ESS - Athletic Training Graduate Program

Athletic Training Program
Director: Cordial Gillette
214 Mitchell Hall; 608.785.8196
Email: cgillette@uwlax.edu

www.uwlax.edu/grad/athletic-training/

The goal of the Athletic Training Graduate Program is to prepare students for professional practice in healthcare that demands interprofessional collaboration, a high degree of autonomy in decision-making, and a skill set in evidence-based practice. Athletic training graduates will enter professional practice as health care providers who collaborate with physicians to provide services in prevention, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. Graduates from the program become leading clinicians, researchers, and educators.

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree earned in the Athletic Training Program will prepare students in the areas of evidence-based practice, prevention and health promotion, clinical examinations and diagnosis, acute care of injury and illness, therapeutic interventions, psychosocial strategies and referral, healthcare administration, and professional development and responsibility. Students will gain:

  1. Professional content knowledge based on best practices;
  2. Diverse high quality clinical experiences;
  3. The foundation for ethical decision-making;
  4. Motivation to become a lifelong learner;
  5. Inspiration to serve the athletic training profession, and;
  6. An understanding of the role of scholarship and research in athletic training.

Program length

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Athletic Training Program is typically a two-year program. The program length is based on how long the required UWL coursework would take to complete for a full-time student who does not need to complete any prerequisite coursework. Program length may be extended if students attend part-time (if approved by program) or due to the requirements of an individual student's plan of coursework, research or capstone project.


Courses

ATS 700 Cr.4

Professional Practice and Athletic Training Healthcare

This course is designed to enhance understanding of athletic training practice in the global healthcare environment. The course covers foundational concepts of athletic training healthcare related to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses in athletes and the physically active patient populations. Lect. 3, Lab 2. Prerequisite: admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Summer.

ATS 702 Cr.3

Functional Anatomy and Medical Physiology

This course provides a comprehensive review of human anatomy and physiology using a regional and systems approach. The course covers the anatomy of the thorax, abdomen, pelvis, perineum, lower limbs, head, neck, spine, and upper limbs. Lecture and laboratory components of this course emphasize the clinical relevance of each area considered utilizing prosected human cadavers. Lect. 2, Lab 2. Prerequisite: ATS 700; admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Fall.

ATS 704 Cr.3

Applied Neuroscience in Athletic Training

This course is designed to provide an in-depth examination of current issues related to the recognition, assessment, and management of brain and spinal injuries. The course will cover topics related to brain anatomy and physiology, differential diagnosis of emergent neurological injuries, assessment techniques, return-to-play issues, return-to-learn, treatment options, and current recommendations. The course will also cover the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of neurological pathologies common in sport. Lect. 2, Lab 2. Prerequisite: ATS 702; admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Annually.

ATS 710 Cr.4

Emergency Care Principles in Healthcare

This course prepares students who will be involved in planning and providing medical care in emergency situations at athletic-related events. Basic principles of life-threatening injury and illness, management, and transfer within an environment in one or multiple patients will be addressed. Also included in this course are basic emergency and clinical evaluation techniques as well as measures to mitigate the severity of illness/injury sequelae. Lect. 2, Lab 4. Prerequisite: admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Annually.

ATS 712 Cr.5

Diagnosis and Therapeutic Interventions I

This course is designed to provide a foundation for evaluation and treatment of injuries and conditions for select body regions as seen in various patient populations. This course will prepare students to diagnose and treat injuries and conditions utilizing therapeutic interventions from diagnosis to discharge. Lect. 2, Lab 6. Prerequisite: ATS 700, ATS 710; admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Annually.

ATS 714 Cr.5

Diagnosis and Therapeutic Interventions II

This course provides a foundation for evaluation and treatment of injuries and conditions as seen in various patient populations for the remaining body regions not covered in Diagnosis and Therapeutic Interventions I. Students are prepared to diagnose and treat injuries and conditions utilizing therapeutic interventions from diagnosis to discharge. Lect. 2, Lab 6. Prerequisite: ATS 712; admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Annually.

ATS 716 Cr.3

Pathophysiology of General Medical Conditions

This course introduces students to the pathology of injuries and illnesses of the body systems treated by allied healthcare professionals. Identification, diagnosis, management, and resolution of acute and chronic illness, conditions, and syndromes in general populations will be discussed. Topics include commonly-occurring risk factors, conditions, disabilities, diseases, and the impact of comorbidities across the lifespans of patients. Topics will be categorized into physiological responses to trauma, disease, inflammatory responses, and autoimmune/ immunodeficiency responses to various diseases, syndromes, and conditions. Prerequisite: admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Summer.

ATS 718 Cr.3

Healthcare Administration in Athletic Training

This course will provide content related to administrative policies involved in the management of an efficient athletic training healthcare practice. The course is designed to provide insight into organizational structures, legal implications, personnel, fiscal management, schedule and facility planning-implementation, contest management, record keeping, and public relations. The course will cover systems of healthcare information technology. Emphasis will be placed on collaborative learning and integration of health information technology principles into the student's daily clinical practice. Prerequisite: admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Fall.

ATS 720 Cr.5

Lifespan Wellness and Conditions

This course addresses conditions, pathologies, and injury outcomes that can be common throughout the lifespan of the active patient. Information on a wide variety of clinically-relevant items including history of pathology/condition, medical history, preventative strategies and diagnostic assessment, treatment, and long-term care of patient will be covered. Emphasis will include direct medical intervention, nutrition, and general healthy lifestyle activities, while utilizing evidence-based principles to increase overall wellness across the lifespan. Lect. 4, Lab. 2. Prerequisite: ATS 714; admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Summer.

ATS 722 Cr.2

Rehabilitation Psychology and Healthcare Sociology in Athletic Training

This course provides content related to the history, philosophy, and legislation of psychological rehabilitation services in healthcare. Study of the rehabilitation process from referral to closure as well as legal issues, medical sociology, rehabilitation psychology, professional ethics, consumer advocacy, and community resources will be explored. Prerequisite: admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Summer.

ATS 731 Cr.4

Athletic Training Clinical I

This initial clinical course exposes students to a variety of sports medicine clinical experiences. Supervised experiences will apply students' knowledge, skills, and abilities in a patient-centered healthcare environment. This course will emphasize the application of the foundational knowledge gained in previous coursework into clinical practice including, but not limited to, emergent medicine, professional communications, and evidence-based differential diagnosis. Prerequisite: admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Annually.

ATS 732 Cr.4

Athletic Training Clinical II

This clinical course will continue to expose students to a variety of sports medicine experiences building on the outcomes gained from Athletic Training Clinical I and previous course work. Students will utilize gained knowledge to build on athletic training skills in a patient-centered healthcare setting. These supervised experiences will include clinical practice with patients that have activity-related injury/illness. Prerequisite: ATS 731; admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Annually.

ATS 733 Cr.3

Athletic Training Clinical III

This is a full-time clinical immersion experience for athletic training students. Students will be exposed to all aspects of athletic training clinical care in a focused setting. Students will work closely with preceptors to get a hands-on experience engaging in all aspects of patient-centered care. Prerequisite: ATS 732; admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Annually.

ATS 734 Cr.6

Athletic Training Clinical IV

This is a full-time clinical immersion experience for athletic training students. Students will apply all foundational knowledge in this clinical experience while working with a preceptor. Emphasis of this hands-on clinical experience will be placed on inter-professional practice and the incorporation of all aspects of athletic training clinical practice. Prerequisite: ATS 733; admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Annually.

ATS 740 Cr.2

Research Methods in Athletic Training

This course provides understanding of scientific research in athletic training and related healthcare fields. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of building a research base in athletic training and designing a research study from conception to dissemination. Students will also review current research related to athletic training. Prerequisite: admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Fall.

ATS 741 Cr.1

Athletic Training Research I

The intent of this series of four research courses is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to conduct and complete a research project. Students will perform a professional presentation at the culmination of the research courses. This course is the first of the series, and will focus on developing a research topic and obtaining IRB approval for the research study. Prerequisite: ATS 740, ATS 745; admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Fall.

ATS 742 Cr.1

Athletic Training Research II

The intent of this series of four research courses is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to conduct and complete a research project. In this second course of the series, students will conduct the data collection phase of the research project. Prerequisite: ATS 741; admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Spring.

ATS 743 Cr.2

Athletic Training Research III

The intent of this series of four research courses is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to conduct and complete a research project. In this third course of the series, students will complete data collection and conduct data processing and analysis. Prerequisite: ATS 742; admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Fall.

ATS 744 Cr.2

Athletic Training Research IV

The intent of this series of four research courses is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to conduct and complete a research project. In this fourth and final course of the series, students will complete the final draft of the research manuscript and share the research findings via a professional presentation. Prerequisite: ATS 743; admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Spring.

ATS 745 Cr.2

Statistics for Athletic Trainers

This course provides an introduction to statistical reasoning in athletic training. Emphasis is placed on practical application of statistical methods. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability, binomial and normal distributions, estimation, and hypothesis testing for means and proportions. Additional topics may be selected from various parametric and non-parametric methods. Prerequisite: admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Summer.

ATS 750 Cr.2

Athletic Training Readings

The objective of this course is to challenge students to be consumers and critics of literature related to athletic training. Emphasis will be in the foundational exercise sciences and applied athletic training practice. Repeatable for credit - maximum four. Prerequisite: admission to graduate Athletic Training Program. Offered Annually.