Mar 29, 2024  
Undergraduate Day Catalog 2014-2015 
    
Undergraduate Day Catalog 2014-2015 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Athletic Training


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Faculty

  • Assistant Professor Denise Breitkreuz
  • Assistant Professor Tyler Hamilton
  • Assistant Professor Steve Sylvester

Within a framework of Christian principles, the mission of the Department of Athletic Training is to prepare students to excel in the allied health profession of athletic training through didactic & clinical education and professional service.

The Athletic Training major at PBA works toward the successful completion of a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Exercise Science. The program is designed to provide the student with knowledge of the prevention, acute care, assessment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries; organization and administration needs of a sports medicine facility; professional development possibilities; and preparation for the Board of Certification (BOC) national examination. Students will not only learn about the athletic training profession from the typical classroom and laboratory settings, but also from a variety of clinical rotations and experiences throughout the program. The ATR major consists of two phases: the Observation Phase and the Professional Phase also called the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP).

Accreditation Status

The Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) at Palm Beach Atlantic University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

Admissions Criteria

Applications for fall admission into the ATEP are due by April 1. Certain criteria must be met in order to be eligible for the ATEP. The requirements are as follows:

  1. Prerequisites
  2. Application Process
    Please complete and submit the following items. All forms are available from the Program Director.
    • An Application form.
    • An official or unofficial copy of your transcript(s).
    • Three (3) letters of recommendation. These letters must be written by individuals outside of PBA.
    • A one to two-page essay on 1) your reasons for pursuing athletic training, 2) how you can contribute to the ATEP and 3) expectations of the ATEP.
    • A signed Technical Standards form. If there is a challenge with meeting any of the outlined Technical Standards, the student must speak with the ADA Liaison of Palm Beach Atlantic University for assistance in meeting the requirements.
    • Copies of your physical exam, medical history, and immunization record.
    • Documentation of athletic training observation hours.
    • Complete a successful interview with the ATEP Admissions Committee. This last stage of the application process is held at the end of each spring semester.
      *Admission into the ATEP is a competitive process. Meeting each of the above listed requirements does not guarantee admission into the ATEP. A Point System based partially on the aforementioned criteria is utilized to score the students throughout the Application Process. Typically, only the top 12-16 scoring students will be accepted into the ATEP. Candidates are informed of their entrance status by letter following the interview.
  3. Pre-Enrollment
    Students accepted into the Professional Phase of the ATEP must submit the following items before beginning clinical rotations:
    • Copies of Bloodborne Pathogens training, First Aid certification and either American Red Cross’s CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, American Heart Association’s BLS Healthcare Provider, or American Safety & Health Institute’s CPR Pro for the Professional Rescuer.
    • A signed Agreement of Understanding of the ATEP Handbook.
    • Hepatitis B (HBV) vaccinations are required for students living on campus, and are highly recommended for all ATSs prior to enrollment. The vaccinations are available in the Health and Wellness Center at the student’s cost. Contact the Health and Wellness Center for the current cost. If the student declines the HBV vaccination, he/she must sign a waiver prior to enrollment in clinical rotations. Waivers are available from the Health and Wellness Center.
  4. Fingerprinting
    All students formally accepted in to the ATEP must be fingerprinted, according to procedures identified by the School District of Palm Beach County, in order to be enrolled in courses offered by the ATEP that require the ATS to be in the public schools (K-12; i.e.—Field Experience). The student is advised that any break in enrollment, with the exception of summer terms, will result in the repetition of the fingerprint screening. All students must have a social security number in order to be fingerprinted. A fee is associated with the fingerprinting process and is the responsibility of the student.
  5. Transfer Students
    Transfer students will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Interested students should contact the Program Director as soon as possible.

Curriculum in the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP)

Course content within the ATEP has been structured to meet the competencies and clinical integration proficiencies developed by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Executive Committee for Education, as well as the knowledge and skill areas defined by the Role Delineation Study. As with all ATEPs, the student will not be able to practice Athletic Training upon completion of the degree. Rather, the athletic training student will be eligible and prepared to sit for the national Board of Certification (BOC) exam.

Clinical Rotations in the ATEP

Freshman — Students at this level are not yet officially accepted into the ATEP, as this occurs through a competitive admissions process. This year serves as an observation year, with students taking introductory coursework and completing observation hours in the PBA Athletic Training Clinic. Students are encouraged to formally apply to the ATEP during the second semester of the freshman year.

Sophomore — Sophomore-level students who are accepted into the professional phase of the ATEP have met specific prerequisites and begin their rotations. Throughout each of the fall and spring semesters, sophomore athletic training students (ATS) are assigned two seven-week rotations with a preceptor in PBA Athletics, and/or physician observation in clinic and surgery. Relates to courses ATR 4101  and ATR 4021 .

Junior — Each junior-level ATS is assigned to preceptor each semester, with additional responsibility given in working with specific teams (i.e.—women’s soccer in fall, baseball in spring). Relates to courses ATR 4031  and ATR 4041 .

Senior — Seniors are assigned to preceptors off-campus at a local high school or university for a football rotation during the fall semester, and to an outpatient rehabilitation center and general medical clinic in the spring semester. Relates to courses ATR 4051  and ATR 4061 .

Retention Policy

Once the student is unconditionally accepted into the program, he/she must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5, a core GPA of 2.75, and may not earn below a “C” in any core class, to remain in good academic standing. Academic probation will result if a student does not meet these requirements. Once a student is placed on academic probation, he/she must meet these requirements to remove the probationary status within the next semester, or be subject to suspension from the ATEP for one semester. The student must then reapply for admission to the ATEP.

Programs

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