Admission & Progression Requirements – BS

Admission to the Athletic Training Program

Students apply for admission to the ATP during the spring semester of their freshman/first year. Qualified Clarke University students will be given priority for the (approximately 12) openings in the program per year. Some qualified applicants may not be accepted due to space limitations.   A student may only apply a maximum of two times.

Qualification Criteria for Application to the Program

1. Cumulative GPA: a minimum of 2.80 on a 4.00 scale with no grade in the sciences below a C.
2. Proof of current certification in first aid and CPR/AED across life span (adult, child, infant) prior to first clinical rotation.
3. Completion of Care and Prevention of Injuries (ATHT 130) and Dynamics of Health and Nutrition (ATHT 133) with a grade of B- or better.
4. Completion of hours of clinical exposure in athletic training facilities, of which at least the majority of hours must be in the Clarke University facility. Transfer students must have hours of observation in an athletic training facility prior to acceptance, unless consent of ATP Program Director is obtained.
5. Completion of the application process, which includes an interview, an essay, and three recommendations, including a current ATP upperclassman. Each applicant will be graded using a rubric and a total score will be computed and used in the decision/acceptance process.  The grading criteria for each area and the rubric are available to applicants during the application process.  A student who has previously been denied acceptance or dismissed/terminated from the ATP will additionally be evaluated on the progress made since denial or dismissal/termination.
6. Acceptance of transfer students is dependent upon availability of openings and the applicant’s ability to meet the qualification criteria. Transfer students must meet all of the same course prerequisites, co requisites, and requirements as the cohort they are joining, unless pre-approval is gained from the ATP Program Director.
7. Upon admission to the ATP, students will review the Technical Standards with indication that they can meet those technical standards or request a waiver of the Technical Standards. All requests are processed in consultation with the MARC. The University may or may not be able to accommodate a request for waiver of the Technical Standards/accommodations. Students officially enter the Athletic Training Major in the fall of their sophomore year after the acceptance to the program.
8. All students admitted into the ATP will be required to have a criminal background check prior to the start of their first clinical rotation. If the student is a transfer student, the criminal background check will be performed as quickly as possible after admittance into the ATP and prior to being allowed to attend any off-campus clinical site.  If a student’s criminal background report comes back positive for abuse, sexual offenses, and/or any other issue that would endanger the “safe work environment” that student will be notified and may be dismissed from the ATP after a review.  Each person with a positive criminal background report will have a chance to submit a written explanation to the Academic Affairs Office or Student Life Office. The University will review each positive background report and associated documentation check with the Academic Dean.  A decision regarding progression will be rendered.

Progression / Continuation in the Athletic Training Program

Once admitted in the ATP, a student minimally must:

1. maintain at least an overall 2.80 GPA on a 4.00 scale;
2. achieve at least a C in all required courses, prerequisite courses, or co-requisite courses;
3. comply with the NATA’s Code of Ethics and the BOC’s Standards of Practice; and
4. complete all academic and clinical work with academic integrity.
5. Annual recertification in first aid and BLS (Basic Life Support) and AED, bloodborne pathogens, HIPPA, and a one-time certification in Mandatory Reporter is required.

Any student who does not minimally meet the above requirements may be dismissed form the ATP without being granted probation if just cause is determined by the ATP and Academic Dean.

Students must complete hands-on clinical experiences supervised by Licensed and Certified Athletic Trainers and/or Clinical Faculty/Preceptors who have affiliations with Clarke University’s ATP. Students are responsible for securing their own transportation to off-campus clinical sites. Students are annually required to meet all health requirements as designated by the ATP and clinical sites, including immunizations, a physical examination, and tuberculosis testing.  At the beginning of every academic year that a student is in the ATP, the University will bill each student for the required malpractice insurance.

Deficiencies and Consequences

GPA Deficiency

• 2.80 or above – no deficiency
• 2.60 -2.79 – usually placed on probation no longer than two semesters.
• Below 2.59 – must meet with the Department Chair and the Academic Dean and may be dismissed from the ATP.

Grade Deficiency

Ordinarily a student will be placed on probation for a period of no longer than two semesters if he or she fails to obtain a minimum grade of C in a required, prerequisite or co-requisite athletic training course. The inadequate grade for an ATP course may mean the student stops taking or withdraws from ATHT coursework, may not be allowed to progress with the same cohort, and/or may be required to withdraw from the ATP and reapply to continue.  (The Department Chair and the ATP faculty in consultation with the Academic Dean make determinations of consequences based on the grade deficiency and the student’s other academic progress, as well as the situation as a whole.) The student must then retake the first offered section of that course.  If he/she completes the retake and meets the minimum grade requirement (C or better), the student may be taken off probation and allowed to continue taking ATHT coursework, join a subsequent cohort or reapply to the ATP. If the student does not meet the minimum grade requirement after the retake, he/she will be required to stop taking all ATHT coursework in the ATP.  The ATP Department Chair, in consultation with the ATP faculty and possibly the Academic Dean will determine if the student will be dismissed from the ATP, if the student may join a            different cohort, or if the student may reapply to the ATP.

Professional Behavior/Ethics Deficiency

A student who violates academic integrity policies and/or professional behaviors (Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice) may fail an assignment, be placed on probation, fail a course, and/or be dismissed from the ATP. Violations of academic integrity and/or professional behaviors will be reviewed by the ATP Department Chair/ATP Program Director and the Academic Dean to determine appropriate consequences and actions.

Consequences

Usually, probation can be incurred a maximum of two semesters in a student’s academic career within the ATP. If deficiencies or violations extend past the two semester probation time limit, usually the result will be immediate dismissal from the ATP. Students who are dismissed from the program may not reapply to Clarke University’s ATP.

Probationary students will be reviewed by the ATP Department Chair and faculty on an individual basis. The reviews will emphasis the following:

1. Continued improvement in deficient areas
2. Athletic training coursework performance
3. Work ethic in the athletic training facilities and in the classroom
4. Professionalism in the athletic training facilities
5. Performance of student athletic training duties

Students on probation will be required to attend and show proof of attendance for academic counseling/advising appointments. Additionally, the Athletic Training Faculty will conduct at least a monthly review of all areas (1-5) emphasized. If the student is not performing adequately in the emphasized areas he/she will be terminated/dismissed from the ATP.  A student who has been dismissed from the ATP, will not be allowed into major only ATP coursework, unless the student reapplies and is accepted. ns/dismissals can occur before the individual has expended the maximal probation time.  Probation evaluations are based on the student’s ability to complete the following applicable criteria in a timely manner:

1. Retake the coursework in which the student received grades that do not meet the C minimum requirement.
2. Continue to receive Cs or better in all coursework required for the ATP.
3. Continue to keep a cumulative GPA of a 2.80 or better.
4. Show continued/continuing improvement in their work ethic.
5. Show continued/continuing improvement in their professionalism.
6. Show continued/continuing improvement in their performance of duties as an Athletic Training Student.
7. Attendance at academic counseling/advisement as deemed necessary by the MARC and Athletic Training Program Director; and
8. Schedule and attend meetings with the ATP Review Committee or designee. These meetings will include a review and discussion of items 1-7. At the conclusion of each meeting, a recommendation on the student’s continuation or dismissal will be made. The recommendation will be discussed immediately with the student. If a dismissal decision is made, the Academic Dean will be notified. The student can file grievances in accordance with the appropriate guidelines in the Clarke University Catalog and/or Clarke University Student Handbook.

Failure to comply with any of these items will result in the dismissal from the ATP.

General Education  (PREREQUISITE) Requirements

The following general education courses (prerequisites) must be taken to fulfill the requirements for the Athletic Training Program. These courses also fulfill components of the university’s general education requirements.

General Chemistry I with Lab – 4 hours
General Chemistry II with Lab  – 4 hours
Lifespan Development – 3 hours
Introductory Psychology –  3 hours
Statistics – 3 hours
Biomedical Ethics or General Ethics – 3 hours

Other prerequisite requirements, which must be taken prior to required Athletic Training Program courses:
Fundamentals of Cell Biology & Genetics I with Lab – 4 hours
Elements of Physics I with Lab – 4 hours
Elements of Physics II with Lab –  4 hours

Athletic Training Program Requirements 

The following science courses are required courses for the Athletic Training Program:
Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab –  hours
Human Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab – 4 hours
Human Physiology with Lab – 4 hours
Exercise Physiology with Lab – 4 hours

The following courses are required for completion of the Athletic Training Program:
Basic First Aid/CPR (a current certification card can replace this class)
Care and Prevention of Injuries
Dynamics of Health and Nutrition
Basic Life Saving Training for Healthcare & Public Safety
Advanced Assessment of Injuries I
Clinical Education in Athletic Training I
Advanced Assessment of Injuries II
Clinical Education in Athletic Training II
General Medical Conditions in Athletic Training
Therapeutic Modalities with Lab
Clinical Education in Athletic Training III
Therapeutic Exercise
Clinical Education in Athletic Training IV
Pathophysiology
Principles of Pharmacology
Athletic Training Capstone
Clinical Education in Athletic Training V
Research in Athletic Training
Clinical Education in Athletic Training VI
Functional Anatomy and Biomechanics