Application Requirements | Acceptance | Transfer Students
The Defiance College Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) is a unique program that combines intensive course work with hands-on clinical experience to prepare a student for a career in athletic training. The academic program is a CAATE (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education) accredited program that prepares students for the professional opportunities as BOC Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC).
Admission into the Athletic Training Educational Program is a two-step process. Students enter Defiance College as pre-athletic training majors and must complete the first year consisting of general education degree requirements and athletic training prerequisites. Students are considered pre-professional students as they enroll in the introductory courses and begin the directed observation of the athletic training program. The pre-professional phase is completed in their first two semesters on campus. Students in AT 100 and AT 200 will meet with the Program Director and/or the Clinical Education Coordinator to assure that they are enrolled in the proper courses. Directed observation hour requirement for pre-professional Athletic Training students:
Freshman Fall 3 hours per week Total= 30 hours
Freshman Spring 5 hours per week Total= 50 hours
As the students complete their pre-professional requirements, students apply to advance to the Professional phase of the curriculum that includes advanced courses and clinical education. Students are admitted into the Professional Phase at the beginning of their third semester at Defiance College. The program is structured in such a way that six semesters are required to complete the Professional Phase of the ATEP.
Application Requirements
Application to the professional phase of the ATEP is in the second semester of their freshman year. Students must meet the minimum requirements listed below to be considered for the Athletic Training Education Program. The selection process is competitive and based on academic performance, clinical observation and individual personal qualities. Several criteria for selection have been given a point value to establish an objective means to evaluate your application. The point value is indicated in bold. Remaining criteria are considered minimum criteria. All must be completed. Meeting minimum application requirements does not guarantee a student entrance into the program.
- Completion of all programs application forms
- The student must complete the following courses with a B- or better
AT100, Introduction to Athletic Training
AT200, Orthopedic Pathology
- Documentation of a minimum of 80 clinical observation hours
120 hours + = 20 points
100 - 120 hours = 15 points
80 - 100 hours = 10 points
- Successful completion of Athletic Training Modules Level 1 during academic and/or clinical hours. Specific modules are assigned during AT100 and AT200.
- Minimum cumulative DC GPA of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale
3.76-4.00 = 25 points
3.51-3.75 = 23 points
3.26-3.50 = 21 points
3.01-3.25 = 19 points
2.76-3.00 = 17 points
2.50-2.75 = 15 points
- Objective Evaluations from certified staff: including evaluation based on professionalism, work ethic, dependability, initiative, and attitude.
Clinical evaluations: average of evaluation scores will be
converted to a 20 point scale.
- Provide two (2) letters of recommendation from faculty, coaches, athletic trainer’s etc. to support your candidacy into the Athletic Training Education Program.
Letters must be from persons other than Athletic Trainers
employed by Defiance College. You must use the form provided.
- Completion of physical examination along with proof of immunizations. The immunization record must be signed and verified by the health professional conducting the physical. The immunization record includes: measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria and hepatitis B. The student may sign an assumption of risk waiver in lieu of receiving the Hepatitis B vaccine. The ATEP strongly recommends the student receive the Hepatitis B vaccine.
- Ability to meet Technical Standards of the ATEP.
- Signed statement regarding criminal background check.
- Interview with the ATEP selection committee. Which will be scored with a maximum of 18 points.
Candidates for the ATEP must meet all eleven criteria listed above. Students are then rank ordered and a minimum score of 35 points is required to be considered for entrance into the professional phase of the program. However, meeting the minimum application requirements does not guarantee a student entrance into the program. The number of appointments may vary each year depending on the space available in the program. The number of students accepted into the ATEP is limited by the availability of clinical facilities and faculty. Limited admission will ensure that an appropriate student to clinical instructor ratio (approximately 8 to 1) is maintained. If needed, please contact the Program Director for further clarification.
Acceptance
Acceptance into the ATEP is conditional until the final grades for that semester are received. A student with a deficiency in one of the eleven requirements of admission may be conditionally accepted into the ATEP on the recommendation of the Selection committee. A contract between the student and the PD is written to establish the steps the student must make to gain full acceptance into the ATEP. A student may not be in the conditional acceptance phase for more than one semester.
Program application materials are returned to the Athletic Training Education Program Director by March 1st. Candidates are notified of their admission status no later than April 1st.The Program Director notifies each student with a letter sent to the address listed on the application. Students who are not accepted into the ATEP may reapply the following year. Due to the extensive clinical component associated with this program, students may reapply only once. Students who are not selected for the Professional phase of this program will work with the Program Director and/or their academic advisor to identify alternate academic programs to pursue.
Transfer Students
Students who have transferred to DC must complete the required professional phase of the Athletic Training Education Program. Prompt commencement of the directed observation period is necessary to complete the clinical courses and clinical experiences in a minimum of six semesters at Defiance College. All core courses (designated with the prefix AT) must be taken at Defiance College to ensure competency mastery. The Program Director evaluates other courses in the major on an individual basis to determine transfer of credits. Prior directed observation is evaluated and approved at the discretion of the Program Director.
Retention Criteria is listed on the Assessment Checklist that is given to the student by their academic advisor. All students at DC matriculate according to their completing their Major Assessment Checklist.
