Athletic Training Program Admission Requirements

1. 3.0 Overall GPA
2. 3.0 Major GPA (Rowan University Pre-Athletic Training Students): No grade lower than a C in any of the Pre-Athletic Training major/pre-requisite courses.
3. Pre-requisite Courses: Rowan University students will accrue these courses as part of the Pre-Athletic Training Curriculum. No grade lower than a C will be accepted in any of the courses listed below.
   1. Human Anatomy and Physiology (6-8 credits with lab): The Human Anatomy and Physiology requirement can be fulfilled at Rowan University by taking BIO10210 Anatomy and Physiology I and BIO10212 Anatomy and Physiology II
      1. If Human Anatomy and Physiology are taken as separate courses, then one semester each of Human Anatomy with Lab and Human Physiology with Lab are required.
   2. Biology with Lab (4 sh): THe biology requirement can be fullfilled at Rowan University by taking MCB01101 Foundations Bio 1 and MCB L1101
   3. Chemistry (3 sh): The chemistry requirement can be fulfilled at Rowan University by taking CHEM 05100 Essentials of Chemistry
   4. Physics with lab (3-4 sh): The physiology requirement can be fulfilled at Rowan University by taking PHYS00150 Physic for Everyday Life or PHYS00210 Physics I – no calc
   5. Introduction to Biomechanics (3 sh): The Introduction to Bioemchanics requirement can be fulfilled at Rowan University by taking HES00346 Introduction to Biomechanics
   6. Exercise Physiology with lab (4 sh): The Exercise Physiology requirement can be fulfilled at Rowan University by taking HES00345 Exercise Physiology with Lab
   7. Nutrition (3-4 sh): The Nutrition requirement can be fulfilled at Rowan University by taking NUT00415 Nutrition for Fitness
   8. Statistics  (3-4 sh) One course to include descriptive statistics, correlation, and introduction to inferential statistics or research design. The statistic requirement can be fulfilled at Rowan University by taking STAT02260 Statistic I
   9. General Psychology (3 sh): The General Psychology requirement can be fulfilled at Rowan University by taking PSY0107 Essentials of Psychology
4. 50 Hours of Athletic Training Clinical Observation Hours
   1. Rowan PreAT students will complete a portion of these hours during the PreAT curriculum courses. All students, including non-PreAT students (those with an undergraduate degree), must complete hours within an Athletic Training Clinic and have hours certified by a Licensed Athletic Trainer in order to be considered for acceptance to Athletic Training Program.
5. Two Letters of Recommendation
6. Interview. Each student must complete a face-to-face interview with the selection committee. A score of at least 70% is needed to be eligible for entry into the Professional Phase of the program. The grading criteria for the interview are as follows:

All native Rowan University students (freshman & transfers without a Bachelor's Degree) must meet all the Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training Studies at the time of application and prior to being fully accepted into the Professional Preparation Athletic Training Program. Please see Pre-Athletic Training Program curriculum. All classes in bold are BS in Athletic Training Studies major classes. The criteria is no grade lower than a C in these courses and the student must have the required 3.0 overall and 3.0 major GPAs.

Technical Standards

The following technical standards are signed as part of the final acceptance to the athletic training program, prior to athletic training students performing any hands-on duties.

The Athletic Training Program at Rowan 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 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 (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 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, Inc exam.

Candidates for selection to the Athletic Training 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 judgments 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 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.

Final Acceptance Criteria
The RUATP's maximum capacity is 20 students for junior level admission; however the actual number is based on the number of clinical assignments available during a given year. It usually ranges between 18-20 students. Students are rank ordered and the highest rated students are accepted into the athletic training program. It is possible that a student may minimally achieve all academic and clinical observation requirements but does not fall within the available clinical assignment slots for the next academic year. If this occurs the student cannot be accepted into the Professional Phase component of the program. For example, if there are 20 clinical assignment slots available and a student is ranked 21^st, even though they meet all application requirements, this 21^st person cannot be accepted into the athletic traiing rogram. Doing so would exceed the 8:1 ratio. The score for rank ordering is calculated as follows:

Application Calculation Sheet

Students must also meet ALL admission requirements before being eligible to apply to the ATP

• Overall GPA- 40 points
  4.0=40 pts. 3.0=30 pts. 2.0=20 pts 1.0=10 pts <1.0=0 pts
  Applicant Subsection total ________________
• Major GPA - 40 points
  4.0=40 pts. 3.0=30 pts. 2.0=20 pts 1.0=10 pts <1.0=0 pts
  Applicant Subsection total ________________
• Letters of Recommendaton - 30 points
  Outstanding=30 pts Good= 20 pts. Fair= 10 pts. Poor = 1 pt 
  Applicant Subsection total ________________
• Interview- 30 points
  100%=30 pts 90%=20 pts 80%=10 pts 71%=5 pt <70%=0 pts
  Applicant Subsection total ________________
• Clinical Observation Hour Completion -- 30 points
  50 hours = 30 points, <50 hours = 0 pts and termination of application process                        Applicant Subsection total ________________
• Applicant's Total for Acceptance into the ATP ____________________/170
  All scores are converted to a percentage based on 100% and the average score is taken.

Final acceptance for students appplying from the Pre-Athletic Training program does not occur until all grades are in at the end of the application year's spring semester.  Students not meeting all admission requirements at the end of the spring semester for which they are applying with have their conditional acceptance withdrawn and they will not be accepted into the athletic training program.  For example, if a student receives a C- in Foundations in Sports Medicine III that student will not be formally acccepted into the athletic training program because the minimum grade for acceptance is a C. External students that possess a Bachelor's degree and mee all athletic training program pre-requisites will be notified by April 1 of the application year. 

Pre-Athletic Training Students conditionally accepted (occurs in March of application's year) into the ATP must by May 1 of the application year provide the following:
1. Proof of CPR and First Aid certification if cards were not available during the application process
2. Proof of NATA membership. Please go to:  https://www.nata.org/membership/about-membership/join-or-renew

3. Proof of ATrack subscription. This is needed because the ATP uses ATrack to track clinical experiences. Please go to: https://www.atrackonline.com/

Retention is a continuing process based on the athletic training student’s academic, clinical, and behavioral achievement in accordance with established criteria. The student within the ATP should be aware that there is an expected level of achievement that must be maintained:

1. Completion of CAATE Curricular Content as scheduled via coursework and clinical experiences. CAATE Curricular Content is completed with successful completion of course-work as all course objectives are tied to them. Each Residency in Athletic Training I & II and Fellowship in Athletic Training I & II syllabi and on ATrack software must be evaluated by the student’s Preceptor with a grade no lower than a 7 out of 10 in order to satisfy the CAATE Curricular Content.      
2. GPA Requirements
   • 3.00 = Overall GPA 

• No grade lower than a C in any athletic training  course (Please see Program Guide for list of AT major courses). Failure to maintain these minimum grades will result in the student being suspended from the program until all academic deficiencies are remediated in accordance with the ATP's Policy & Procedure manual. However, students suspended due to deficient grade(s) can reapply to the ATP while they are enrolled in the deficient course. However, all re-acceptance requirements must be attained before the student is fully reinstated into the ATP at the end of the Spring semester of the re-application year. Any student suspended will have to reapply to the ATP. It must be remembered that a student’s place within the ATP will not be held if the student is suspended from the ATP due to academic deficiency (Current Students -- Please see Disciplinary Actions section within the Policy & Procedure manual).

3. CPR and First Aid certification. All students must maintain Red Cross Professional Rescuer CPR and First Aid or equivalent certification. Students are required to give the Program Director a copy of all certification cards during the application to the ATP and again prior to the certification’s expiration. These will be kept in the student’s file.
4. Confidentiality of Medical Records and Information. Students are expected abide by the policy that was signed during the Pre-Professional Phase and when accepted into the ATP. (Current Students -- Please see disciplinary action for breaking confidentiality of medical records and information within the Policy & Procedure Manual).
5. NATA Code of Ethics. Students must conform to the standards of the NATA Code of Ethics and BOC Standards of Practice (Current Students – see Policy & Procedure Manual) when practicing Athletic Training related skills within their clinical experiences. Students must also conform to the standards of behavior expected of intercollegiate athletes with regard to substance abuse, controlled and dangerous substances, harassment and hazing (See Rowan University Student Handbook). Violations of this type will place the student under immediate review by the Athletic Training Program’s Student Issues Committee (RUATP SIC) and also the Department of Health & Exercise Science Academic & Student Affairs Committee.
6. Academic Honesty. Since the primary goal of education is to increase one’s own knowledge, academic dishonesty will not be tolerated at Rowan University. Violation of the Rowan University’s Academic Honesty Policy (http://www.rowan.edu/provost/policies/AcademicIntegrity.htm ) will place the student under immediate review by the RUATP SIC and the Department of Health and Exercise Science Academic & Student Affairs Committee. All violations will then be forwarded to the Provost’s Office in accordance with Rowan University policy.  Academic dishonesty includes the following examples, as well as similar conduct aimed at making false representation with respect to academic performance: cheating on an examination; collaborating with others in work to be presented contrary to the stated rules of the course Plagiarizing, including the submission of others’ ideas or papers as one’s own stealing examination or course materials falsifying records, laboratory results, etc. knowing and intentionally assisting another student in any of the above activities or similar activities.
7. Clinical Experience Responsibilities. The student is expected to enthusiastically complete all clinical education responsibilities including pre-practice activities, coverage of practices and games, post-practice activities, cleaning and general athletic training room duties, and abide by the NATA Code of Ethics. The RUATP SIC will determine the disciplinary action for students not meeting their clinical assignment responsibilities. All students are supervised by a Preceptor during their clinical experiences.  There will be additional costs (i.e., gas) to the student when traveling to affiliated sites for their clinical assignment. These costs will not be reimbursed to the student. The student is encouraged to plan ahead as they can expect to be off-campus between 1-2 times during their professional phase clinical education.
8. Master’s Comprehensive Exam
   Students must receive a 75% or higher on both the written and the practical portions to be able to continue matriculating through the athletic training program, resepctively. These exams are part of the Capstone in Clinical Reasoning I grade.  The Comprehensive Exam will consist of  a 150 question written test on all Athletic Training courses and clinical experiences taken within the ATP. Students will have two opportunities to pass this exam. Failure to pass this exam on the second attempt will disqualify students from passing Capstone in Clinical Reasoning I. Coursework to be included on the exam are:
   • Cadaver Anatomy  
   • Management of Medical Emergencies
   • Clinical Assessment I
   • Injury Risk Management to Enhance Human Performance
   • Principles in Evidence Based Medicine  
   • Clinical Assessment II
   • Therapeutic Interventions I
   • Therapeutic Interventions II
   • Clinical Assessment III
   • Healthcare Management & Quality Improvement
   • Pharmacology
   • Behavioral Health           

9. NATA Membership. Once fully accepted into the Professional Phase students must maintain their NATA Membership throughout the completion of this program.

Athletic Training Program's Exit (Graduate) Requirements

1. Minimum GPA = 3.00
2. Completion of All Clinical Assignments.  Students will gain clinical experiences with a variety of diverse populations including genders, non-sport patient populations, sports using different protective equipment (i.e., helmets and shoulder pads), and medical (non-orthopedic) conditions over a minimum of three academic years from entering the Professional Athletic Training Program. Students must pass all clinical evaluations provided by the student's respective Preceptor before being eligible to graduate. The clinical education grade is recorded within the classes Residency in Athletic Training I & II and Fellowship in Athletic Training I & II in each respective semester over the three year course sequence.
3. Successful Completion of all ATP's coursework. All coursework must be completed with a C or better.
4. Successful Completion of the MSAT Comprehensive Examination. Students must receive a 75% or higher on the written exam to be able to continue matriculating through the athletic training program. These exams are part of the Capstone in Clinical Reasoning I grade.  The Comprehensive Exam will consist of  a 150 question written test on all Athletic Training courses and clinical experiences taken within the ATP. Students will have two opportunities to pass this exam. Failure to pass this exam on the second attempt will disqualify students from passing Capstone in Clinical Reasoning I. Coursework to be included on the exam are:
   • Cadaver Anatomy
   • Management of Medical Emergencies
   • Clinical Assessment I
   • Injury Risk Management to Enhance Human Performance
   • Principles in Evidence Based Medicine  
   • Clinical Assessment II
   • Therapeutic Interventions I
   • Therapeutic Interventions II
   • Clinical Assessment III
   • Healthcare Management & Quality Improvement
   • Pharmacology
   • Behavioral Health                    

   5. Successful completion and defense of the Graduate Student Research Project.

Pre-Athletic Training Curriculum (Pre-AT)

Students may transfer into the Pre-AT curriculum. Students must complete all pre-requisite course work, including Introduction to Healthcare in Sports Medicine, Foundations in Sports Medicine I-III at Rowan University prior to being eligible to apply to the athletic training program. Please see Athletic Training Program Admission Requirements, listed above. The amount of time spent in the pre-AT curriculum is dependent on number of transfer credits and completion of ALL admission requirements.

Guildelines for Participation in Rowan University NCAA Sanctioned Athletics

The Commission on Accreditation for Athletic Training Education mandates that an Athletic Training Program (ATP) cannot complete formal clinical education in less than 2 academic years. The Rowan University ATP allows students to participate in athletics; however there are specific policies regarding this situation. The following policies are for any student wishing to participate in sports and complete the ATP.

Athletic participation during the first three years (native Rowan University Students) will not interfere with any athletic training clinical experience responsibilities. Participation in athletics after a student's third year (junior) is not allowed, however a student wishing to participate in athletics after their third (junior) year can discuss with the athletic training program administrators the potential options including, but not limited to, delaying acceptance into the athletic training program. The student’s graduation timeframe will be affected by athletic participation beyond a student's third year. The athletic training program does reserve the right to not allow athletic participation beyond a student's third year if the student is not willing to postpone their acceptance into the athletic training program.

External students applying to the Professional Athletic Training Program will not be allowed to partipate in Rowan University NCAA sanctioned athletics.  Students transferring into the pre-athletic training program must meet with the Program Director to discuss the possibility of participating in Rowan University athletics. 

No student fully accepted into the Professional Athletic Training Program will be allowed to particpate in Rowan University NCAA Sanctioned Athletics.