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Human Movement Sciences - Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP)

ATEP Mission Statement

Athletic Training Students practicing their knee evaluation skills

The Mission of the Department of Human Movement Sciences is to engage in the generation, dissemination, integration, and application of knowledge specific to human movement in various contexts. These contexts comprise health promotion, maintenance, habilitation, and rehabilitation in professional settings ranging from health care to education to sport to industry. Department faculty conduct research that contributes to the knowledge base in the human movement sciences and informs curricular content. The Department of Human Movement Sciences provides educational experiences that enable students to understand human movement, as expressed in physical activity. Students are encouraged to integrate scientific and humanistic perspectives; analyze movement within an health sciences context; create an understanding of the critical, social, behavioral and physical bases of movement; and apply this knowledge in diverse settings.

The Athletic Training Education Program, guided by the Department of Human Movement Sciences' Mission , seeks to provide a comprehensive athletic training educational program for students that not only meets, but exceeds the educational standards as set by its accrediting body, the Committee on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Furthermore, in establishing and implementing its educational program, the faculty and staff recognize the value and importance of providing an educational foundation based upon scientific inquiry, experiential learning opportunities, and conducting on-going program evaluation to maintain a state-of-the-art educational experience for its students.

 

Goals and Objectives

The Athletic Training Education Program will prepare students for an entry-level athletic trainer's position through achievement of the following goals and objectives.

1. The ATEP is committed to maintaining a CAATE accredited entry-level curriculum that educates students through didactic, laboratory, and practical clinical experiences.

  • The curriculum will be presented in an organized, sequential, and cumulative manner such that students will learn, develop, and refine their knowledge and clinical skills across the entire 7-semester program.
  • Each didactic course and related laboratory experience will be based on and defined by the specific educational competencies and clinical proficiencies enumerated in the "Athletic Training Educational Competencies, 4 th edition" manual.
  • Supervised and guided clinical experiences will occur each semester and directly relate to the specific educational competencies and clinical proficiencies delivered within the corresponding semester's formal coursework.
  • Students will receive opportunities for individualized and on-going evaluation of clinical skill proficiency, both within didactic and laboratory courses as well as during clinical experiences each semester by Approved Clinical Instructors.
  • The ATEP curriculum will prepare students to sit for the Board of Certification exam.

2. Students will gain an appreciation for the influence and importance of scholarly and scientific inquiry, and learn to practice using the philosophy of evidence based medicine.

  • All courses within the Department of Human Movement Sciences will promote the development of critical thinking and evaluation skills through the integration of scholarly research.
  • Students will learn the skills needed to practice evidence based medicine.
  • Students will have opportunities to participate in faculty led research investigations either as research assistants or subjects.
  • Students will be encouraged to attend research-based conferences.

3. The ATEP will provide a diverse number of clinical experiences.

  • Students will participate in clinical rotations that include experiences with both genders through a variety of age groups, clinical settings, sports, and equipment intensive activities.
  • Students will gain appreciation for the diversity among certified/licensed athletic trainers by being assigned to a different clinical supervisor each semester.
  • Students will be exposed to other health care providers including, but not limited to physicians, surgeons, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, strength and conditioning specialists, nutritionists, sports psychologists, and massage therapists.
  • Students will be exposed to a patient population that is diverse with regards to things such as ethnicity, socioeconomic status, social and religious beliefs.

4. The ATEP will promote personal and professional development.

  • Students will be encouraged to become members of professional organizations.
  • Students will be exposed to professionally pertinent topics and issues through guest speakers from a variety of health care professions.
  • Students will be encouraged to attend seminars, workshops, and conferences.

5. The ATEP will be evaluated on an on-going basis to ensure the maintenance of high standards and program improvement.

  • Program evaluations by students, recent graduates, and clinical affiliates will be conducted on an annual basis.
  • Students will evaluate academic courses and instructors each semester.
  • Instructors will be encouraged to attend training sessions and/or seminars that promote improvement in instructional methods and integration of technology.
  • The program director will conduct periodic surveys and questionnaires to assess program quality, student satisfaction, instructor effectiveness, and educational enhancements.