Athletic Training Major (B.S.)

Requirements for Admission to the Athletic Training Education Program

A committee, based upon current selection criteria, will select students to be admitted to the Athletic Training Education Program. Students should apply to the Athletic Training Education Program after completing the prerequisite application requirements. All application forms can be downloaded from the Athletic Training Education Program website. The admission process takes place once a year during the winter semester (April 15th) and actual admission occurs at the beginning of fall  semester.

Technical Standards For Admission

The Athletic Training Education Program at Saginaw Valley State University is a rigorous and intense program that places specific requirements and demands on the students enrolled in the program. An objective of this program is to prepare graduates to enter a variety of employment settings and to render care to a wide spectrum of individuals engaged in physical activity. The technical standards set forth by the Athletic Training Education Program establish the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to this program to achieve the knowledge, skills, and competencies of an entry-level athletic trainer, as well as meet the expectations of the program’s accrediting agency, the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). All students admitted to the Athletic Training Education Program must meet the following abilities and expectations. In the event a student is unable to fulfill these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, the student will not be admitted into the program.

Compliance with the program’s technical standards does not guarantee a student’s eligibility for the BOC certification exam.

Candidates for selection to the Athletic Training Education Program must demonstrate:

1. The mental capacity to assimilate, analyze, synthesize, integrate concepts and problem solve to formulate assessment and therapeutic judgments and to be able to distinguish deviations from the norm.
2. 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.
3. 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 judgment and treatment information effectively. Students must be able to understand and speak the English language at a level consistent with competent professional practice.
4. The ability to record the physical examination results and a treatment plan clearly and accurately.
5. The capacity to maintain composure and continue to function well during periods of high stress.
6. The perseverance, diligence and commitment to complete the athletic training education program as outlined and sequenced.
7. Flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in clinical situations.
8. Affective skills and appropriate demeanor and rapport that relate to professional education and quality patient care.

Candidates for selection to the athletic training education program will be required to verify they understand and meet these technical standards or that they believe that, with certain accommodations, they can meet the standards.

The Office of Disability Services at SVSU can assist with accommodations for those with learning or physical disabilities SVSU will make every reasonable attempt to meet the needs of qualified individuals.

If a student states he/she can meet the technical standards with accommodation, then the University will determine whether it agrees that the student can meet the technical standards with reasonable accommodation; this includes a review a whether the accommodations requested are reasonable, taking into account whether accommodation would jeopardize clinician/patient safety, or the education process of the student or the institution, including all coursework, clinical experiences and internships deemed essential to graduation.

Selection Criteria for the Athletic Training Education Program

The entering class is admitted to the Athletic Training Education Program in the fall semester. Admission to SVSU is required for, but does not guarantee, acceptance into the Athletic Training Education Program. The program is planned to accommodate a LIMITED number of students each year and this number may vary depending on available resources. Simply meeting the minimal entrance criteria DOES NOT guarantee admission to the athletic training education program. Prospective students must submit an application for admission to the Athletic Training Education Program by April 15 preceding a fall admission. If April 15th falls on a weekend, application material will be due the following Monday. The minimal entrance criteria include:

1. Completed a minimum of 12 college level semester hours and are currently enrolled in a minimum of 12 college level semester hours.
2. Achieved a minimum cumulative 2.75 GPA for all completed course work (based on all college-level work computed at SVSU and all other universities and colleges).
3. Completed (or are in the process of completing) the following courses with a GPA of 3.0 or better in each:
   1. KINE 120 - Basic Life Support & First Aid 
   2. KINE 232 - Athletic Injury Management  
   3. KINE 232L - Athletic Injury Management Laboratory  
   4. KINE 100 - Introduction to Kinesiology  
4. The following valid certifications (or their equivalents):

• American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid or American Red Cross First Aid, Responding to Emergencies or Emergency Responder.
• American Heart Association BLS for the Healthcare Provider or American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer.
• American Heart Association or American Red Cross First Aid Bloodborne Pathogens.

5. Submit the following forms and documents:
   
   o Completed Athletic Training Education Program application form.
   o Copy of transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
   o Two (2) completed confidential letter of recommendation forms. Only the approved confidential letter of recommendation form will be accepted.
   o Completed physical examination and verification of immunizations by an MD/DO/NP/PA.
   o Copy of immunization record.
   o Completed Hepatitis B vaccination or waiver of vaccination.
   o Completed Technical Standards form.
   o Completed Confidentiality Agreement form.
   o Completed Athletic Training Student contract.
    
6. Complete an interview with a member of athletic training faculty. 

The athletic training education program director and Kinesiology faculty and staff as necessary will review prospective student applications.  Applications will be ranked using a predefined selection criteria that can be located on the Athletic Training Education Program website.

Standards of Retention in the Athletic Training Education Program

Students will be retained within the SVSU Athletic Training Education Program providing the following criteria are maintained throughout the student’s undergraduate experience:

1.  Receive a grade of “C” or better in all major courses within the Athletic Training major.
2.  Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 and athletic training (KINE courses) GPA of 3.0.
3.  Receive written clinical education evaluations that reflect positive advancement in the Athletic Training Education Program. The clinical education preceptors Clinical Instructors of the Athletic Training Education Program will complete evaluations at the end of each semester.
4.  Maintain personal liability insurance in order to participate in clinical experiences.
5.  Maintain emergency cardiac care certification.
6.  Demonstrate professional and ethical behavior as members in the Athletic Training Education Program.
7.  Abide by all policies and procedures as outlined in the Athletic Training Student Handbook of the Athletic Training Education Program at SVSU (located on the Athletic Training Education Program website).

NOTE: A student failing to fulfill any of the above requirements may be removed from the clinical education portion of the Athletic Training Education Program until the deficiency is satisfactorily remedied. The decision to be removed from the clinical education portion of the Athletic Training Education Program will be at the discretion of the faculty and staff based on the circumstances of the situation. The faculty and staff reserve the right to dismiss students from the program when the student fails to comply with the outlined requirements.

Athletic Training Clinical Education Experience

All athletic training students will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of clinical education experiences with a variety of different populations including genders, varying levels of risk, and protective equipment. These experiences will allow students opportunities to practice with different patient populations in different athletic and allied health care settings. Athletic training students will have the opportunity to participate in clinical education experiences at off-campus sites. All athletic training students who participate in clinical education experiences off campus must provide their own transportation to each clinical site as well as meet additional requirements as established at each off-campus site. All athletic training students should expect to be off-campus for at least 3-4 semesters.

Eligibility for Certification

Certifying athletic trainers ensures high standards of professional practice. Certification by the Board of Certification (BOC) is considered the entry-level credential and is required by most employers nationwide. Students in the Athletic Training Education Program at Saginaw Valley State University will become eligible to sit for the BOC certification examination if they complete all of the athletic training major requirements and university requirements for graduation.

In addition to certification, athletic trainers may have to meet individual state licensing and regulation requirements. To determine if these added requirements apply, athletic trainers must check with the states in which they practice. Michigan is a licensure state for athletic trainers.

General Education and Major Required Courses: (97 cr)

Major Courses

• BIOL 232 - Physiology & Anatomy I 4 cr
• BIOL 233 - Physiology & Anatomy II 3 cr
• BIOL 233L - Physiology & Anatomy Laboratory 1 cr
• HS 364 - Pharmacology 3 cr
• KINE 120 - Basic Life Support & First Aid 2 cr
• KINE 232 - Athletic Injury Management 3 cr
• KINE 232L - Athletic Injury Management Laboratory 1 cr
• KINE 234 - EBP and Documentation in Healthcare 3 cr
• KINE 235 - Bracing, Splinting, & Orthopedic Casting 2 cr
• KINE 244 - Athletic Training Practicum I 1 cr
• KINE 246 - Athletic Training Practicum II 1 cr
• KINE 100 - Introduction to Kinesiology 1 cr
• KINE 270 - Activity and Fitness Assessment 3 cr
• KINE 330 - Musculoskeletal Injury Assessment I 3 cr
• KINE 332 - Musculoskeletal Injury Assessment II 3 cr
• KINE 334 - Basic Therapeutic Modalities 3 cr
• KINE 335 - Advanced Therapeutic Modalities 3 cr
• KINE 336 - Management Strategies in Sports Medicine 3 cr
• KINE 338 - General Medical Conditions in Healthcare 3 cr
• KINE 344 - Athletic Training Pract III 1 cr
• KINE 346 - Athletic Training Pract IV 1 cr
• KINE 352 - General Exercise Prescription 3 cr
• KINE 358 - Nutrition for Phys Act & Sport 3 cr
• KINE 362 - Theories & Practices in Phys Act & Sport 3 cr
• KINE 374 - Kinesiology & Functional Anatomy 3 cr
• KINE 374L - Kinesiology & Functional Anatomy Lab 1 cr
• KINE 376 - Exercise Physiology 3 cr
• KINE 376L - Exercise Physiology Laboratory 1 cr
• KINE 434 - Therapeutic Exercise 3 cr
• KINE 435 - Advanced Topics in Rehab Medicine 2 cr
• KINE 436 - Aquatic Rehabilitation for Healthcare 2 cr
• KINE 444 - Athletic Training Pract V 1 cr
• KINE 446 - Athletic Training Prac VI 1 cr
• KINE 452 - Strength & Conditioning Program Design 3 cr