ATHLETIC TRAINING
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
This program is no longer accepting students; prospective students should instead refer to our new B.S. in Pre-Athletic Training that has taken the place of this program.
Multi-skilled healthcare professionals.
Anchored in the Mercyhurst tradition of excellence, the Athletic Training Department is always looking for ways to refine their craft so students receive the best and most cutting-edge experience. Athletic Training combines science-based knowledge with contemporary evidence-based practices to train majors to treat a variety of populations. From athletes to military personnel to the weekend warrior, athletic trainers learn how to help the physically active get back on their feet following an illness, injury or surgery. Through our decades of educating aspiring future professionals, we have come to understand that it is not the initials after a name that define the work, but rather the impact a person will make. Between hours of hands-on clinical experiences, classroom learning with state-of-the-art equipment, and faculty dedicated to whole-person discovery and development, our graduates leave with the most fulfilling education experience and the skills to lead a successful professional life.
Transition to MSAT
The Mercyhurst University Athletic Training Program has earned a strong reputation of providing a robust, thorough, and authentic education. Mercyhurst places an emphasis on preparing students for the progression of the profession through strong clinical skill and professional engagement. Athletic Training Education is continuing to evolve and advance: Per the National Athletic Training Strategic Alliance and updated Commission on Accreditation for Athletic Training Education (CAATE) Standards, the former undergraduate (“Bachelor of Science”) degree in athletic training requires transition to a graduate-level degree in Athletic Training by Fall 2022.
Any student interested in becoming a certified athletic trainer will need to obtain a graduate-level degree in athletic training. Mercyhurst University will be making this transition. We admitted our final undergraduate cohort (BSAT) in the Fall of 2019.
As we strive to continue the trend of educating highly-qualified athletic trainers, as of Fall 2021 we are now offering a Master of Science degree in Athletic Training (MSAT), pending transitional approval from CAATE.
Fast Facts
An in-demand field, the athletic training profession is expected to grow by 21 percent by 2022 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
An AT major is flexible, offering opportunities for students to double major or minor in a wide array of fields like Public Health, Exercise Science or Psychology to increase their professional development
The senior capstone experience allows students to focus their field of study through internships with local minor league sports teams, major sports affiliates, ESPN and other professional settings
Our graduates lead successful careers as professors, orthopedic surgeons, program managers for sports medicine companies, and clinical athletic trainers
Students enrolled in the pre-medical concentration offered through Mercyhurst University's Sports Medicine program will focus and learn evaluation, hands-on skills to prevent, manage and recognize sports-related injuries. This Mercyhurst Sports Medicine concentration will prepare students for medical school or chiropractic school, as well as help them to work toward a special emphasis in the field, especially orthopedic medicine.
Sports Medicine students enrolled in the pre-medical concentration will meet regularly with the university's pre-health advisory committee and the Sports Medicine department to arrange for MCAT preparation, shadowing and the pre-med advisory board interview. Mercyhurst students in this Sports Medicine program are required to complete at least 100 hours of work, service or observation in an appropriate health or medical setting. Opportunities are available for student observation with orthopedic surgeons and Sports Medicine fellowship trained physicians through Orthopedic and Sports Medicine of Erie, P.C. and Lecom Medical Fitness and Wellness Center. The pre-medical student is required to observe one orthopedic surgical procedure.
This concentration provides the student with the necessary course pre-requisites and clinical hand-on experience for entrance into a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Students who choose this educational pathway will be exposed to the special needs physically active population. This population may include military veterans, pediatric orthopedic patients, head-trauma victims and other orthopedic special needs patients. Pre-occupational Therapy students have clinical observation opportunities at Shriners Hospitals for Children and the Barber National Institute.
The Pre-Physical Therapy concentration is a highly competitive option within the Sportsmedicine department for those interested in the field of physical therapy. Students are prepared to gain acceptance into physical therapy doctoral programs across the nation upon graduation through a comprehensive background in allied health science, orthopedic assessment, therapeutic modalities and health and wellness of the physically active population.
Upon graduation, this concentration offers guaranteed placement into D'Youville College's Doctoral of Physical Therapy program along with Gannon University's Doctoral of Physical Therapy program. Graduates of this concentration have also attended Univeristy of Pittsburgh and Duke University as well as other Doctoral of Physical Therapy programs across the nation. Pre-physical Therapy students have clinical observation opportunities at UPMC Hamot, Lecom Medical Fitness and Wellness Center, Shriners Hospitals for Children and various private physical therapy clinics.
This concentration will provide the student with the necessary course pre-requisites and clinical hands-on experience for entrance into master's degree level Physician Assistants curriculum.The pre-physician assistant student will learn orthopedic evaluation skills and recognition of injuries associated to the physically active individual. Clinical observation opportunities of physician assistants include Orthopedic and Sports Medicine of Erie, P.C.
Pre-physician Assistant students graduating from the Sports Medicine Department will have the opportunity for acceptance via six preferential slots into the Physical Assistant Studies Masters Program at Mercyhurst University. Mercyhurst University has applied for Accreditation - Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Mercyhurst University anticipates matriculating its first class in June 2014, pending Accreditation - Provisional in March 2014. Accreditation - Provisional is an accreditation status for a new PA program that has not yet enrolled students, but at the time of its initial accreditation review, has demonstrated its preparedness to initiate a program in accordance with the Accreditation Standards.
The Physician Assistant allied health profession is an ever-growing specialty in today's medical fields. The Physician Assistant provides medical services to the expanding healthcare population. These services include initial evaluation and assessment of the patient, writing of prescriptions and follow-up care. A physician oversees the healthcare provided by the Physician Assistants.
This minor is offered for the student who is majoring in another degree but would still want to pursue the pre-requisites for entrance into a Doctoral of Physical Therapy curriculum.
Core Courses
PHYS 101/103 Principles of Physics I/Lab
PHYS 102/106 Principles of Physics II/Lab
SPMD 162 Intro to Sportsmedicine
CHEM 121/122 General Chemistry I/Lab
CHEM 222/223 General Chemistry II/Lab
BIO 270/271 Human Anatomy/Lab
BIO 280/281 Human Physiology/Lab
SPMD 263 Nutrition for Health Professionals
SPMD 365/366 Kinesiology/Lab
SPMD 380/381 Exercise Physiology/Lab
Suggested elective: SPMD 372 Therapeutic Management/Modalities and Rehabilitation
Learning Outcomes
Program Goal 1: Clinical Knowledge
ATS will be able to demonstrate advancing clinical proficiency emphasizing sound principles of clinical research and critical thinking skills culminating into a system of quality patient care.
Program Goal 2: Academic Knowledge
Students will demonstrate the ability to synthesize and critically analyze their knowledge in the classroom that ultimately is representative of a qualified professional in the field.
Program Goal 3: Professional Responsibility
ATS will be prepared to make a difference in the world by demonstrating the common values and behaviors of the AT profession while employing professional excellence and ethical leadership.
Program Goal 4: Socially Merciful
Students will embody the mercy mission and demonstrate dispositions essential to becoming role models for the athletic training profession.
Program Overview
In April of 2010 the athletic training major received re-accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CaATe) through 2019/2020. With this accreditation firmly in place the program will prepare you for a variety of entry-level positions in athletic training or to seek advanced degrees in the allied health sciences. In addition to academic course work and vast clinical experiences it will help you develop your ability to think critically, solve problems, communicate effectively and become a complete well rounded clinician and contributing member of society. After completing this program, you’ll be eligible to take the Board of Certification examination to become a certified athletic trainer.
Credit Requirements
The degree requires a minimum of 121 credits. Each course in the specified curriculum (or transfer equivalent) must be included in this total.
Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
A GPA of 2.75 must be attained by the end of your freshman year and maintained for graduation. A thorough review board process will be conducted at the end of the freshman year to gain acceptance into the program.
Coursework
The curriculum includes a strong foundation in the basic sciences plus applied scientific knowledge in health care and athletic training. It also includes coursework that will help you develop your ability to think critically, solve problems and communicate effectively.
Clinical Experience
The clinical education sequence begins first term freshman year with the pre-clinical experience. During the freshman year students accumulate 100 hours of direct observation of affiliated athletic trainers. Starting first term sophomore year, student engage in six hands-on clinical experiences and one senior capstone experience involving patients of both genders across 15 diverse clinical settings including high schools, clinics, colleges & universities, professional athletic teams and hospitals. Clinical experiences are progressive in nature and correspond with the curriculum.
Technical Guidelines
Because athletic training is a physically, intellectually and psychologically demanding profession, degree candidates must meet minimum standards in certain skills and abilities. The athletic training education program at Mercyhurst university is a rigorous program that places specific requirements and demands on its students. The program has established technical standards to ensure that students have the essential qualities considered necessary for them 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. Students must sign the technical standards waiver, and meet these standards in order to be admitted to the program.
Mission and Vision
Mission
The mission of the professional athletic training program at Mercyhurst University is to provide the student with the necessary didactic, theoretical, and clinical skills and experiences required to qualify for the BOC examination. In the spirit of the core values of Mercyhurst University, athletic training students shall achieve this by becoming self-aware, culturally competent, and ethical healthcare professionals prepared to enter the allied health field.
Vision
The Mercyhurst University professional athletic training program aspires to offer an extensive academic and clinical experience with devoted faculty to ensure the professional and personal growth of each student pursuing BOC certification.
Accreditation Outcomes
The Mercyhurst University Athletic Training program discloses a number of student outcomes as part of our accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Athletic Training Education (CAATE). To learn more, please review our CAATE Outcomes document.
ANNUAL EXPERIENCES
Students can participate in a yearly medical mission trip to Valladolid, Mexico to observe and work with orthopedic surgeons, athletic trainers and physical therapists in a culturally immersive setting.
CLINICAL EXPERIENCES
Our students receive placement in a variety of settings for a robust patient population experience, including high schools, D1 men's and women's hockey, D2 intercollegiate athletics, PT/OT clinics, VA hospitals, ambulance ride-alongs and pediatrics.
CAREER OUTCOMES
Our graduates have found rewarding careers within the AT profession and beyond. AT alumni include a professor/researcher on pediatric concussions and orthopedic injuries, an orthopedic surgeon, a clinical athletic trainer, and the Duke University assistant director of athletic rehabilitation.
The Athletic Training Program, being an allied health professional program does have some additional associated costs. These include professional membership fees, background checks, and estimated cost of AT gear/supplies. Below are listed the additional costs, however, these are estimates based on the previous year and could fluctuate year to year based on market variability:
- Accepted students must become members of the NATA ($90 approximate cost per year for Atrack subscription) and possess a current American Red Cross Professional Rescuer certification ($15 approximate cost per year).
- All students must obtain the following clearances once admitted into the program: PA Child Abuse History Clearance - $8; PA State Criminal Record Check - $8; and FBI Criminal Background Check - $27 (Total =$43)
- Students are expected to purchase a sling/waist med pack and incur some cost on MU gear relative to financial availability. ($100 average)
- Students are responsible for all costs associated with transportation to and from their clinical sites.
The Professional Athletic Training Program at Mercyhurst University 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 Professional Athletic Training Program at Mercyhurst University establish the essential qualities considered necessary for the 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 (caATe). The following abilities and expectations must be met by all students admitted into the Professional Athletic Training Program at Mercyhurst University. In the event a student is unable to fulfill these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, the student will not be admitted into the program. Compliance with the program’s technical standards does not guarantee a student’s eligibility for the BOC exam. Candidates for the selection to the Professional Athletic Training Program at Mercyhurst University must demonstrate the following:
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 the competent professional practice.
4. The ability to record the physical examination results and 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 situations.
8. Affective skills and appropriate demeanor and rapport that relate to professional education and quality patient care.
Candidates for selection to the athletic training educational program will be required to verify they understand and meet these technical standards; or they believe that, with certain accommodations, they can meet these technical standards.
The Mercyhurst University ADA representative will evaluate a student who states he/she could meet the program’s technical standards with accommodation and confirm that the stated condition qualifies as a disability under applicable laws.
If a student states he/she can meet the technical standards with accommodation, Mercyhurst University will determine whether it agrees that the student can meet the technical standards with reasonable accommodation; this includes a review of whether the accommodations requested are reasonable, taking into account whether accommodation would jeopardize clinician/patient safety, or the educational process of the student or the institution, including all course work, clinical experiences and internships deemed essential to graduation.
Note: Students must sign the Technical Standards Waiver Form indicating their understanding of this policy.
Students can participate in a yearly medical mission trip to Valladolid, Mexico to observe and work with orthopedic surgeons, athletic trainers and physical therapists in a culturally immersive setting.
Contact Us
Joshua Long, M.S., ATC, CSCS, CES
Chair, Department of Sports Medicine
Office: Mercyhurst Athletic Center 203
Phone: 814-824-2403
Email: jlong2@mercyhurst.edu
