Athletic Training

The mission of the Athletic Training Program at the University of New England is to provide a comprehensive curriculum designed for individuals who want to enhance the quality of health care for active persons and to advance the profession of athletic training through education and research in the prevention, evaluation, management, and rehabilitation of injuries.

This graduate degree program is offered in a 3+2 year format and designed for students who want to work to improve individual and team wellness and health. The curriculum in this program combines the study of anatomy and other health-related sciences with the art of preventing, managing, and rehabilitating athletic and orthopedic injuries. Students are provided with a thorough understanding of the effects of sport and sport-related injuries on the individual performer through a series of classroom (didactic) and field (clinical) experiences both on- and off-campus.

Academic Standards

The UNE Athletic Training Program is a graduate program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

Students in the pre-professional (undergraduate) phase of the program will be retained providing the following criteria are maintained throughout the undergraduate experience:

1. Minimum requirements for successful progression in years 1-3 as outlined in the UNE undergraduate Catalog must be met.
2. Students must achieve a minimum grade of "C" in the following courses: MAT 120, BIO 105, BIO 106, BIO 208, BIO 209, IHS 220/NUTR 220, BIO 309, PUB 200, SPC 100, ATC 105, ATC 333, ATC 420, EXS 310, and EXS 320. Failure to achieve a "C" will result in program-level probation, and may affect academic progression. 
3. Students must achieve a minimum grade of "C-" in the following courses: CHE 110 and PHY 110.  Failure to achieve a "C-" will result in program-level probation, and may affect academic progression.
4. Students may enroll in any course in the WCHP Common Curriculum a maximum of two times.  Enrollment consists of achieving a "WP," "WF," or a letter grade.  Receiving a "W" in a course is not considered official enrollment and will not result in academic penalty.  Failure to achieve the required grade after a second attempt at a course will result in dismissal from the major. 
5. Students enrolled in the Professional (graduate) Phase of the AT Program must maintain a minimum cumulative semester GPA of 3.0.
6. Students enrolled in the professional (graduate) phase of the program must maintain a minimum grade of "B" in each required course (or a "P" in each Pass/Fail course). Students may enroll in required courses in the Professional Phase a maximum of two times regardless of the final grade, including "W", "WP" or "WF".  Please refer to the WCHP Graduate Program Progression Policies and Procedures for detailed description of academic standards.

Technical Standards

The Athletic Training Program at the University of New England 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 professional (graduate) phase of the Athletic Training Program.

Compliance with the program's technical standards does not guarantee a student's eligibility for the Board of Certification (BOC) entry-level certification examination.

Candidates for selection to the professional (graduate) phase of 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 education program as outlined and sequenced.
7. Flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in clinical situation.
8. Affective skills and appropriate demeanor and rapport that relate to professional education and quality patient care.

Candidates for selection to the professional (graduate) phase of the Athletic Training Program will be required to certify with the program director that they have read, understand and meet these technical standards or that they believe that, with certain accommodations, they can meet the standards. Please see the Student Access Center for more information.

Every graduate from the UNE Athletic Training Program will be able to:

1. Successfully challenge the athletic training entry-level Board of Certification (BOC) examination;
2. Demonstrate knowledge of and clinical proficiency in all five domains of athletic training: 1) injury/illness prevention and wellness promotion, 2) examination, assessment, and diagnosis, 3) immediate and emergency care, 4) therapeutic intervention, and 5) healthcare administration and professional responsibility;  
3. Model the importance of interprofessional collaboration in the delivery of high-quality athletic health care;
4. Communicate effectively with peers and the general public about athletic training as a career and a discipline;
5. Provide evidence-based, clinically-relevant care to athletes and the physically active; and
6. Examine athletic training practice utilizing ethical, legal, and regulatory decision-making frameworks in accordance with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Code of Ethics. 

Courses completed at another accredited college can be transferred to this degree program.  Transferred courses must be reasonably close in scope and content to the required courses offered at UNE in order to count as exact equivalents.  Otherwise, they may transfer as general electives.  All courses completed must be no older than five years.  Other restrictions apply.  See Undergraduate Admissions also.

Admission to the pre-professional phase, years one through three, of the program follows the general undergraduate admissions criteria.  See Undergraduate Admissions for details concerning these requirements.

The following criteria must be met for a student to be eligible for admission into the professional (graduate) phase, years four and five, of the athletic training Master's program

COURSEWORK  REQUIREMENTS

• Science coursework to be successfully completed with a grade of “C” or better (“C minus” grades are not acceptable)
  • General Chemistry I with lab, 4 credits
  • Anatomy and Physiology I & II with labs, 8 credits
  • Physics I with lab, 4 credits
  • Exercise Physiology, 3 credits
  • Kinesiology/Biomechanics, 3 credits
  • Pathophysiology, 3 credits

ACADEMIC/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT

• Completion of Bachelor’s Degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution, or international equivalent, prior to matriculation
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 as calculated by ATCAS (no forgiveness for retaken coursework)
• Completion of a minimum of 40 observational hours under the supervision of an approved Certified Athletic Trainer in a traditional setting (i.e., high school or college).
• Proof of successful completion of yearly OSHA-required bloodborne pathogens safety training.
• Proof of current certification in Emergency Cardiac Care and Basic First Aid will be required prior to the first clinical assignment.
• Two letters of reference are required
  • 1 Academic
  • 1 Professional
  • Letters from family and friends are not accepted
• The GRE is not required
• Only those applicants who meet minimum requirements will be considered for admission
  •  Meeting minimum requirements, however, does not guarantee an interview
• Before or upon matriculation, accepted candidates will be expected to
  • Meet all health immunization requirements (Student Health Care)
    • Obtain a physical examination
    • Provide proof of up-to-date immunization status 
  • Accepted candidates will be required to pass a criminal background check and/or drug screening, as well as periodically throughout the program as required by clinical affiliations
  • All candidates must meet Academic and Technical Standards of the Athletic Training profession

PROCEDURES AND POLICIES

• Applications for admission are accepted through the Athletic Training Centralized Application Service (ATCAS)
  • ATCAS application portal opens annually in the summer
  • Applications must be electronically submitted to ATCAS by the UNE posted deadline
  • For more information and detailed instructions for completion of the application, visit ATCAS
• Personal interviews with faculty are required for admission and are granted to qualified applicants by invitation only
  • Decisions will be made on a rolling basis after each interview session
  • Accepted candidates will be required to submit a non-refundable deposit within 2-3 weeks of receipt of official decision letter
    • Deposit will be applied to first term tuition
    • If student does not enroll, deposit will be forfeited
• International applicants and applicants with international coursework or degrees
  • Must have transcripts evaluated for degree and grade equivalency to that of a U.S. regionally accredited institution (International Admissions)
  • Must be able to understand and communicate in English to be admitted to the university
    • UNE accepts several methods of English Language Proficiency
    • If an applicant cannot prove English Proficiency in another way, scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required and must be submitted to PTCAS as a part of the completed application
• All students transferring into the AT Program must meet all admissions requirements and complete the entire graduate phase of the program.

POLICY EXCEPTIONS

• Policies are established to ensure fair and consistent admissions practice for all applicants to the university and its programs
• All criteria presented in this summary are subject to change per professional accreditation requirements, changes in curriculum and/or other institutional standards, and clinical affiliation requirements
• Exceptions to existing admission policies are rare and made only when it is deemed necessary and appropriate to maintain fair and consistent practice for all candidates, not individual candidates

TRANSFER CREDIT

• Transfer credits are rarely awarded to students who transfer from another Athletic Training Program.
• The program director will review and award transfer credits on a case by case basis.

ADVANCED STANDING

• No advanced standing placement available

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

• No credit awarded for experiential learning

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.