Athletic Training, M.A.T.

Program Director: Molly Figgins, Ph.D., ATC, Associate Professor
Clinical Education Coordinator: Megan Beard, Ph.D., ATC, Assistant Professor

PROGRAM MISSION

The mission of the Loras College Master of Athletic Training Program is to produce active learners, responsible contributors, and reflective thinkers that can provide exceptional healthcare to an active population through quality didactic and clinical athletic training educational experiences.

Master of Athletic Training Student Learning Outcomes & Objectives

1. Students will demonstrate comprehension of concepts and skills vital to basic function in health sciences careers.
   1. express competency professional knowledge areas in athletic training - clinical rotation
   2. recall foundational concepts in the health sciences - classroom
2. Students will be active learners and reflective thinkers who use common research techniques to discover and implement athletic training evidence based medicine.
   1. read, reflect and summarize research related to athletic training clinical practice - classroom
   2. formulate clinical treatment plans using evidence based medicine - clinical rotation
   3. use patient outcomes to determine quality of care - clinical rotation
   4. preceptors will assist the students in the discovery and implementation of evidence based medicine in their practice - clinical rotations
   5. faculty will provide a classroom environment that allows students to grow
3. The program’s didactic and clinical education will develop and educate students with the ability to be responsible contributors by transitioning classroom knowledge into effective clinical practice.
   1. employ prevention, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation techniques for injuries and illnesses common in active populations - classroom and clinical
   2. use administrative techniques common in healthcare - clinical rotations
   3. preceptors will provide quality education opportunities - clinical rotations
4. Students will demonstrate professional communication skills in order to efficiently communicate with both patients and healthcare professionals throughout the program’s didactic and clinical education and in post-graduate settings.
   1.  utilize proper medical terminology in verbal and written communication - classroom
5. The program will ensure that graduates are prepared for autonomous practice as a Certified Athletic Trainer in post-graduate settings.
   1. practice effectively in post graduate jobs and post-professional settings
   2. demonstrate a BOC pass rate compliant with CAATE standards
   3. demonstrate an acceptable post-graduate employment rate

APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR ADMISSION AS A DEGREE-SEEKING STUDENT

Eligibility:

• Strong academic ability, evidenced by a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
• Completion of the following prerequisite course requirements before the start of the program:
  • Principles of Biology I
  • General Chemistry I
  • Anatomy & Physiology I
  • Anatomy & Physiology II
  • Nutrition
  • Psychology (General Psychology is required, additional psychology coursework is recommended)
  • Biomechanics
  • Statistics
  • Physics I
  • Exercise Physiology
• US citizen or permanent resident. (International students interested in specific coursework should please contact the Program Director).

To apply, students should follow the steps below:

1. Visit the ATCAS website: https://caate.net/apply-now/, click on “Apply Now” link, then click “Create Account”, and complete the online application. (Preferred browsers are Google Chrome or Firefox).
2. As part of the ATCAS application, we require you to submit the following supplemental documents:
   1. Official transcripts from each institution attended
      1. Enter the information for each institution attended in the “Academic History” section of your ATCAS online application, then click “Order” next to each school to have an official transcript sent from that school directly to ATCAS.
   2. Two Letters of Recommendation
      1. Create two Evaluation Requests in the “Supporting Information” section of your ATCAS online application, which will then be emailed to your references. Your references will upload their recommendation directly to an Evaluator Portal which will then automatically get sent to ATCAS.
      2. One of the letters needs to be from a Certified Athletic Trainer.
   3. Personal Statement
      1. The typewritten personal statement should outline your professional goals, both short-term and long-term, including why you have chosen Athletic Training as a career (maximum two pages double-spaced). Upload this file to the “Supporting Information” section of your ATCAS online application.
   4. Resume
      1. Upload this file to the “Supporting Information” section of your ATCAS online application.
   5. Completed Observation Hour Log
      1. Students must complete 50 observation hours in two different Athletic Training settings with two different Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC). Examples of differing settings include but are not limited to: high school, college or university, clinics, industrial, professional or minor league sports. Each athletic trainer observed will need to sign an Observation Hour Log form. Upload your completed Observation Hour Log form to the “Documents” tab within the “Program Materials” section of your ATCAS online application. (You do not need to manually enter your observation hours in the “Supporting Information” section).

Application deadline:

For summer cohort enrollment: the online application and all supplemental application documents should be submitted to ATCAS by:

Priority admission deadline: December 1 / Regular admission deadline: March 1.
Applications submitted after March 1 will be considered on an individual basis.

THE OFFER OF ADMISSION

We have rolling admissions for this program (up until the deadline), therefore after the application is complete and verified in ATCAS, the file will be reviewed by the Program Director to determine whether to move forward with an interview. The applicant will then be contacted with information about their next steps. After completion of the interview (or after review of the file), the applicant will be notified of an admission decision in their Loras online Applicant Status Portal within two weeks. 

Please note that acceptance is contingent upon the completion of the following items:

• Sign and return the Technical Standards Form by the first day of class
• Complete the Immunization Review Form, attach a current immunization record, and return by the first day of class
• Complete a routine physical exam, have your doctor sign the Physical Form, and return by the first day of class
• Pass a routine background check by the first day of class
  • You will receive an e-mail from Certiphi, Inc. requesting you complete your background check. Once you have completed the background check from Certiphi, your background check will automatically be returned to the MAT program.
• Complete a drug screening by the first day of class
  • You will receive an e-mail from Certiphi, Inc. requesting you schedule your drug screen and provide you with the necessary details of how to schedule the drug screen. Once you have completed the drug screen, your results will automatically be returned to the MAT program.
• Provide evidence of a valid American Red Cross CPR/AED certification for the Professional Rescuer OR American Heart Association Lifesaver Certification OR an equivalent certification from another organization by the first day of class
• Purchase professional liability insurance and enroll in Typhon Athletic Training Program Management Software

CONDITIONAL ADMISSION

Those students who have a GPA between 2.75 and 2.99 may be offered a conditional admission to the program. Students on a conditional admit must achieve and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 during the Spring semester to be conditionally admitted to the MAT program. If a cumulative GPA of 2.75 in the Spring semester is not achieved, the offer of admission will be withdrawn. If a 2.75 cumulative GPA is maintained during Spring, then a GPA of 3.00 during the first summer session in the required MAT graduate level courses must be achieved. If a GPA of 3.00 in the MAT graduate courses is not achieved during the first summer session, the offer of admission will be withdrawn.

MAT DISTINCTIVENESS

The Loras MAT program was designed to be distinctive from other entry-level programs due to the strengths and educational backgrounds of the faculty in addition to the unique opportunities provided on the Loras campus and in the Tri-State area. The faculty will provide a quality background in athletic training based upon their varying career paths prior to entering academia. This includes a focus on health, wellness, and providing quality healthcare. This will allow the graduate of the Loras MAT program to be prepared for the ever changing field of athletic training. At the national level, the focus of athletic training is shifting toward a bigger seat at the table with other allied healthcare providers. This is provided by the Loras MAT program through the 9+ credits focused on health and wellness in both athletes and the general public. Additionally, the clinical experiences have been set up to provide quality experiences in a shortened time frame.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Each student is assigned a faculty advisor who is the director of that student’s program. The student is to meet with the advisor at the beginning of enrollment and prior to registration thereafter to design an individualized program of courses, clinical experiences, etc.
A minimum of 64 credits for the degree program are required. Up to 12 credits of coursework can be transferred from another CAATE Accredited program if approved by Program Director.

PROGRAM RETENTION POLICY

Students enrolled in the MAT program must maintain a 3.0 GPA, and receive a grade of C or above in all MAT courses required for degree completion. In addition to maintaining a 3.0 GPA students are expected to achieve success in assigned clinical education courses and experiences. This includes but is not limited to a score of 70% or higher on all clinical evaluations performed by preceptors, professional behavior, and adherence to all program clinical education policies and procedures.

ACADEMIC PROBATION STATUS

Students who fail to achieve a 3.0 GPA during a given semester are placed on academic alert, and must achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA the following semester, and MAT course grades with a C or above the following semester. Students who fail to meet the 3.0 GPA requirement for two consecutive semesters are placed on academic probation and will be removed from clinical education courses. The student may continue in didactic coursework. Probationary status will be reviewed at the conclusion of the next academic term. The student will be required to demonstrate that any cause of probationary status has been remedied through the submission of a written statement, and achievement of satisfactory grades and GPA. The written statement will be reviewed by program faculty who will make a recommendation for return to good academic standing or dismissal. If the student is taken off probation, s/he will return to clinical coursework. Any missed clinical education experiences will have to be made up at a future time and will result in a delay in program completion.

MAT PROGRAM PROBATION POLICY

Students in the Athletic Training graduate program may be placed on probation based on any one of the following criteria:

1. Cumulative graduate level GPA falls below 3.0 or a student earns more than 2 C’s in graduate level coursework for more than 2 consecutive semesters.
2. A student has been negatively evaluated by two or more preceptors.
3. A student has been found to be in violation of the College’s student code of conduct.
4. A student has been found to violate BOC ethical guidelines during coursework or during clinical education experiences.
5. Other grounds for program probation may include: failure to adhere to technical standards, professional misconduct, or failure to successfully pass other programmatic requirements.

Graduate Athletic Training students may be dismissed from the program in the event of repeated or serious offenses, given that those who hold a Master of Athletic Training degree require a high level of professional competence and personal integrity. This probation/dismissal policy is not exclusive of other academic or professional deficiencies.

For information regarding the Loras College graduate dismissal and appeal process, please refer to that section in this bulletin.