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Graduate Athletic Training Program

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Athletic Training Education Program

Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)


 

Description

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) offers a CAATE accredited, graduate Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) in the Department of Health and Human Performance. We are currently transitioning to a degree designation of a Master of Science in Athletic Training (expected to be effective fall 2008).

Students who have completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited four-year institution, and who have completed the six pre-requisite courses, are eligible for consideration for admission to the UTC ATEP. Currently, we do not require a specific undergraduate degree for program admission, but a strong background in basic sciences is desirable.

This full-time, two-year academic program provides athletic training students with an effective blend of evidence-based didactic information, clinical experiences for skill and theory integration, and clinical epidemiology-based research. The ATEP thoroughly addresses the NATA Athletic Training Educational Competencies (4 th ed) in compliance with CAATE accreditation standards and Board of Certification (BOC) requirements. Additionally, the program emphasizes advanced theoretical, clinical and research skills essential for working with the physiological, and biomechanical aspects of injury, illness, and performance of physically active populations.

 

Mission Statement

The mission of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletic Training Education Program (UTC ATEP) is to prepare students to assume a professional role that will optimize the quality of healthcare provided to physically active people of any age, thereby maximizing the health-related quality of life realized by the individuals who receive the care.

 

Program Objectives and Goals

As a graduate-level academic program, the integration of research evidence into didactic and clinical instruction is a defining characteristic of the UTC ATEP. Rather than simply teaching students how to perform clinical procedures, the curriculum is designed to facilitate development of the critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills that characterize high-quality healthcare. All aspects of the curriculum will reflect an evidence-based and patient-centered approach to healthcare, which addresses a broad spectrum of health-related needs in the context of the patient’s preferences.

All aspects of the UTC ATEP are designed to conform to the accreditation guidelines of the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education and the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine for health profession education programs. Incremental development of foundational professional knowledge and clinical skills over a two-year period prepares the student for successful completion of the Board of Certification (BOC) examination. The program provides exposure to advanced clinical concepts and professional issues that facilitate further professional development into the future. A primary objective of the UTC ATEP is to prepare athletic training students to ultimately become master clinicians and professional leaders.

Specific student-oriented goals of the UTC ATEP include the following:

  • Development of critical thinking skills that will guide future clinical practice and foster commitment
    to lifelong continuing education.
  • Provision of classroom instruction that emphasizes scientific foundations for clinical theories and evidence-based clinical decision-making as they relate to entry level competencies.
  • Provision of clinical education experiences that develop entry level clinical proficiencies in AT.
  • Cultivation of a strong commitment to a high standard of ethical conduct and professional excellence.
  • Promotion of student professionalism in appearance and demeanor.
  • Development of the ability to assist, interpret, and report research that will advance the practice of athletic training.
  • Development of the ability to effectively communicate with both written and oral presentations.
  • Development of the ability to effectively utilize technology in athletic training for injury prevention, injury rehabilitation, and information management.
  • Facilitation of student understanding of the athletic trainer’s evolving role within the U.S. health care delivery system.
  • Promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship to foster expansion of professional opportunities within the athletic training field.
  • Empowerment of students to assume leadership roles in future professional endeavors.
  • Provide opportunities for interaction with students from different disciplines that will promote development of problem-solving skills.
  • Expand opportunities for students to obtain clinical experience in industrial worksites and corporate health promotion programs.

 

 

 

Rev : May 14, 2008 10:03 AM