Area V - Pre-Professional, Major, and Elective Courses at UWA (19 semester hours)
1. Required courses ratified by the AGSC
Athletic Training Program Admission Requirements
Admission to the University and to the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics does not constitute acceptance into the Athletic Training Program. Every student who wishes to prepare for athletic training certification is required to submit a written application for admission into the Athletic Training Program. This application should be filed with the Athletic Training Program Director no later than April 1 of the first year of enrollment at UWA. The Bachelor of Science degree in athletic training consists of two components: (1) the pre-professional program (usually freshman year or first year for transfer students) and (2) the professional program (sophomore through senior years). All students must complete the course of study for the pre-professional and professional programs as described in the University General Catalogue. The pre-professional program must be completed by all students and validated by the Athletic Training Program Director before students are considered eligible for admission to the professional program. All students must make formal application to the professional program (usually in the spring semester of the freshman year or first year for transfer students) and meet all admission requirements. Completion of the pre-professional program does not guarantee acceptance into the eligibility criteria for the professional program in athletic training.
Costs:
The following is a list of additional expenditures beyond those of tuition, room, board, fees, etc., for which students enrolled in the athletic training program are responsible.
- Purchase of authorized athletic training uniforms. $70 annually
- Assumption of all costs and arrangements for travel to and from clinical facilities for clinical experiences. (variable depending location and frequency, but all clinical sites are within 60 miles)
- Verification of a negative drug screen according to guidelines established by the clinical agencies utilized by the athletic training program. $30
- Negative criminal background check conducted according to guidelines established by the clinical agencies utilized by the athletic training program. $52
- Annual recertification of American Red Cross Professional Rescuer/AED First Aid and CPR or American Heart Association BLS for Health Care Providers certification or Emergency Medical Technician equivalency. $27 biennially
- Initiate the Hepatitis B vaccination series while enrolled in AH 101 or provide documentation of completed series or complete the necessary waiver.$80 per injection for maximum of three.
- Annual fees for online clinical proficiency tracking software. $80 annually
- Annual fees for professional liability insurance policy. $30 annually
Policies:
Admission to the Professional Program:
To be eligible for admission to this program, in addition to meeting all requirements for admission to the University, applicants must:
- Have a minimum quality-point ratio of 2.5 in all hours attempted in general studies curriculum requirements completed prior to application deadline.
- Have a minimum quality-point ratio of 3.0 in all hours attempted in the athletic training major requirements completed prior to application deadline.
- Submit complete application materials including recommendation forms from three faculty members to the Athletic Training Program Director by April 1 (July 1 for transfer students meeting the requirements listed below). (Usually this should be submitted during the freshman or first year in the pre-professional program. All course requirements do not have to be completed prior to filing application).
- Hold current American National Red Cross Professional Rescuer/AED First Aid and CPR or American Heart Association BLS for Health Care Providers certification or Emergency Medical Technician equivalency.
- Successfully complete the Athletic Training Practicum courses AH 101 and AH 102. (Exception: Students meeting the transfer criteria listed below may be admitted without previously completing these courses but will have to successfully complete these courses or approved substitute courses as part of their curriculum).
- Interview with the Athletic Training Curriculum Selection Committee.
Students enrolled in clinical athletic training education courses must meet the following requirements established by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education and clinical agencies utilized by the athletic training program for clinical and field experiences.
- Completion of the Pre-enrollment Physical Examination.
- Student must present proof of immunization for MMR and DTP vaccines; failure to comply with this requirement will result in an incomplete grade for the designated course until the requirement is met. An incomplete grade will result in the inability to advance in the program.
- Student must complete annual OSHA training and submit verification of OSHA training to be kept in the athletic training student portfolio.
- Completion and submission of an acknowledgment of the Technical Standards for Admission form.
- Completion and submission of a Confidentiality Statement for Athletic Training Students.
Transfer Students (Both to UWA and from within the University):
Students with previous documented clinical experience in athletic training who transfer to UWA with approximately 30 credit hours or more and meet the following requirements in addition to the above admission requirements may be eligible for admission to the athletic training professional program upon enrollment in the first semester at UWA. This policy also applies to UWA students who desire to transfer from another major to the athletic training major.
- Documentation of previous clinical experience supervised by a BOC certified athletic trainer or a state credentialed athletic trainer, if any. A minimum of at least 120 hours is recommended and preferred, but not required.
- If previous documented clinical experience in athletic training is submitted, one of the three recommendation forms must be from the student's primary supervising athletic trainer from the previous institution. The remaining two recommendation forms must be from the faculty of the student's previous institution.
Progression Requirements:
In order to progress in the athletic training professional program, students must:
- Achieve a minimum grade of "C" in each athletic training major course attempted. For any athletic training major course in which the student earns less than a "C" the entire course must be repeated.
- Maintain a cumulative quality-point ratio of 3.0 in all hours attempted in the athletic training major requirements.
- Maintain a cumulative quality-point ratio of 2.5 in all hours attempted in general studies course requirements.
- Maintain good standing with the University according to UWA student policies and procedures.
- Maintain current American National Red Cross Professional Rescuer/AED First Aid and CPR or American Heart Association BLS for Health Care Providers certification or Emergency Medical Technician equivalent.
NOTE: Failure to maintain any of the above progression requirements results in academic probation and/or suspension from the athletic training professional program. In addition to academic probation or suspension, the student's enrollment in the athletic training professional program may be terminated at any time if, in the judgment of the athletic training faculty, the student demonstrates academic, social, or emotional behaviors or physical problems inappropriate to the practice of athletic training. Students whose health status and/or clinical performance jeopardizes the patients assigned to his/her care may also be dismissed from the athletic training professional program. Students suspended from the athletic training professional program, may apply for re-admission to the program through the Athletic Training Curriculum Selection Committee when the deficiencies are removed. Students suspended twice from the program are ineligible to re-apply.
Definitions:
Unconditional Acceptance: A student may be accepted to the athletic training professional program after completing all admission requirements without deficiencies as stated in the UWA Athletic Training Curriculum Admission Requirements.
Conditional Acceptance: Students applying to the athletic training curriculum with a GPA in the range of 2.25-2.49 for all general course work and/or 2.75-2.99 for all athletic training course work may be accepted into the program conditionally if all other application requirements have been met. Students accepted conditionally will be placed on a probationary status for one academic year. Failure to correct deficiencies after one academic year will lead to suspension from the Athletic Training Program.
Probation: Deficiencies in admission or progression requirements may result in the student being placed on probationary status. Probationary status is generally one academic year in length except when a student has clearly corrected any and all deficiencies. A student on probation may be limited in the total number of clinical hours allowed per week. Generally, students will not be given primary responsibility for a varsity sport during their probationary period. Students failing to correct all deficiencies at the end of one academic year from the date of probation will be suspended from the athletic training professional program.
Suspension: Students suspended from the athletic training professional program will not be assigned clinical experiences or responsibilities within athletic training. Students will not be allowed to take any professional level athletic training courses other than to repeat courses in which they have earned less than a "C."
Technical Standards for Admission:
The Athletic Training Program at the University of West Alabama 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 Program establish the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to this program to achieve the knowledge, skills, and competencies of an athletic trainer, as well as meet the expectations of the program's accrediting agency (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education [CAATE]). The following abilities and expectations must be met by all students admitted to the Athletic Training Program. 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 Program must demonstrate:
- 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;
- 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.
Candidates for selection to the athletic training 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 UWA Student Success Center, Foust Hall 7, (205) 652-3651 or the Office of Student Affairs, Webb Hall 323, (205) 652-3851 will evaluate a student who states he/she could meet the program's technical standards with accommodation and confirm that the stated condition qualifies as a disability under applicable laws.
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 as to whether the accommodations requested are reasonable, taking into account whether accommodation would jeopardize clinician/patient safety, or the educational process of the student or the institution, including all coursework, clinical experiences and internships deemed essential to graduation.
Contact Name: Dr. R.T. Floyd
Title: Chairperson, School of Health Sciences and Human Performance
Phone: (205) 652-3714
Email: rtf@uwa.edu
Please print this document and attach it to the Articulation Guide. Together, this document and the articulation guide comprise the articulation agreement for a major in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathemtics at the University of West Alabama.
Signature: ______________________________________
Date:__________________________________________