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Mission: To provide personalized education that will produce highly qualified professionals equipped to become leaders in their fields capable of impacting their world for Christ.
Why Major in Kinesiology at VU?
- Outstanding Teaching Faculty
- Small Faculty to Student Ratio
- Multiple "Hand's On" Laboratory Experiences
- Christian integration of Faith and Learning
The Kinesiology Department at VU offers two majors and three concentrations in a variety of allied health and sports science fields. The CAAHEP accredited Athletic Training major will allow the student to gain and master the academic competencies and skill proficiencies necessary for the student to be confident as entry-level athletic trainers after passing the National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification exam. The Kinesiology major offers three different concentrations including Pre-physical therapy, Teaching/Coaching, and Sports Science.
Program Goals
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Equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences for successful entry into their professional field.
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Provide students with a systematic progression of skills built on a solid academic foundation.
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Develop professionals who will impact their world for Christ.
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Develop students who will represent the field of kinesiology well through their professionalism and adherence to their professional organization's Code of Ethics.
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Provide students with the necessary skills to become leaders in their profession.
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Provide learning experiences in a variety of settings including classroom, interactive labs, internship and clinical field experiences.
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Provide a personalized learning environment through mentor programs, small faculty to student ratios,l small clinical instructor to student ratios, and accessible full-time and resident adjunct faculty.
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Provide an annual multi-tiered evaluation for the purpose of continuous program improvement.
Why Major in Athletic Training at VU?
The Athletic Trainer is the professional most directly involved with the health care of the athlete/active individual. The range of care includes preventing injuries from occurring, providing first aid and emergency treatment of injuries, evaluating injuries, and providing rehabilitation so that the athlete can safely return to competition.
The education of the athletic trainer has undergone significant changes in recent history. In the past there was no standardization of academic content areas or clinical skills. Students only needed to pass a national certification exam to become a Certified Athletic Trainer.
As of January 2004, only students graduating from colleges/universities with accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs will be able to sit for the National Athletic Trainer's Association Board of Certification Exam. This has huge implications for students now entering athletic training education programs.
The Athletic Training Education Program at VU was granted accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in July, 2001. The educational requirements include both academic competencies and clinical proficiencies. Specific cognitive, affective, and psychomotor competencies have been developed for each of twelve subject domains. Along with the competencies, students are also required to master specific clinical skill proficiencies.
Along with academic requirements, the program also includes substantial clinical experience. The clinical experience is composed of two elements: clinical education and field experience. The clinical experience provides the student with an opportunity to practice and master the clinical skill proficiencies. The field experience provides the student an opportunity to apply the mastered proficiency skills in a clinical setting. The student's clinical settings may include high school, community college, rehabilitation clinics, general medicine, and an orthopedic surgeon's medical office.
The student will work directly under the supervision of one of the Vanguard University Certified Athletic Trainers throughout his/her clinical experience. When the athletic training student is assigned to an off-campus affiliate site during his/her junior year, the student will then be under the direct supervision of the Head Athletic Trainer at the assigned college/high school. During the student's junior and/or senior year, the athletic training student will have opportunities to travel with a Vanguard University Intercollegiate Team. If the athletic training student is not accompanied by a Vanguard University Certified Athletic Trainer, the athletic training student will be limited in the scope of what they will be able to do and will then be functioning as a First Aid Responder.
ATEP Mission Statement
The Athletic Training Education Program exists to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be both competent and confident in all aspects of the care and management of the injured athlete. Throughout the education and clinical experiences, an emphasis is placed on the student's development of an attitude of Christ-like servanthood.
Technical Standards for Athletic Training Education Program
The Athletic Training Education Program at Vanguard University is a rigorous and intense program that places specific requirements and demands on the students enrolled in the program. The technical standards set forth by the Athletic Training Educational Program 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 (CAAHEP). The following abilities and expectations must be met by all students admitted to the Athletic Training Educational Program. In the event a student is unable to fulfill these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, the student will not be admitted in the program.
Candidates for selection to the Athletic Training Education Program must demonstrate:
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the mental capacity to assimilate, analyze, synthesize, integrate concepts and problem solve to formulate assessment and therapeutic judgments and to be able to distinguish deviations from the norm;
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sufficient postural and neuromuscular control, sensory function, and coordination to perform appropriate physical examinations using accepted techniques; and accurately, safely and efficiently use equipment and materials during the assessment and treatment of patients;
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ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and colleagues, including individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds; this includes, but is not limited to the ability to establish rapport with patients and communicate judgments and treatment information effectively. Students must be able to understand and speak the English language at a level consistent with competent professional practice;
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the ability to record the physical examination results and a treatment plan clearly and accurately;
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the capacity to maintain composure and continue to function well during periods of high stress;
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the perseverance, diligence and commitment to complete the athletic training education program as outlined and sequenced;
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flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in clinical situations;
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affective skills and appropriate demeanor and rapport that relate to professional education and quality patient care.
Candidates for selection to the Athletic Training Educational Program 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.
Facilities
VU provides its students with the opportunity for hands-on experience in fully equipped labs starting as early as the freshman year. This is unique to a small school setting and an advantage for the student seeking a profession in the sports science field where experience is a key factor in future employment.
The exercise physiology laboratory has the equipment necessary to measure cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance, flexibility, body fat, and strength. The lab is also equipped with an EKG machine and treadmill.
The athletic training room provides the student with the equipment to learn preventative and post-injury athletic taping, emergency care of acute injuries, a wide variety of modalities used for rehabilitative purposes, and a wide spectrum of conditioning techniques.
Internships
VU offers the advantage of being located in Orange County, an area with abundant opportunities in the fitness industry. The Kinesiology curriculum will provide the student with the opportunity to intern in an area specific to the student's career during his/her junior or senior year.
Faculty
Kinesiology Major
Athletic Training Major
Admissions