II. Major Requirements

III. Electives (to complete a minimum of 120 credits)

Program Standards

In order to qualify for advanced standing as an athletic training major and to register for the third- and fourth-year sequences of athletic training courses, the student must meet the following standards.

1. The student must have completed ATRN 110, ATRN 114, ATRN 120, ATRN 227, ATRN 228, ATRN 284 and ATRN 285.
2. All ATRN courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better. Letter grades of D or F are unacceptable.
3. All other required courses must be completed with a passing grade. Grades of F or I are unacceptable.
4. A student must achieve and maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.000 or higher at the conclusion of the freshman year. At that point, students with a cumulative GPA below 2.750 will be dismissed from the program; students with a cumulative GPA between 2.750 and 2.999 may be placed on departmental probation. Probation will include a GPA prescription and may result in restriction from registering for any further ATRN courses until the prescription is met or until the cumulative grade point average reaches 3.000.  Two consecutive semesters on probation in which the student’s cumulative GPA does not improve and/or continues to decline will result in dismissal from the program.  Program probationary status is reviewed by the athletic training faculty on an individual basis after each semester.
5. Proper professional and responsible behavior is expected of each student in the athletic training major.  Failure to maintain the established Standards of Professional Behavior will result in probation or dismissal from the program.  Standard of Professional Behavior for students in the ATRN Major include complying with:
   • The Student Code of Conduct as outlined in the Policies and Procedures section of your Springfield College Student Handbook.
   • The guidelines set forth in M.G.L., Chapter 112,S. 23E, Code 259 Regulation, Section o1 for Athletic Training Students by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Division of Professional Licensure Board.
   • The National Athletic Trainers’ Association Code of Ethics as applied to athletic training students in an educational program setting.
   • And maintaining a C- or better on all Evaluations of Meeting Standards of Professional Behavior conducted for all ATRN Prefixed courses.
6. The student must meet the Athletic Training Technical Standards for admission and retention (available from the department).

Appeal Process

A Student may appeal any action taken by the department regarding his or her probation or dismissal from the major. In order to appeal, the student must submit a letter to the department of Exercise Science and Sports Studies (ESSS) chairperson requesting a review of their status. This appeal must be submitted within two weeks of the student being notified of his or her probation or dismissal. The athletic training program director will call a meeting of the appropriate faculty. The student will be notified within ten days of the meeting regarding the outcome of their appeal.

Technical Standards

The athletic training major at Springfield College 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 athletic health care employment settings and to render care to a wide spectrum of individuals engaged in physical activity. The technical standards set forth by the athletic training major establish the essential qualities considered necessary for 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, Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training (CAATE). The following abilities and expectations must be met by all students admitted to the athletic training major. In the event that these abilities are not met, a 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 certification exam.

Candidates for selection to the athletic training major must demonstrate:

1. the mental capacity to assimilate, analyze, integrate concepts and problem solve to formulate assessment and therapeutic judgements and to be able to distinguish deviations from the norm;
2. sufficient postural and neuromuscular control, mobility, sensory function, strength, endurance and coordination to accurately, safely, and efficiently perform and/or provide;
   -appropriate physical examinations;
   -emergency care skills and procedures including transportation techniques (lifts, carries, and litters);
   -appropriate therapeutic techniques including use of equipment and exercise techniques
3. the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, colleagues, other health care professionals including individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds; this includes, but is not limited to, the ability to establish rapport with patients and communicate judgements and treatment information effectively. Students must be able to understand and speak the English language at a level consistent with competent professional practice;
4. the ability to record the physical examination results and a treatment plan clearly and accurately;
5. the capacity to maintain composure and continue to function effectively and appropriately during periods of high stress;
6. flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in clinical situations;
7. effective skills and appropriate demeanor and rapport that relate to professional education and quality patient care.
8. the perserverance, diligence and commitment to complete the athletic training education program as outlined and sequenced.

Candidates for selection to the athletic training educational program at Springfield College will be required to verify they understand and meet these technical standards or that they believe that, with certain accommodations, they can meet the standards. Springfield College, office of student support services, 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, then the College will determine whether it agrees that the student can meet the technical standards with reasonable accommodation; this includes a review 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, inluding all course work, clinical experiences and field work deemed essential to graduation.