which can offer unique challenges to the ATC. Clinical settings also provide the opportunity to work with a variety of other health care professionals.
Other athletic health care settings: A variety of other settings exist which may offer employment to an ATC. These would include; health clubs, corporate health programs, industrial health care programs, and other athletic training education programs as a faculty member.

Certification

In order to achieve certification as an athletic trainer, one must fulfill the certification requirements set forth by the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification, Inc. (NATABOC). Once academic and practical requirements have been met, a student may sit for the NATABOC exam. The exam consists of three sections; a written portion, a written simulation, and a practical section.

Accreditation

As a result of recent athletic training educational changes at the national level, students should make note of the following:

Students must graduate from an Athletic Training Education Program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) to be eligible to sit for the NATABOC exam.
The MSCD Athletic Training Education Program has successfully completed CAATE Accreditation.

Clinical Instructors

The Athletic Training Education Program, in addition to rigorous theory courses, requires extensive clinical education experiences. In providing this critical educational component, MSCD utilizes the collective expertise of a number of ATCs in the Denver metropolitan area. ATC's utilized as cilinical instructors are emloyed by local high schools as well as colleges. These clinical instructors provide valuable feedback to the ATEP, and some of these instructors also serve as the athletic traning advisory council.

Advising Information

Below is the current Athletic Training Education Program curriculum.

ATHLETIC TRAINING EDUCATION PROGRAM (ATEP)
ATHLETIC TRAINING CONCENTRATION

The Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP), a concentration and extended major within the department of Human Performance and Sport, is designed for the student desiring a career in the allied health care field of athletic training. The objective of the ATEP at MSCD is the professional preparation of athletic training students, qualifying them to sit for the National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification (NATABOC) certification exam. Upon successful completion of the NATABOC exam, the athletic training graduate may practice as a certified athletic trainer (ATC).

Completion of this program eliminates the need for a minor as it is considered an extended major.

The necessary steps for students wishing to pursue athletic training as a field of study are as follows:

Contact the ATEP Director for academic advising and declaration of major.
Enroll in and complete the following courses with a grade of ‘C’ or better;
- BIO 1080 & 1090 – General Introduction to Biology and Lab (prerequisites for BIO 2310)*
- HPS 1623 – Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries*
- HPS 2060 – Emergency Rescue/First Responder and CPR*

Ideally these courses should be taken during the freshman year.

* Equivalent transfer courses may be considered

Following completion of the above courses, all students, including transfer students, must meet specific criteria to continue in the ATEP and begin the remaining six-semester sequence of athletic training corequisite, didactic/clinical courses. This sequence begins each fall. Please note the following:
Students must meet criteria to continue in the Athletic Training Education Program.
Six semesters are required to complete the athletic training education program.
The sequence begins only in the fall semester.

I. Candidates for continuation, including transfer students, in the ATEP must comply with all program continuation standards. These specific criteria are as follows:

Indicate a desire to continue in the Athletic Training Education Program by submitting the completed ATEP Continuation Intent Form
Have completed of BIO 1080 & 1090, HPS 1623, and HPS 2060 with a grade of ‘C’ or better.
Have completed of a minimum of 12 semester hours with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher on a 4-point scale, or 3.0 or better in the last 30 credit hours completed.
Write and submit a brief summary of professional goals and objectives, indicating sincere interest and commitment in athletic training as a profession.
Obtain and submit three character reference letters. One letter should be from a college faculty member (MSCD athletic training faculty are excluded).
Have proof of current immunizations for DPT, MMR, TB, and hepatitis B (or HBV declination)
Submit a signed statement indicating acknowledgment of the ATEP continuation criteria and policies and procedures.
Provide proof of current CPR.

These materials must be submitted as a packet to the ATEP director no later than March 1st in order to be considered for continuation and beginning the athletic training sequenced courses.

Following submission of these materials, an interview will be scheduled with the athletic training committee.

Students will be notified of their status in the ATEP by April 30th.

Transfer students must meet all of the continuation criteria in order to begin the six-semester sequence of athletic training didactic/clinical corequisite courses.
Following initial continuation and completion the first semester of the athletic training six-semester sequence, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and a major GPA of 2.75. If either GPA falls below the minimum, one of the following will occur:

The student will be placed on probation and have one academic year to bring the GPA(s) up to acceptable levels, while remaining in the course sequence.
If the student fails to bring the GPA(s) up to acceptable levels after one academic year, the student will be suspended from the major until the GPA minimums are achieved. Resumption in the ATEP will commence in the appropriate sequential semester.
If, after two years, the student does not bring the GPA(s) to acceptable levels, the student will be dismissed from the ATEP.
If the GPA(s) are raised to the minimum, the dismissal may be appealed.

Third and fourth year athletic training students will be notified of their status by June 1st of each year.

Candidates for continuation in the Athletic Training Education Program also must demonstrate the following ATEP technical standards:

The mental capacity to assimilate, analyze, synthesize, and integrate concepts and problem solving to formulate assessment and therapeutic judgments and to be able to distinguish deviations from the norm;
Sufficient postural and neuromuscular control, sensory function, and coordination to perform appropriate physical examinations using accepted techniques; and accurately, safely and efficiently use equipment and materials during the assessment and treatment of patients;
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 be able to understand and speak the English language at a level consistent with competent professional practice;
The ability to record the physical examination results and a treatment plan clearly and accurately;
The capacity to maintain composure and continue to function well during periods of high stress;
The perseverance, diligence, and commitment to complete the athletic training education program as outlined and sequenced;
Flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in clinical situations;
Affective skills and appropriate demeanor and rapport that relate to professional education and quality patient care.

Required Courses Semester Hours
BIO 2320 Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4
HPS 1623 Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries 3
HPS 1640 Physical Fitness Techniques and Programs 2
HPS 2060 Emergency Rescue/First Responder & CPR 3
HPS 2220* Foundations of Athletic Training 3
HPS 2221* Athletic Training Clinical Experience I 2
HPS 2790 Pathology of Athletic Injury/Illness 3
HPS 2860** Therapeutic Modalities in Sports Medicine 3
HPS 2861** Athletic Training Clinical Experience II 2
HPS 3000 Health Programs in Human Performance & Sport 3
HPS 3300 Anatomical Kinesiology 3
HPS 3340 Physiology of Exercise 3
HPS 3830# Upper Body Injury Evaluation 3
HPS 3831# Athletic Training Clinical Experience III 2
HPS 3850## Lower Body Injury Evaluation 3
HPS 3851## Athletic Training Clinical Experience IV 2
HPS 4660 Legal Liability for Physical Educators, Coaches, & Administrators 3
HPS 4750+ Upper Body Injury Rehabilitation 3
HPS 4751+ Athletic Training Clinical Experience V 2
HPS 4770++ Lower Body Injury Rehabilitation 2
HPS 4771++ Athletic Training Clinical Experience VI 2
HPS 4850 Seminar in Athletic Training 3
NUT 2040 Introduction to Nutrition 3
PSY 3100 Psychology of Counseling 3
Total 65

* HPS 2220 & HPS 2221 must be taken concurrently in the fall semester
** HPS 2860 & HPS 2861 must be taken concurrently in the spring semester
# HPS 3830 & HPS 3831 must be taken concurrently in the fall semester
## HPS 3850 & HPS 3851 must be taken concurrently in the spring semester
+ HPS 4750 & HPS 4751 must be taken concurrently in the fall semester
++ HPS 4770 & HPS 4771 must be taken concurrently in the spring semester

Please Note:

Required General Studies courses (fulfill Natural Science General Studies requirement):
- BIO 1080 & 1090 – General Introduction to Biology & Lab
- BIO 2310 – Anatomy and Physiology I

The Athletic Training Clinical Experience courses; HPS 2221, 2861, 3831, 3851, 4751, and 4771, meet for 1 hour per week at MSCD and currently require a minimum of 10 hours per week at assigned affiliated athletic training sites in the Denver Metro area. The ATEP director and clinical coordinator will determine placement at these sites. Students will be rotated to various sites during the six-semester sequence.

To be accepted into the Athletic Training Education Program, students must:

declare a major in Human Performance & Sport with an athletic training concentration.
complete a minimum of 12 semester hours at MSCD or other postsecondary institution, with a minimum GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale)
complete the following courses; HPS 1623, HPS 2060, BIO 1080, and BIO 1090 (or courses deemed equivalent), with a grade of "C" or higher.

Athletic Training Education Program Faculty

Resources/Links

National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA)
Colorado Athletic Trainers Association (CATA)
Student Athletic Trainers Association (SATA)