Students entering their sophomore year may NOT participate in preseason athletic responsibilities. They may begin their clinical education rotation upon the commencement of the regular academic term.
Students enrolled in ATHT 201 – Clinical Experience in Athletic Training I, are expected to participate in four (4), four (4) week on-site rotations (based on a 16-week semester) with a certified athletic trainer. This experience serves as the introductory clinical education opportunity for students newly admitted to the athletic training program. The variety of preceptors serves to familiarize students to the collegiate
practice setting, allowing students to witness professionalism and patient-centered care for an athletic and orthopedic patient population.
Students enrolled in ATHT 202 – Clinical Experience in Athletic Training II, are expected to participate in two (2), eight (8) week rotations (based on a 16-week semester). One of the 8-week rotations must be completed with a non-sport patient population at an outpatient rehabilitation/therapy clinic setting (e.g., HealthWorks). The second 8-week rotation must be completed with a certified athletic trainer at an on- or off-campus affiliation site. By requiring an outpatient rehabilitation/therapy clinic setting, students will have the opportunity to learn from preceptors not associated with the university, in addition to gaining experience in therapeutic interventions at a rehabilitative/therapy clinical practice setting with non-sport patients engaged in a range of activities across the lifespan.
Sophomore FOCUS: Develop autonomy applied to therapeutic interventions specific to the non-sport population across the lifespan.
Students entering their Junior year in the Athletic Training Program may participate in voluntary hours during pre-season and/or the winter break under the direct supervision of an AU ATP affiliated preceptor. Students will be responsible for documenting hours but only to ensure the seven-day policy is followed. There are no minimum or maximum hours. Because the hours are strictly voluntary, no competencies or proficiencies can be completed. However, students may engage in athletic training skills, as well as deliver any necessary immediate or emergent aid, if they are participating in a formal clinical experience under the direct supervision of a preceptor.
Students enrolled in ATHT 301 – Clinical Experience in Athletic Training III, are expected to participate in two (2), eight (8) week rotations (based on a 16-week semester). One of the 8-week rotations must be completed at a secondary school setting that exposes student to pediatric athletes. The alternative 8-week rotation must be completed with a certified athletic trainer at an on- or off-campus affiliation site. By requiring off-campus rotations, students will have the opportunity to learn from preceptors not associated with the university, in addition to gaining authentic experiences with student-athletes/patients across the lifespan (specifically pediatric patients) to improve clinical reasoning and decision making.
Junior Semester 1 FOCUS: Develop autonomy related to pediatric patients.
Students enrolled in ATHT 302 – Clinical Experience in Athletic Training IV, are expected to participate in two (2), eight (8) week rotations (based on a 16-week semester). One of the 8-week rotations must be completed with non-sport, non-orthopedic patient populations at an Emergency Room (e.g., St. James Hospital). The second 8-week rotation must be completed with a certified athletic trainer at an on- or off-campus site. By requiring off-campus rotations, students will have the opportunity to learn from preceptors not associated with the university, in addition to promoting learning over time with a variety of patient populations in traditional and non-traditional settings.
Junior Semester 2 FOCUS: Develop autonomy applied to emergency care procedures as well as observing immediate care for the non-orthopedic/non-sport population.
Students entering their Senior year in the Athletic Training Program may participate in voluntary hours during pre-season and/or the winter break under the direct supervision of an AU ATP affiliated preceptor. Students will be responsible for documenting hours but only to ensure the seven-day policy is followed. There are no minimum or maximum hours. Because the hours are strictly voluntary, no competencies or proficiencies can be completed. However, students may engage in athletic training skills, as well as deliver any necessary immediate or emergent aid, if they are participating in a formal clinical experience under the direct supervision of a preceptor.
Students enrolled in ATHT 401 – Clinical Experience in Athletic Training V, are expected to participate in one (1), sixteen (16) week rotation or two (2), eight (8) week rotations (based on a 16-week semester). The rotations must be completed with a certified athletic trainer and/or physician at an on- or off-campus site. Students will have the opportunity to potentially learn from preceptors not associated with the university, in addition to working with patient populations that expose students to orthopedic and non-orthopedic conditions.
Senior Semester 1 FOCUS: Continue to develop autonomy while enhancing and refining the senior student’s clinical skills specific to prevention and wellness, urgent and emergent care, orthopedic evaluation, and rehabilitation.
Students enrolled in ATHT 485 – Clinical Internship in Athletic Training, are expected to participate in one (1), twelve (12) week rotation (“Immersive Experience”) and one (1), four (4) week rotation. The 12-week rotation must be completed with a certified athletic trainer or physician at an on- or off-campus site. This is a practice-intensive clinical education experience that gives students the opportunity to develop a better understanding and appreciation for the roles and responsibilities of an athletic training provider working with patient populations, and in the health care setting, that align with their professional interests. The second 4-week rotation must be completed at a primary care office that exposes student to a variety of non-sport patient populations with a variety of conditions other than orthopedics. The objective of this clinical experience is to promote interdisciplinary education, while exposing athletic training students to a variety of conditions other than orthopedics (i.e., primary care, internal medicine, dermatology, etc.)
Senior Semester 2 FOCUS: Students should focus on developing the autonomy necessary to make informed decisions as it relates to the diagnostic and referral protocols for general medical conditions specific to the pediatric, adult, and elderly patient. This knowledge should be applied to the assignments required in ATHT 485, thereby requiring students to consider how they may have adapted their evaluation and/or care to patients they encountered during their immersive experience.
