Athletic Therapy, Post Bachelor’s Certificate

• Admission
• Curriculum

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General Information

The Athletic Therapy, Post-Bachelor’s Certificate program will contribute to Canada’s allied healthcare profession by training graduates who are prepared to become Certified Athletic Therapists. This program is designed to provide participants with advanced knowledge, experience and skills in the delivery of athletic therapy services. The program includes theoretical, field and clinical practicum experiences that prepare practitioners for the certification exams and the workforce. Graduates will develop competency in emergency management, injury assessment, therapeutic modalities, rehabilitation techniques, and clinic management and administration. These competencies will allow them to practice in clinical settings, on-field environments with sports teams, and other related fields that require musculoskeletal expertise, injury prevention, ergonomics assessment, and health promotion. This program is accredited through the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA).

This program is accredited through the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association.

Graduates will be able to:

1. Demonstrate evidence-based, ethical, critical thinking, reflection, and collaborative practice in both clinical and field environments for professional entry, and aligned with the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association Scope of Practice and Professional Competencies List.

This includes, but is not limited to, safe and effective:

• application of therapeutic modalities;
• on-field and clinical injury assessment and management skills;
• application of rehabilitation techniques to manage injuries and enhance the injury recovery process of injury;
• prevention of sport and activity-related injuries;
• demonstration of skills in patient/client education and counselling;
• Application of Apply Leadership and Management Principles as they relate to the athletic therapy discipline profession.

2. Engage with and demonstrate competency during academic and practical learning experiences involving diverse individuals and environments, including but not limited to a variety of sports, community settings, athletes, patients, peers, and clinical educators.
3. Recognize, respond to, and provide care for individuals during academic and practical learning experiences regardless of race, religion, ethnic/national origin, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, and disability during actual and simulated injury experiences without bias or prejudice. This includes but is not limited to managing life-threatening conditions; acute and chronic injury assessment and/or management; rehabilitation; and exercise prescription.
4. Demonstrate knowledge and application of Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action in relation to the discipline of health and physical education.

Academic Performance Requirements

In matters of program continuance, there are instances when institutional processes do not fully address concerns related to student progress or continuance in a program. Issues of non-compliance will warrant the student being required to withdraw from the program (RTWP). This applies in the following circumstances:

1. Violations of professional codes of ethics and/or standards of practice as defined by the Athletic Therapy Student Handbook and Practicum Manual in accordance with the CATA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. A committee established by the program will assess violations of relevant codes and standards and whether the student will be required to RTWP based on the seriousness of the violation.
2. Suspension and/or termination of a practicum placement by an external stakeholder because of an assessed detrimental impact on the patient, client, patient/client group, or community being served. Students who are unable to meet clinical or field course requirements on this basis will be RTWP. An appeal process is available; see the Athletic Therapy Student Handbook and Practicum Manual.
3. Failure to achieve the required progression grade in a practicum placement, specifically
   -  ATTH 2050 - Professional Practice in Athletic Therapy  
   -  ATTH 3150 - Clinical Practicum I  
   -  ATTH 3152 - Clinical Practicum II  
   -  ATTH 3160 - Field Practicum I  
   -  ATTH 3162 - Field Practicum II  
   -  ATTH 4150 - Clinical and Field Practicum III  
   -  ATTH 4152 - Clinical and Field Practicum IV  
   
   After a maximum of two attempts - exclusive of any instances of Withdrawal with Cause (WC) - will result in the student being assigned the academic standing of Required to Withdraw from Program (RTWP).  This includes the following examples of unsuccessful registration:
   1. Students who do not achieve the minimum required grade (as defined by the program) in one or both registrations;
   2. Students who earn a grade of “F” in one or both registrations; and
   3. Students who withdraw from the course with a “W” in one or both registrations.

A student who has been RTWP may apply for readmission to the program no sooner than twelve months after receiving notification of the RTWP. The application for readmission must be submitted in accordance with the application deadline for new students as specified by the Academic Schedule published in the Academic Calendar. The applicant must meet the program admission criteria in place at the time of readmission, but the applicant will not be required to meet the competitive average. Readmission is not automatic. Applications for readmission will be considered on an individual basis. 

Program Continuance

A student who remains in Good Standing is eligible to continue in their program of studies.

Note: See the ‘Additional Curriculum Requirements’ section for possible restrictions.

Requirements for Athletic Therapy Practice Experience

The Athletic Therapy, Post-Bachelor’s Certificate program reserves the right, at any point, to remove a student from a practicum placement or setting if the student exhibits unsafe field or clinical practice or behaviour that places clients or others at risk and/or violates the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and Scope of Practice defined in the Health and Physical Education Department Athletic Therapy Student Handbook and Practicum Manual and set by the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association. Such removal will result in the student receiving an F grade and may result in dismissal from the Athletic Therapy, Post-Bachelor’s Certificate program.

Students will be familiar with the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and Scope of Practice as defined by the Health and Physical Education Department Athletic Therapy Student Handbook and Practicum Manual, and set out by the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association.

Students entering field/clinical practicum placements will be required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement requiring them to maintain strict confidentiality regarding any client information or data.

Field and clinical placements will include scheduled hours, including days, evenings, nights and weekends. Placements from across Calgary and potentially from outside the city of Calgary may be used for practical experience, and some sites may be distant from Calgary. Students will require access to a vehicle and technologies that allow frequent and regular communication with the Athletic Therapy, Post-Bachelor’s Certificate program. All travel and accommodation costs associated with practice experiences are the student’s responsibility.

As delineated in each course outline and syllabus, students must demonstrate satisfactory field and clinical practicum performance.

Students with Accommodations

When warranted, and without compromising academic and professional Athletic Therapy practice standards, Mount Royal University will provide reasonable accommodation for students with documented accommodations. Students need to fulfill program requirements to be eligible for graduation.

Student Conduct

The Code of Student Conduct is intended to establish the general obligation to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty and personal conduct according to community standards of respectful and responsible behaviour. Issues of non-compliance will warrant the student being required to withdraw from the program. This would apply to egregious issues such as situations of abuse of professional power or potential breaches of the Criminal Code. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the policies and procedures of Mount Royal University as outlined in the Calendar, Code of Student Conduct, and the Health and Physical Education Department Athletic Therapy Student Handbook and Practicum Manual. Refer to the Handbook for details.

Police Information Check

All students in the Athletic Therapy, Post-Bachelor’s Certificate program are required to have a current Police Information Check and Vulnerable Sector Check prior to commencing ATTH 2050 (Professional Practice), at their own expense. Practicums require the presentation of these checks for participation in  field and clinical practicum. Students may be required to complete more than one Police Information Check during their program. Since completion of course requirements and eventual employment are dependent upon the results of such checks, students who have concerns should discuss the matter with the department chair.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for the Athletic Therapy program must possess a degree in kinesiology, physical education, human kinetics, exercise science or equivalent. Successful applicants must have completed the following courses (either as part of their degree matriculation or subsequent to the degree):

• Human Anatomy
• Human Physiology
• Exercise Physiology
• Biomechanics
• Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries
• Introductory Strength Training
• Introductory Flexibility

Once a student is offered conditional admission, they will be informed of the timing and delivery of the following four courses that must be successfully completed to gain final admission into the program.

• ATTH 2112 - Clinical Musculoskeletal Anatomy  (3 credits)
• ATTH 2050 - Professional Practice in Athletic Therapy  (3 credits)
• First Responder for Athletic Therapy*
• Taping and Prophylactic Support

_{*It should be noted that this is not a traditional First Responder course offered in the community. It is a customized course that bridges the first responder curriculum with the athletic therapy curriculum. It can only be taken through Mount Royal University.}

The last three courses are typically offered in August each year. Students will be required to make the appropriate arrangements to be available and attend these courses in-person when offered.

Admission is competitive, meaning students with a higher conditional admission GPA will be considered first, and preference will be given to applicants with a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.00 on the conditional and final admission average. Conditional admission will be based on the four most recently completed courses by December 31, and final admission will be based on the eight most recently completed courses by June April 30. In addition, applicants are required to present; preference will be given to applicants with a Grade Point Average GPA of 3.00 in Human Anatomy and in Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries.