Athletic Training, DAT

Doctor of Athletic Training Program

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ASHS School Information & Policies   Length of Program Tuition Admissions

Graduation Requirements Curriculum Courses: Descriptions and Credit Values

The Doctor of Athletic Training (DAT) program is post-professional distance learning program with a one-week on-campus Winter Institute culminating in a Doctor of Athletic Training degree. Didactic coursework in advanced areas of study can be planned to allow students to complete the program in three or four years. The DAT program is designed for state licensed and/or athletic trainers certified by the Board of Certification (BOC), or individuals who have met eligibility requirements to sit for the BOC certification examination prior to matriculation. Courses are designed with an emphasis on academic rigor, advancement of clinical practice, and an applied research experience. Faculty and staff work closely with students to develop the professional attitudes and clinical problem-solving skills necessary for optimum patient care.

Length of Program

The DAT program is a 36 month program comprised of 69 credits. Students can actually graduate from the 36-month program as much as 16 months earlier pending approval of transfer of credits.

Tuition

Distance programs’ tuition is due the first day of class. For programs with payment per credit or course, the tuition covers the payment for the coming semester. Delinquent tuition penalties accrue at 1.5 percent per month, which is 18% per year. Tuition is $534.00 per credit hour.

Admissions

Application Deadline

Applications for the DAT program may be submitted at any time during the academic year to Online Admissions. The program has four intakes per year, July, September, January and March. All application materials must be submitted no later than 2 months prior to the start of a course block.

Admission Requirements

The DAT program will admit athletic training professionals with diverse professional and personal experiences who have demonstrated capacity to pursue a rigorous course of graduate study. Prospective students will be selected by considering the overall qualities of the applicant through application content, academic record, and prior experience.

Proposed admission requirements include:

1. Candidates accepted for admission to the DAT program will have earned a masters or higher degree prior to enrollment from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must provide official transcripts from all educational institutions attended where a degree was conferred.
2. Applicants to the Athletic Training Program must demonstrate Board of Certification (BOC) certification as an athletic trainer or substantial equivalence, such as credentialing from the Canadian Athletic Therapist Association, Athletic Rehabilitation Therapists of Ireland, Society of Sports Therapists, British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers.
3. Students must demonstrate proof of state licensure (if required in your current state or country of residence). A copy of a current state license is required.
4. Candidates must have achieved a minimum overall graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
5. Official recommendation forms must by completed by: 1) academic advisor, professor, employer, family friend or minister, and 2) a health care professional. A formal letter of recommendation must accompany each form. Letters from an educational consulting service will not qualify. Letters of reference must be submitted for each application year.
6. Candidates are expected to be computer literate and experienced in word processing. All curricula require extensive computer usage. Accepted applicants are required to have a personal computer prior to matriculation and have access to a high-speed Internet connection.
7. Candidates must submit an application form.
8. All students are required to demonstrate proficiency in English when applying to the Arizona School of Health Sciences, A.T Still University. See the ASHS English Proficiency section  for more details.

Advanced Standing Admission

Students who have completed coursework within ATSU’s Master of Science in Athletic Training or the Certificate in Clinical Decision Making in Athletic Training may be eligible for advanced standing. Students from external programs may request the faculty to review completed courses for advanced standing as per the AT Program transfer credit policy. Please contact Admissions for more information on eligible transfer credit for advanced standing.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a Doctor of Athletic Training degree, all students must:

1. Complete all prescribed and elected courses within seven years of commencing the program
2. Maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0
3. Complete with a passing grade (“C” or better) all prescribed courses and clinical rotations
4. Obtain final applied research project approval documenting completion of all applied research project requirements
5. Discharge all financial obligations to ATSU-ASHS

Curriculum

Doctor of Athletic Training Program Core Outcomes

Upon completion of the Doctor of Athletic Training Program, students’ will be able to achieve the following outcomes:

1. Demonstrate advanced clinical decision-making to determine the effectiveness of athletic training practice.
2. Demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in orthopaedic rehabilitation
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of professional leadership, and evaluate and influence health policy and delivery systems, especially in the provision of athletic healthcare services.
4. Produce an applied research project that addresses a significant clinically oriented issue relevant to athletic training practice.

Clinical Decision-Making Foundation/Certificate Program Outcome

Demonstrate advanced clinical decision-making to determine the effectiveness of athletic training practice.

Objectives:

1. Implement quality improvement strategies to identify and address quality gaps for the purpose of improving patient outcomes, system performance, and professional development.
2. Demonstrate advanced clinical decision-making in athletic training practice in a manner that integrates clinical experience, patient values, and the best available evidence.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of clinical outcomes assessments and the value of these outcomes to informing patient care and advancing the athletic training profession.
4. Utilize information and technology to improve the quality of patient care, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support clinical decision-making in athletic training practice.

Winter Institute Outcome

Demonstrate advanced knowledge and awareness of athletic health care innovation to advance leadership, higher education, patient care, and research.

Objectives:

1. Discuss and apply the theory of disruptive innovation in the contexts of athletic health care and higher education.
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the athletic training profession with regards to higher education, patient care, and research.
3. Propose innovative solutions to advance the profession of athletic training.

Applied Research Foundation Outcome

Produce an applied research project that addresses a significant clinically oriented issue relevant to athletic training practice.

Objectives:

1. Identify appropriate research questions from clinical experience and the literature.
2. Demonstrate the ability to perform the necessary steps to conduct a research study or quality improvement initiative.
3. Formulate appropriate research questions from clinical experience and the literature and/or appropriately apply the model for improvement to conduct a quality improvement project.  
4. Discuss value of qualitative and/or epidemiological research within athletic training.
5. Discuss the importance of and process to conduct practice-based research.
6. Produce appropriate materials to disseminate research information (e.g. abstract, poster, platform presentation, manuscript).

Rehabilitation Track/Certificate Program Outcome

Demonstrate advanced practice athletic training knowledge and skills in the specialty area of rehabilitation.

Objectives:

1. Integrate the basic science of connective tissue healing (anatomy, physiology, morphology, histology, and biomechanics) into the management of musculoskeletal injuries.
2. Demonstrate advanced practice knowledge and skills in the assessment and diagnosis of movement dysfunction.
3. Develop advanced practice knowledge and skills in rehabilitation of movement dysfunction through corrective exercise.
4. Demonstrate advanced practice knowledge of transitioning from rehabilitation to sport performance.

Orthopaedics Track/Certificate Program Outcome 

Demonstrate advanced practice athletic training knowledge and skills in the specialty area of orthopaedics.

Objectives:

1. Demonstrate advanced practice knowledge and skills in the diagnoses of orthopaedic conditions.
2. Demonstrate advanced practice knowledge and skills in the management of orthopaedic conditions
3. Demonstrate advanced practice knowledge and skills in the application and interpretation of common imaging and laboratory techniques used in the examination of orthopaedic patients.
4. Demonstrate advanced practice knowledge of common orthopaedic surgical procedures with special emphasis on subsequent rehabilitation considerations.

Leadership and Education Track/Certificate Program Outcome

Debate and apply contemporary knowledge and skills in athletic training leadership and education.  

Objectives:

1. Examine the role and influence of athletic trainers on health policy and healthcare delivery systems.
2. Critically examine and apply the characteristics of leadership in athletic training within the context of becoming an advanced practice leader.
3. Analyze and debate contemporary issues in athletic training education.
4. Examine and apply best practices in clinical education and mentoring of athletic training students, young professionals, residents and fellows.

Sports Neurology and Concussion Track/Certificate Program Outcome

Demonstrate advanced practice athletic training knowledge and skills in the sub-specialty area of sports neurology and concussion.

Objectives:

1. Integrate the basic science of neurologic injury and tissue healing into the management of neurologic injuries.
2. Demonstrate advanced knowledge in the recognition, assessment, management and referral of patients with sport-related neurologic conditions.
3. Debate current issues related to the recognition, assessment, and management of activity-related traumatic brain injuries.
4. Analyze current concepts regarding the assessment, management, and referral of patients with comorbid disorders who suffer activity-related traumatic brain injury.

Courses