Athletic Training, MS

Professional Athletic Training education programs use a competency-based approach in both the classroom and clinical settings. Using a medical-based education model, Athletic Training students are educated to provide comprehensive client/patient care in five domains of clinical practice: prevention; clinical evaluation and diagnosis; immediate and emergency care; treatment and rehabilitation; and organization and professional health and well-being. The educational requirements for CAATE-accredited Athletic Training education programs include acquisition of knowledge, skills, and clinical abilities along with a broad scope of foundational behaviors of professional practice. Students complete an extensive clinical learning requirement that is embodied in the clinical integration proficiencies (professional, practice-oriented outcomes) as identified in the Standards for Accreditation of Professional Athletic Training Programs. Students will receive formal instruction in the following specific subject matter areas identified in the Standards: Core Competencies; Patient/Client Care; Prevention, Health Promotion and Wellness and Health Care Administration.

The Masters of Science in Athletic Training program prepares students in a cohort-based model to serve as health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical
diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. The program has both an academic and a clinical education component. The clinical education component entails a series of sequential laboratory courses and a minimum of four semesters of practicum coursework that includes supervised field experiences with the IUP Department of Athletics and affiliated clinical sites (sports medicine clinics, physicians’ offices/hospitals, high schools, and additional collegiate settings).

Additionally, program retention, completion, and Board of Certification examination endorsement are contingent upon students passing comprehensive examinations including a mock/practice certification exam. Students must
obtain the Athletic Training Program Overview document from the department website for full details regarding program progression, mediation, retention, and Board of Certification examination endorsement.

Requirements:

In addition to meeting IUP’s School of Graduate Studies and Research’s admission requirements, students must meet the following entrance criteria:

Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and completion of the following prerequisite coursework with a C or better:
- Biology (with lab)
- Chemistry (with lab)
- Human Anatomy (with lab)
- Human Physiology (with lab)
- Exercise Physiology
- Kinesiology/Biomechanics
- Nutrition
- Physics (with lab)
- Psychology
- Statistics
- Minimum of 40 hours of direct clinical observation under the guidance of a Certified Athletic Trainer in a minimum of two different settings. A letter of verification is required from each supervising Certified Athletic Trainer.
- Current Emergency Cardiac Care (ECC) certification. Acceptable ECC providers are those adhering to the most current International Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiac Care.
- Completion of an interview with the program director and faculty (as needed).
- Additional details and required documentation (clearances, Tuberculin (TB) skin test, liability insurance) are outlined in the Athletic Training Program Overview which is available on the department website.

Additionally, students enrolled in an IUP undergraduate program who take all of the aforementioned prerequisite coursework may be eligible for early admission into the Masters of Science in Athletic Training program. Please refer to IUP’s School of Graduate Studies and Research’s guidelines for Early Admission to Graduate Program Policy.

Degree Requirements:

BIOL 509 - Pharmacology Principles and Applications Credits: 3
GSR 615 - Elements of Research Credits: 3
KHSS 501 - Foundations of Athletic Training Credits: 3
KHSS 525 - Risk Management and Acute Care in Athletic Training Credits: 3
KHSS 545 - Pathology and Assessment in Athletic Training I Credits: 4
KHSS 565 - Pathology and Assessment in Athletic Training II Credits: 4
KHSS 575 - Pathology and Assessment in Athletic Training III Credits: 4
KHSS 576 - Athletic Training Program Clinical Practicum I Credits: 3
KHSS 577 - Athletic Training Clinical Practicum II Credits: 3
KHSS 580 - Organization and Administration in Athletic Training Credits: 3
KHSS 585 - Assessment and Management of General Medical Conditions in Athletic Training Credits: 4
KHSS 646 - Rehabilitation Methods and Therapeutic Exercises for Orthopedic Injuries Credits: 6
KHSS 648 - Therapeutic Modalities Credits: 5
KHSS 676 - Athletic Training Program Clinical Practicum III Credits: 6
KHSS 677 - Athletic Training Clinical Practicum IV Credits: 3
KHSS 685 - Professional Issues in Athletic Training Credits: 3

Total Degree Requirements: 60

SLOs

Students will be able to:
Outcome	How outcome measured	IMPROVE learning category
Employ the Foundational Behaviors of Professional Practice as outlined in the Athletic Training Core Competencies.	Examinations¹, Preceptor evaluations² during clinical experiences (KHSS 501 and all practicums)	Skills
Create and implement evidence-based strategies and programs to prevent the incidence and/or severity of injuries and illnesses and optimize their clients’/patients’ overall health and quality of life.	Course examinations, policy writing assignments and preceptor evaluations (KHSS 525, 580 and all practicums)	Capabilities
Develop evidence-based clinical examination techniques and apply clinical-reasoning skills in order to accurately diagnosis and effectively treat patients.	Course examinations, oral practical examinations³, patient simulations³, critical literature appraisal writing assignments³ and preceptor evaluations (KHSS 545, 565, 575, 585 and all practicums)	Capabilities
Assess a patient’s status using clinician- and patient-oriented outcome measures and select the appropriate therapeutic intervention to maximize the patient’s participation and health-related quality of life.	Course examinations, oral practical examinations, case report writing project and preceptor evaluations (KHSS 646, 648 and 600-level practicums)	Capabilities
Recognize, intervene and refer clients/patients exhibiting abnormal social, emotional, and mental behaviors.	Course examinations, patient simulations and preceptor evaluations (KHSS 575 and 600-level practicums)	Capabilities
Explain the athletic trainer’s role in the healthcare system and understand the importance of risk management, healthcare delivery mechanisms, insurance, reimbursement, documentation, patient privacy, and facility management.	Course examinations, projects and preceptor evaluations (KHSS 580 and 600-level practicums)	Knowledge
Value the importance of maintaining current competence in the constantly changing world of healthcare and embrace the need to practice within the limits of state and national regulation using moral and ethical judgment.	Professional development writing project³ and preceptor evaluations (KHSS 501, 685 and all practicums)	Skills

¹ No minimum score required. Exams items reviewed with class after exam and deficient content areas reviewed/remediated as needed.

² 80% or better required on each item and/or individual remediation required to progress to next practicum course.

³ 80% or better required on these assessments. Students are retested or resubmit assignments until a minimum of 80% is reached. Attempt calculated into grade dependent of individual faculty grading policy as outlined in course syllabus.