Program Goals:

1. Provide high quality didactic and clinical education components of our program.
2. Recruit and retain students locally, nationally, and internationally
3. Prepare students to be successful on the national certification examination (BOC).
4. Provide an educational experience that prepares students for success in gaining employment as athletic trainers or placement in an allied health-related program upon graduation.
5. Prepare students to be competent and evidence-based clinicians.
6. Promote professional development for success in the evolving landscape of healthcare.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate effective communication in the context of athletic training practice. (Patient-Centered Care)
2. Formulate a care plan for patients based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) examination. (Patient-Centered Care & Patient/Client Care/Prevention, Health Promotion, and Wellness)
   1. Collaborate with other healthcare professionals in the context of athletic training practice. (Interprofessional Practice and Interprofessional Education)
   2. Practice athletic training based on the current evidence.  (Evidence-Based Practice)
   3. Evaluate patients using ICF as a framework. (Patient-Centered Care)
   4. Integrate cultural competence in athletic training practice. (Patient-Centered Care)
3. Formulate professional development plans according to personal and professional goals and requirements. (Professionalism)
4. Advocate for the profession through public education and community service. (Professionalism)
5. Practice in a manner that is congruent with the ethical standards of the profession. (Professionalism/Healthcare Informatics)
6. Demonstrate administrative management skills necessary to operate and maintain high quality athletic training services. (Quality Improvement/Health Care Informatics/Health Care Administration)

Undergraduate Exercise Science/Kinesiology majors who would like to pursuit athletic training as a career and ready to commit 2 years of their life for the graduate program. Students who are interested in the athletic training profession are highly recommended to visit National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) website.

Athletic trainers treat a range of patients and can work in a variety of settings. Regardless of their practice setting, athletic trainers practice according to their education, scope of practice and state practice act. Athletic trainers work in:

• Public and private secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional and Olympic sports
• Youth leagues, municipal and independently owned youth sports facilities
• Physician practice, similar to nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists and other professional clinical personnel
• Rural and urban hospitals, hospital emergency rooms, urgent and ambulatory care centers
• Clinics with specialties in sports medicine, cardiac rehab, medical fitness, wellness and physical therapy
• Occupational health departments in commercial settings, which include manufacturing, distribution and offices to assist with ergonomics
• Police and fire departments and academies, municipal departments, branches of the military
• Performing arts including professional and collegiate level dance and music

Cost

• Tuition: please visit UHM Tuition & Fee website.
• Program associated cost is approximately $200- 300/yr which includes NATA membership, liability insurance, uniforms, fanny pack, and a pair of scissors.

Funding

• Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) enables legal residents of the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE) member states to enroll in selected out-of-state graduate programs at a reduced tuition of 150% of the institution’s regular resident tuition. Member states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, CNMI, Guam, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
• Non-Resident Tuition Exemption (NRTE) – Limited number of NRTE Award is available for the out-of-state students, effective for 2 years. Selected out-of-state students will qualify for the resident tuition rate. NRTE will be awarded to the top out-of-state candidate(s) determined by their application.
• Achievement Scholarships – A total of $8000/yr is available to the program students to support their tuition. The top performing students are recognized and awarded achievement scholarships.
• Travel Fund – Limited amount of travel funds are available for the program students to attend the professional conferences and seminars.
• NATA scholarship
• FWATA scholarship
• HATA scholarship

Typical on-campus class schedule is 9:30 am to 12:00 pm, 3 days a week, with on-campus or off-campus clinical experiences throughout the week including weekends. Summer courses are mandatory and require students to be on Oahu during summer session II (July-August). All core courses are delivered in the Athletic Training Lab.

Academic Plan

The program consists of classroom instruction, practicum/laboratory instruction, clinical experience, and research experiences in which the athletic training content areas of 1) evidence-based practice, 2) prevention and health promotion, 3) clinical examination and diagnosis, 4) acute care of injury and illness, 5) therapeutic interventions, 6) psychosocial strategies and referral, 7) healthcare administration, and 8) professional development and responsibility are developed and included. Graduate students seeking BOC certification must complete a minimum of 45 credits, as well as prerequisites courses and clinical education requirements. The ATP must be completed in two calendar years (i.e., Summer, Fall, spring semesters) of full-time study or six semesters of course work with clinical experience under the direct supervision of a Preceptor at an affiliated clinical site. Please see MS-AT program sheet for more details.

Clinical Education Plan

The Clinical Education Plan is designed to provide students with opportunity to apply the content learned in the didactic lectures and labs. Clinical Experiences are provided in KRS490, 609, 610, 611, 612, and 623. Clinical assignments consist of students assigned to preceptors who provide direct supervision for coverage of sports with upper extremity injuries, lower extremity injuries, equipment intensive, general medical, and rehabilitation settings. Students work with preceptors to gain clinical experience in all Core Competency areas and to perform at above 75% autonomy level. Percent autonomy is determined by the preceptor and reported in the reflection journal and end-of-semester evaluation. A total of 1200 hours of clinical experience is required for graduation which amounts to an average of 20 hours/week. Additionally, students are required to complete immersive clinical experience and selective clinical experience. Immersive clinical experience consists of 40 hours a week for 4 consecutive weeks or same work hours/schedule as your preceptor during the defined period (summer session II). The immersive clinical experience is a graduation requirement and provided in KRS623 online course. The selective clinical experience consists of professional development experiences at self-selected sites. A minimum of 100 hours is required to fulfill selective clinical experience requirement which is monitored in KRS609-612. Hours collected during winter and summer breaks at the assigned clinical site could count toward selective experience hours; however, the hours claimed for selective experience can’t be double counted toward the clinical experience hours.

Degree Requirements (Master’s Plan B)

• ATP students must complete:
• Pre-ATP Requirements (as needed)
• A minimum of 45 credits of required core courses (GPA no less than 3.0)
• Clinical experiences (minimum of 1,200 hours)
• Immersive clinical experience (minimum of 40 hours/week for 4 consecutive weeks)
• Final Comprehensive Examination

Program operational manual:

Student Learning Objectives (SLO) (updated 11-22-20): 

• Successfully complete the BOC Examination

• Through comprehensive instruction of the NATA educational competencies.
• Through a comprehensive clinical education program for practical application of NATA clinical proficiencies.

• Through an integrated didactic and clinical education program, promote critical thinking and communication skills necessary for an allied health care provider.

• Understand the foundation of concepts in athletic training content areas through formal course instruction. 
• Promote critical thinking and communication skills allowing for application of knowledge in the practical clinical setting.
• Through clinical problem solving and problem-based activities in the clinical education plan.

• Function socially and vocationally in society

• Through the clinical education program, integrated with off campus clinical sites, the student will develop skills for communication and tolerance for a diverse population.  
• Through a strong didactic and clinical education, the students will be able to perform as a competent entry level certified athletic trainer.

• Promote the professional growth and development, and contribute in a positive manner to the athletic training profession 

• Through membership in national, regional, and state professional organizations
• Through attendance at professional meetings
• Through introduction to professional research methods

• Develop self-worth, a value for human life, and respect the rights, welfare and dignity of each person they work with as a patient, student, or co-worker.

• Through Service Learning and Community Engagement
• Through instruction of the NATA Code of Ethics
• Through application of the NATA Code of Ethics in a diverse and comprehensive clinical education program