Introduction
The Pacific University Athletic Training Program offers education for entry into the profession of Athletic Training through the entry-level Master of Science in Athletic Training degree.
Mission
Pacific University’s Athletic Training Program is dedicated to preparing students to become leaders in innovative athletic training practice for a diverse community.
Goals
The primary goals of the Athletic Training Program are to graduate collaborative, highly competent, athlete -centered healthcare professionals who are ready to assume duties in the standard areas of athletic training practice, e.g., high school/collegiate/professional sports teams, sports medicine clinics, industrial centers, and hospital settings and to develop new practice settings.
Values
We embrace the values enacted by the College of Health Profession:
- Diversity of people and ideas
- Ethical and professional principles
- Health equality
- Professional and Public Advocacy
- Community Health and Wellness
Accreditation
The Master of Science in Athletic Training Program received its initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) on December 12, 2014.
Clinical Internships
Currently, the Athletic Training Program affiliates with numerous different clinical facilities. These include high school and collegiate athletic training clinics, hospitals, orthopedic physician offices, outpatient clinics, and private practices. A majority of the clinical internships are located in the Portland area (Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas counties), Salem, and Vancouver (WA). New clinical sites are added continually in order to provide variety and quality to the students’ clinical experiences.
Admission
Enrollment in the Athletic Training Program is limited and admission is highly selective. New classes begin in late August of each year; students may not enter the program in the middle of the year. Applications are accepted with priority given to students who submit by March 31st. Applications will be accepted after that date until the program is full.
Applications are available online on the Pacific University athletic training webpage: www.pacificu.edu/athletictraining/. Applicants must sumbit the following:
- A complete program application. Applications will be reviewed from January to April.
- Official transcripts from every institution attended
- Last 45 credits GPA must be 2.75 or higher
- Essay about yourself, how you became interested in the profession, and professional goals. Additional written one page question.
- Two letters of recommendation, one must be from a certified athletic trainer (ATC)
- Minimum of 50 hours of work, volunteering and/or observation with an ATC
- A non-refundable application fee of $25 (U.S.) must be paid at the time you submit your application.
The Admissions Committee considers many factors, including:
- Strength and breadth of academic record (last 45 credits GPA must be 2.75 or higher)
- Evidence of work (volunteer or paid, 50 hours minimum) under the supervision of one or more professionals in the field of athletic training. Experience at a variety of settings is preferred.
- Strength of letters of evaluation
- Extracurricular and community activities
- Content of application forms and the care with which they have been prepared
Prerequisites
Prior to enrollment in the professional program, students must earn a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and have completed the below pre-professional courses. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher and taken on a graded basis; pass-fail courses are not acceptable. Science prerequisite courses must be for science majors and pre-professional students (e.g. pre-physical therapy, pre-med, pre-pharmacy, pre-athletic training), and must include a laboratory. Low level, non-science major courses do not meet the prerequisites. If science courses were taken more than seven years prior to application, applicants must demonstrate competency in more recent coursework. Listed below are the prerequisites and the Pacific University courses which satisfy the requirements.
Prerequisite Coursework
Biological Science | 8 semester credits (12 quarter credits). Must include a complete series in human anatomy and human physiology.
- Human Anatomy
- Human Physiology
Exercise Science | 12 semester credits (18 quarter credits)
- Exercise Physiology
- Biomechanics
- Nutrition (or) Health & Wellness
Psychology | 4 semester credits (6 quarter credits)
- General Psychology (or) Sport Psychology
Statistics | 4 semester credits (6 quarter credits)
- General Statistics (or) Behavioral Statistics (or) Social Statistics
Preparation through the College of Arts & Sciences
The College of Arts & Sciences offers two ways to prepare for this professional program. A major in Exercise Science can provide a solid foundation for the Master of Science in Athletic Training. In addition, a 3/2 program exists that allows highly qualified students to begin the AT program in their 4th year and complete both degrees in 5 years, rather than in 6 as would be the case if they took these two programs separately. Please note that, while there are advantages to completing pre-athletic training requirements at Pacific, doing so does not guarantee subsequent admission to the athletic training education program. See page 153 for more information.
Policies
Academic Procedures
The general regulations of the University apply to all students enrolled in the athletic training program unless otherwise specified. Other matters of academic or professional importance specific to athletic training students, for which there are no standing provisions, may be referred to the Director of the Athletic Training Program.
Professional and Academic Standards
Students are expected to demonstrate behavior consistent with the Pacific University Code of Academic Conduct, the Athletic Training Program Code of Ethics, and the most current athletic training state and federal laws governing the conduct of athletic trainers. The Athletic Training Program reserves the right to define professional competence and behavior, to establish standards of excellence, and to evaluate students in regard to them. See Sections on Academic Policies and Professional Behaviors in the current Athletic Training Program Student Handbook.
Agreement to abide by the policies and procedures of the University and the Athletic Training Program is implicitly confirmed when students register each term. Students are expected to adhere to the various administrative and academic deadlines listed in the academic calendar and in course syllabi. Failure to do so may jeopardize their standing in the Athletic Training Program and may constitute grounds for probation or removal from the School. Students must maintain good standing in the program in order to be eligible for, or continue on, any Program administered scholarships.
Academic Standing
Good standing in the Athletic Training Program is defined as: continued enrollment, satisfactory academic progress, development of sound clinical skills, behavior that leads to professional competence and positive interpersonal and professional relations, and appropriate professional/ ethical conduct and attitudes. Students are evaluated regularly in these areas according to standards set forth in the University Catalog, the Athletic Training Program Student Handbook, the Intern Clinical Education Manual and elsewhere.
Satisfactory academic progress is defined as: completing didactic courses with a grade of 80% (B-) or better and passing didactic courses and clinical internships graded as P/N. A student remains in good academic standing if he/she receives no more than one grade of C in a didactic course.
Students will be given regular feedback on their progress in the program. A student who is not performing adequately according to the standards will receive notification through written feedback and/or individual advisement. After receiving such warning, failure to improve performance before the next scheduled evaluation may result in academic probation.
A student’s standing may be jeopardized by one or more of the following:
- Indications of poor academic performance
- Insufficient progress in the development of clinical skills
- Failure to comply with School rules or procedures
- Unprofessional conduct, unethical conduct, or illegal conduct
- Evidence of behavior that may hinder professional competence and interpersonal or professional relations
Readmission
The catalog in effect at the time of a student’s initial enrollment indicates the specific requirements for that student. Students leaving the program for 3 consecutive terms or more must apply for readmission to return, and would re-enter the program under the requirements in effect at the time of readmission.
Normal Load
9 credits or higher is a full-time course load; 5 credits is half-time.
Transfer Credit
The Athletic Training Program does not accept transfer credit.
Auditing
At the discretion of the respective faculty member, the Athletic Training Program will allow students accepted into the Program and other currently enrolled CHP students to audit courses. Students must declare the audit option before the end of the add-drop period; once the audit option has been declared, the course cannot revert back to the graded option.
Non-Degree Seeking Students
Alumni, current students, and applicants accepted into the program are not permitted to study as non-degree seeking students.
Grading
A = 95-100 (94.5 – 100) C = 77-79 (76.5 – 79.49)
A- = 90-94 (89.5 – 94.49) F = less than 76.5
B+ = 87-89 (86.5 – 89.49) P = Pass (equivalent to B- or above)
B = 83-86 (82.5 – 86.49) NP = No Pass
B- = 80-82 (79.5 – 82.49) I = Incomplete
W = Withdrawal
Didactic Courses use: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C, F, P, or NP
Clinical internships use: P , NP and I
Incomplete Grades
An instructor may issue an incomplete grade if the majority of coursework is completed satisfactorily, but health or other extenuating circumstances keep the student from completing the course. Prior to submitting an “I” grade, the instructor and the student complete an Incomplete Grade Contract detailing the requirements for completion and submission of all remaining work and specifying a timeline for completion. After submission of the work, the instructor completes a Grade Change Form and submits it to the Program Director for approval; the form is then processed by the Registrar’s office.
Withdrawal (W) grade
A student may choose to withdraw from a didactic course through the week that corresponds to completion of 2/3 of the course and receive a “W” grade. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the Registrar’s Office and the instructor regarding withdrawal from a class; failure to do so may result in a failing grade. However, the student will not be able to progress within the program until he/she retakes the course the following academic year. In order to be eligible to re-take this course, the student must be in good academic standing. Students also need to consider that a course withdrawal will impact their ability to complete the program in the 3 academic year maximum for completion.. Students with three (W) grades are considered to be withdrawn from the program.
Remediation
The Athletic Training Program does not allow for any practical or written examination remediation. There is no remediation for the final course grade.
Graduation Honors
Graduate students earning a cumulative 3.50 GPA or higher will graduate With Distinction.
Academic Standing and Progression through the Program
Progression through the program. All courses with in a semester must be satisfactorily completed before a student may enroll in courses in the subsequent semester. If a clinical internship is not completed secondary to personal/medical reasons, faculty will determine whether a student is allowed to progress through the program.
Timeline for completion of program. A student must complete the curriculum in no longer than 3 academic years from matriculation. Progression delayed by personal/medical reasons will be evaluated by faculty on a case-by-case basis.
Good Academic Standing: A student is considered to be in good academic standing if he/she: (1) completes didactic courses with a grade of 79.5% (B-) or better, and (2) passes didactic courses and clinical internships graded as P/NP. A student remains in good academic standing if he/she receives no more than one grade of C in a didactic course.
Probation: Academic probation indicates concern about the student’s performance in the program. By placing the student on academic probation, the student is notified of the faculty’s concern regarding past performance. A student is placed on academic probation following the attainment of one F/NP grade (either didactic or clinical course) or C grades in two didactic courses in the curriculum.
The Director will notify the student in writing that he/she has been placed on academic probation, and that he/she will remain in this academic standing for the remainder of the program. This letter will contain an Action Plan pertinent to that student. The Director will also notify the Registrar that the student should be placed on academic probation.
Suspension: If a student receives one F/NP grade in a didactic or clinical course, the student is suspended from the program at the end of that semester in which the F/NP grade was received. The Director will notify the student in writing that he/she has been placed on suspension with an Action Plan pertinent to that student. Before progressing further through the program, the student must repeat failed coursework when offered in the subsequent academic year.
Dismissal: A student is dismissed from the program for any of the following reasons:
- Attainment of two F/NP grades in didactic or clinical courses,
- Attainment of one F/NP in didactic or clinical courses and two C grades in didactic courses,
- Attainment of three C grades in didactic courses,
- Inability to complete the curriculum in 4.5 academic years. As noted above, progression delayed by personal/medical reasons will be evaluated by faculty on a case-by-case basis,
- Flagrant and intentional violations of the Code of Academic Conduct or the Code of Ethics. No previous warning is required for this type of dismissal.
Leave of Absence or Administrative Withdrawal: If the student leaves the program for a personal/medical reason, documentation of such must be provided to the Director and the Registrar. The student will have the opportunity to re-enroll the following academic year in the semester that the student did not successfully complete. In the case of a medical leave of absence/medical withdrawal, the student must provide a letter of medical clearance to the Director and Registrar before re-enrollment.
Appeals
In general, program decisions regarding academic standing are final. A decision may be appealed only if the student can show that 1) there was an error in the procedure used by the faculty, 2) there is new evidence sufficient to alter the decision, or 3) the sanction imposed was not appropriate to the severity of the violation of professional or academic standards. The Director’s office informs the student of faculty actions.
Appeals should be filed with the PhyExecutive Dean of the College of Health Professions within 10 days from the date of notification of the original action. Students are not allowed to attend class until the student has filed an appeal. Further appeals may be pursued through the University Standards and Appeals Committee.
Individuals convicted of a felony may not be eligible for licensing/registration in Athletic Training. Students are urged to contact the appropriate regulatory agency for further information.
Additional Information
For details of professional and academic standards, academic policies and procedures, clinical policies and procedures, the appeals process, and the academic conduct policies, please see the following documents:
- Athletic Training Program Student Handbook
- Athletic Training course syllabi
- Additional resources are available in the Director’s Office.
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