Master of Science in Athletic Training

This course focuses on the ever-changing contemporary issues that impact direct and indirect patient care, and highlights the importance of evidence-based practice. The NATA code of ethics and BOC Standards of Professional Practice will be used as a framework to highlight the importance of working as part of a health care team, advocating for patients and the profession, and providing medical care in a non-discriminating or prejudicial manner

This advanced course in human anatomy investigates the regional, functional anatomy of the muscular system. Students explore and interact between innervation, origin, insertion and action of most of the muscles of the human body especially as they pertain to human movement. Students will also investigate the detailed anatomy of the major joints of the body, nervous system, and vascular system as they pertain to the skeletal muscles. At the completion of this course the student will (1) identify on a human skeleton bones and bony features for the major joints of the body, (2) label the important bones and bony features on a skeletal chart, (3) draw and label major muscles on a skeletal chart, (4) identify and palpate these muscles on a human subject, (5) list and organize the muscles that produce the primary movements for all the major joints of the body, and (6) analyze multiaxial and multiplane movements during concentric and eccentric muscle actions.

This course will identify and describe various diagnostic and imaging techniques used in medical practice presenting both physiological and pathological states. Interpretation and integration of test/imaging results in the athletic training diagnosis, plan of care, with appropriate referral e emphasized. Diagnostic and imaging procedures covered in the course will include but not be limited to: physical exam and health assessment, X-ray, CT scan, MRI, bone scan, fluoroscopy, blood work, urinalysis, and electrocardiogram

This course focuses on assessment and diagnosis of injuries and illness affecting the lower extremities and lumbopelvic hip complex. The hands-on component emphasizes developing clinical skills including obtaining a medical history, pain level, patient observation, palpation of bony landmarks, functional assessment, evaluating joint and muscle function, performing stress and selective tissue test, neurovascular assessment along with additional diagnostic procedures.

This course focuses on assessment and diagnosis of injuries and illness affecting the upper extremities, head, spine, thorax and abdomen. The hands-on component emphasizes developing clinical skills including obtaining a medical history, patient observation, palpation of bony landmarks, conducting a functional assessment plus physical examination, evaluating joint and muscle function, neurovascular assessment, performing stress and selective special tests, along with additional diagnostic procedures.

This course will provide an overview of procedures and protocols designed to reduce the risk of injury and illness, plus enrich patient wellness and performance. Appropriate application of prophylactic, restrictive, and assistive devices will be emphasized. Additional topics covered in the course include: pre-participation physical examination, wellness strategies, injury prevention programs, monitoring environmental conditions, fluid and nutritional recommendations, physiological monitoring systems, biometrics, and population health.

This course emphasizes principles and techniques for recognition and management of potentially emergent life-threatening and non-life-threatening urgent medical situations. These include but are not limited to: cardiac compromise, respiratory compromise, environmental conditions, cervical spine compromise, traumatic brain injury, hemorrhage, fractures, dislocations, anaphylaxis, exertional sickling, rhabdomyolysis, hyponatremia, diabetes, drug overdose, wounds, testicular injury and musculoskeletal injury. At the completion of the course students will be eligible for certification in CPR Professional Rescuer/AED and First Aid by the American Red Cross.

This course emphasizes the theory of pain management and biomechanical assessment of patients of all levels of physical activity to implement appropriate, evidence-based, interventions aimed at improving and enhancing function throughout a performance spectrum. Emphasis is placed on concepts of patient-centered plan of care that integrates physical means and therapeutic exercises to enable the patient to prevent or remediate impairments of body functions and structures, enhance activities and participation, reduce risk of injury, optimize health, and enhance movement and well-being.

This course emphasizes the application of therapeutic exercises and physical agents for patients of all levels of physical activity to implement appropriate, evidence-based, interventions aimed at improving and enhancing performance. Emphasis is placed on a patient-centered plan of care the integrates physical means and therapeutic exercises to enable the patient to prevent or remediate impairments of body functions and structures, enhance activities and participation, reduce risk of injuries, optimize health, and enhance movement and well-being.

This supervised educational field experience at an affiliated clinical site, takes place concurrently with other required graduate coursework. Integrated clinical experience is designed to progress the student toward autonomous patient- and client-care practice. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the practice of athletic training and develop competency in the management of emergent and urgent care.

This course incorporates supervised educational experience at affiliated clinical sites. Emphasis is placed on the athletic trainer’s role in working with patients and is designed to allow students to begin developing clinical proficiency in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of lower extremity dysfunction. Students will also participate in sports medicine clinics to apply hands-on skills within an active patient population.

This supervised educational field experience at an affiliated site is designed to allow students full immersion in the clinical setting. This practice-intensive experience is intentionally designed to allow students to experience the totality of care provided by athletic trainers. Students will apply critical thinking along with hands-on skills to a patient population. An online component will be incorporated with this immersion rotation for students to share in their interprofessional connected learning experiences.

This supervised educational field experience at an affiliated clinical site, takes place concurrently with other required graduate coursework. Integrated clinical experience is designed to progress the student toward autonomous patient- and client-care practice. Emphasis is placed on the athletic trainer’s role in working with patients and is designed to allow students to begin developing clinical proficiency in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of upper extremity and head and spine dysfunction

This supervised educational field experience at an affiliated clinical site, takes place concurrently with other required graduate coursework. Emphasis is placed on the athletic trainer’s role in working with patients and is designed to allow students to develop clinical proficiency in all domains of athletic training and facilitate increasing levels of autonomous practice.

This course serves as a foundation to general pharmacology, focusing on categories of medications and their interaction with body systems. At the completion of this course, students will be able to integrate pathophysiological principles of pharmacology and patient assessment finds to formulate an impression and implement a pharmacologic management plan.

This course involves an in-depth evaluation of disease and injury processes across the lifespan and their relevance to therapeutic rehabilitation are presented. Attention is given to all major physiological systems and their significance in the rehabilitation sciences.

This course is intended to prepare students for the leadership decisions and actions that are inherent in performance enhancement management and practice within healthcare and wellness settings. Principles and applications of leadership will be explored, including persuasiveness, leading and directing teams, leading within organizations, and leadership opportunities in shaping policy in healthcare and wellness settings. Techniques for managing change and empowering others are included in this course. Topics related to effective leadership are issues of power, motivation, delegation, team building, persuasion and negotiation, and total quality improvement are included in this course.

This course provides an overview of foundations of research design and the uses and interpretation of results. Content includes: reviewing the literature, developing research problems/questions; hypothesis testing, experimental, quasi-experimental and other research designs; and evaluating research studies as they relate to evidence-based practice in the health professions. The intended outcome is to familiarize students with the evidence-based guidelines associated to clinical outcomes and evidence-based practice.

Through the completion of a research project, on a topic within the field, this course serves as an essential outcome component to augment the professional development and new learning that occurs in didactic course work and demonstrates the ability of the graduate to make significant contributions to their professions. Pre-requisite: must be taken in final semester of program. Prerequisite: RSCI780

This hands-on course provides the theory and clinical application of current best practices in manual therapy techniques utilized in the treatment of orthopedic conditions that limit functional movement. The skills acquired in this course intend to produce any or all of the following effects: improve tissue extensibility; increase range of motion; mobilize soft tissues and joints; improve muscle function; modulate pain; and reduce soft tissue inflammation or restrictions in movement. A certification in a manual therapy technique will be acquired at the completion of the course. RSCI 704 is an on campus course scheduled during the required summer residency.

This course is designed to provide an understanding of the theory and application of psychology of sport, injury, and rehabilitation. Topics covered include emotion, motivation, mental skills training and use, psychological antecedents of injury, psychology of injury and rehabilitation, career transition and termination, disabilities, rehabilitation/exercise adherence, eating disorders, alcohol and drug/substance abuse, gender and cultural diversity, and research methods related to the psychology of sport, injury, and rehabilitation.