Athletic Training Education Program Program Orientation and Application

1. Athletic Training Education ProgramProgram Orientation and Application Faculty: Dr. Patrick Sexton, ATC/R, CSCS Director of Athletic Training Education Ms. Theresa Mackey, (ABD) MS, ATC/R Clinical Education Coordinator 9/7/06

2. Program Mission • It is the mission of the Athletic Training Education Program at Minnesota State University to provide dedicated, effective undergraduate teaching, scholarship, and research in service to our students and to the athletic and physically active populations of the university, the state, the region, and the global community.

3. What Does it Take to Graduate with an Athletic Training Major? • Acceptance into the program • 128 total credits minimum • 66 total credits for the major (68 credits for those entering the program in Fall 2007) • Many prereq. courses also count as general education • General Education requirements completed • Cultural diversity requirements completed • NO Minor is required as Athletic Training is a Broad Major* • *A Minor or a second Major is highly recommended

4. Why is a Minor or Second Major Suggested? • Acceptance into the Athletic Training Education Program is competitive • Not all applicants are accepted; therefore, you must have contingency plans • Additional qualifications can also help with future employment as well as your application to graduate programs

5. What Other Majors or Minors Should You Look At? • Whatever interests you? • What setting do you want to work in when you complete your education? • Example: Primary or secondary teacher / athletic trainer is often in high demand • Over 70% of all certified athletic trainers (ATCs) have a Masters degree or other advanced degree • What are the prerequisites for these areas of study?

6. Suggested “Freshman” Course Sequence These are the recommended courses to take during your freshman year

7. Suggested “Freshman” Course Sequence These are the recommended courses to take during your sophomore year

8. Suggested “Transfer” Course Sequence These are the recommended courses to take during your transfer year (or if applying later in your academic studies)

9. Admission to the Major • This process takes place at the end of each spring semester for qualified students only • Completed all prerequisites for application • This is a competitive process, not all who apply will be selected (currently18 students are selected). • Criteria for selection are objective and the process is well defined • Points are earned based on specific requirements • Points are tabulated and top students (18) are offered a place in the education program

10. Criteria for the Selection Process • MSU Cumulative GPA (minimum of 2.75) • Completion of Required General Education Prerequisites • HLTH 101; CHEM 111; PSYC 101 • Completion of Required for the Major Prerequisites • HP 140, 341, & 348; *HLTH 210; BIOL 220 & 230 • *Must take MN First Responder section; may take fall semester of 1st year in ATEP if have current First Aid & CPR certification • Minimum 3.0 GPA for all prerequisite course

11. Criteria for the Selection Process • Up to, but not exceeding 100 hours of on-campus clinical observations (hours are NOT transferrable) • MSU ATC staff evaluations of your observational experiences • No evaluation will be completed if you fail to complete your clinical observations • MSU ATEP faculty / staff interviews (formal) • One letter of recommendation • Recommended from a health care provider (e.g., ATC) or from a work supervisor • Compliance with Technical Standards

12. Observation Hours • Confidentiality Agreement MUST be signed • Recording Observation Hours • Students keep for application records (see form) • MSU ATR Observations • Voluntary (scheduled only to help spread out) • MSU Athletic Practice Observations • Get team ATC approval before observing practice (there will be a limit on the number of candidates allowed to observe) • Contact ATC 1 week in advance • MSU Competition Observations • Get host ATC approval at least one week prior to event • Proper dress and nametag for event • Contact ATC 1 week in advance • Dress code: Candidate t-shirts and nametags!

13. Observation Hours • You are OBSERVERS ONLY! • To allow you to do more than that you would have to be supervised, thus admitted to the program. You can not be involved in patient care! • Watch & ask questions! • Being inquisitive can help your MSU staff evaluations • Will have directed observations in HP 341 • Assignments required for the class • Practice skills you learn on fellow students, NOT on patients

14. Record after each day, Total each month, Make sure totals are correct, All must be totaled for program application. Recording Your Observation Hours

15. Application Process • Pre-Athletic Training students Goals • Work towards completing your prerequisite and general education courses • ALL courses must be completed or concurrent at the time of application • NOTE: You will take HP 341 the spring semester of your application to the program • Observe and ask questions during observations • Complete all other program application requirements

16. Application Process • Failed courses are not completed courses. • Major required courses receiving a grade of “D” or lower must be retaken prior to graduation • Timeline: • Program application materials available to applicants during early spring semester (February or March) in hard copy or on-line. • Completed applications are due by April (tbd) • Formal interviews are scheduled for April/May(tbd)

17. Application Process • Timeline (cont’d): • Spring semester grades are obtained from the registrar about one week after the semester ends • Grades and all other application requirements are tabulated so that total point calculations can be made and candidates ranked. • The students with the top 18 total point values are offered a position in the program by June • Alternates and those not accepted are also notified.

18. Questions? For application questions and announcements, ALWAYS refer to the Undergraduate Bulletin or the ATEP web page http://ahn.mnsu.edu/athletictraining/