Canisius College

Sports Medicine, Health & Human Performance

Full-Time Faculty: Peter M. Koehneke, Chair;
Khalid W. Bibi, Michael G. Dolan, Dennis W. Koch.

The Department of Sports Medicine, Health and Human Performance offers a bachelor of science degree with a major program for athletic training and a minor in health and human performance. The major program is designed to prepare students to enter the athletic training and allied health fields. Emphasis is placed on the development of cognitive knowledge in addition to psychomotor skills. This includes practicum, laboratory and internship experiences. The program prepares students for the Board of Certification examination. The major is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs that will transform to the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education in 2006. The minor is designed to provide students with preparation for the fields of exercise physiology and wellness. In addition, the department offers a collection of courses to assist students in preparation for certification in strength and conditioning.

The athletic training major may be combined with another major within the college, such as teacher education. The student will be required to complete additional coursework and time at the college. A plan of study must be devised as early as possible with the department chair and the academic advisor in the chosen majors.

Admission
Admission is competitive and is based upon skills and knowledge competencies acquired in BIO 107, BIO 107L, BIO 108, BIO 108L, ATH 170 and ATH 132. A minimum of C+ must be obtained in each of the courses as we’ll as an overall QPA of 2.3. Specific admission criteria for the program may be obtained from the program director. Course transfer credit will be evaluated on an individual basis for the required pre-professional courses BIO 107-108. Transfer credit will not be allowed for ATH170, and ATH 132. There are a limited number of student professional openings each year in the program. Transfer student admission is also competitive with a limited number of openings available. A minimum G.P.A. of 2.3 is required. Students must apply for admission by December 1 of the Fall semester in which they are enrolled. Admission is made at the end of the spring semester each year. A two-year (four-semester) minimum time period must be allowed for the completion of the required 875 clinical hours once the student is admitted. An off-campus clinical practicum experience and an off-campus internship experience are required of all majors. Costs for transportation to these experiences as well as for required clothing is the responsibility of the student. A criminal background check is also required at the expense of the student. Additional health requirements and physical and cognitive technical standards are described on the admission application and in the student handbook.

All athletic training applicants are required to submit written acknowledgment indicating that they have read and understand the technical standards related to the professional duties of the discipline. These documents are available in the program director’s office.  The athletic training education Web site also provides additional information for program applicants.

Professional Standards for Applicants and Students
All applicants and students in the athletic training major must meet and continue to meet the professional standards of the program. No one who jeopardizes the health or well being of an athlete/patient, coworker, or self, will be accepted into the program or continue as a student in the program. All applicants and students must possess the necessary physical attributes and exhibit qualities of good judgment, mental strength and emotional stability.

All applicants to the professional phase of the program are required to submit a written acknowledgment indicating that they have read and understood the technical standards related to the professional duties of the discipline. The program faculty will be responsible for applying the standards for their students and prospective students.

The health care professional’s self-presentation is a vital part of the complex relationship among the athlete/patient, the health care provider and the health care delivery site. The athletic training program reserves the right to limit attire and adornments (such as clothing, jewelry, piercing, tattooing) of the body and its parts (such as hands, face, oral cavity). The program policies document outlines the enforcement of this policy. In all cases, the final appeal may be made to the dean of the School of Education and Human Services.

Athletic Training Curriculum:

Health and Human Performance Minor
The Health and Human Performance minor provides an option for students interested in applied human physiology, clinical exercise physiology, and health and physical fitness careers, as well as for students interested in graduate school.  The minor prepares students for specialty certifications through the American College of Sports Medicine and/or the National Strength and Conditioning Association.  Students interested in health and human performance at Canisius College must consult with the department chair and complete an application in the Sports Medicine, Health and Human Performance Department.  Health and human performance courses have specific pre-requisites, which are stated in the course descriptions.

Admission to the health and human performance minor is competitive due to a limited number of student slots available and is based on skills and knowledge competencies acquired in BIO 107-108, and HHP 235. Each course must be completed with a grade of C+ (2.3) or higher. The applicant must attain minimum B- (2.7) cumulative Q.P.A. in these three courses and an overall College Q.P.A. of B- (2.7) or higher. Majors from other departments are eligible for selection by meeting the above requirements.  Application for the minor must be completed during enrollment in HHP 235. Admission is made following completion of HHP 235 during the summer or fall session. .

Health and Human Performance Minor Courses

COURSES 2005 - 2007:

ATH 132 Practicum in Athletic Training  2
Didactic and psychomotor skill instruction with practical examinations. Examinations are an integral portion of the acceptance criteria for the program. Prerequisites: BIO 107 and ATH 170 with a grade of C+ or better and an overall Q.P.A. of 2.3

ATH 170 Emergency Care and Introduction to Athletic Training  3
Recognition and immediate care of common illnesses and injuries. Content meets National Safety Council requirements for Standard First Aid and CPR.

ATH 209 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Athletic Trainers  3
Discussion of the physiologic changes that occur following orthopedic injuries. Discussion of indications, contraindications and legal issues regarding medications used in the management of athletic injuries. Registration concurrent with ATH 231 or ATH 331.

ATH 231-232 Practicum in Athletic Training 1-1
Clinical experiences in athletic training. Instruction provided by professionals from various academic institutions, e.g., secondary schools and colleges. Experiences and course material provide acquisition of clinical competency of previously instructed psychomotor skills. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Athletic Training Program.

ATH 261 Athletic Injuries/Illnesses I  3
Theoretical, practical, empirical study of lower extremity and lumbar spine assessment. Includes lab. Prerequisites: ATH 170, BIO 107, Registration concurrent with ATH 231.

ATH 262 Athletic Injuries/Illnesses II  4
Theoretical, practical, empirical study of upper extremity, head and cervical spine assessment. Includes lab. Prerequisites: ATH 261, ATH 231.

ATH 331-332 Practicum in Athletic Training  1-1
See ATH 231-232 for description.

ATH 342 Therapeutic Modalities  3
Therapeutic modality use in treatment of athletic injuries. Physics, physiological effects, rationale, and application of modalities in health care of athletes. Practical examinations. Includes lab. Prerequisites: BIO 107-108, Registration concurrent with ATH 231.

ATH 343 Therapeutic Exercise 3
Contemporary exercise techniques and equipment in health care of athletes. Biomechanics, physiological effects, rationale and application of exercise techniques and devices. Practical examination. Includes lab. Prerequisite: HHP 235, Registration concurrent with ATH 232 or ATH 332.

ATH 361 Sports Psychology  3
Review of psychological and sociological processes, principles and problems influencing behavior in sport.

ATH 372 Health Issues for Athletic Trainers  3
Current theories, principles, and practices related to personal, school and community health.

ATH 373 Nutritional Issues for Athletic Trainers  3
Fundamental theories and practices of nutrition, diet construction and research findings applicable to athletic performance.

ATH 382 Principles of Strengths and Conditioning  3
Advanced comprehensive study of exercise technique and prescription. Theory and proper techniques of resistance training, emphasizing methods of anaerobic exercise, non-traditional strength training and program design as it relates to specific conditioning programs. Lab included. (Elective)

ATH 398 Seminar in Health and Sport Medicine  3
Development and presentation of educational programming to high school students via the Center for Health and Sports Medicine at Canisius College. Instructional topics will include public speaking, digital technology, research and design and travel to educational sites. Prerequisite: ATH 232 or permission of instructor (Elective)

ATH 431 Practicum in Athletic Training  3
See ATH 231-232 for description.

ATH 482 Administration of Athletic Training  3
Theoretical, practical, and empirical study of administrative requirements of the athletic trainer relative to facility design, duties, liability, drug testing, nomenclature and injury epidemiology. Prerequisites: ATH 262, ATH 331.

ATH 498 Internship in Athletic Training  3
Field-based experience in athletic training or related health care field. Requires 120 clock hours over twelve weeks. Prerequisites: ATH 342, ATH 343, Permission of instructor; application.

HHP 235 Kinesiology 3
Scientific study of human movement, emphasizing the basic principles of musculoskeletal anatomy, neuromuscular physiology and biomechanics. Prerequisite: BIO 107 with a minimum grade of C.

HHP 336 Physiology of Exercise  3
Effects of physical activity upon the functioning human body. Restrictions upon levels of physical activity by normal metabolic limitations. Lab required (HHP 336L) for Athletic Training Majors. Prerequisite: BIO 108 with a minimum grade of C.

HHP 336L Physiology of Exercise Lab  1
Laboratory experiences in physiology of exercise culminating in laboratory write-ups. Lab required (HHP 336L) for Athletic Training Majors. Prerequisite: Concurrent registration in HHP 336.

HHP 337 Research in Physiology of Exercise  3
For HHP Minors. This course may be substituted for HHP 336L.  Laboratory experiences in physiology of exercise culminating in a scientifically based research report. Prerequisite: Concurrent registration in HHP 336. Permission of instructor.

HHP 494 Health and Human Performance Seminar  3
Discussion of pertinent topics in exercise science. Prerequisites: B- or above in HHP 235 and HHP 336.

HHP 498 Internship in Human Performance  3
Field-based experience in selected areas of exercise science. Requires 120 clock hours over twelve weeks. Prerequisite: Permission of department chair and instructor.

HHP 520 Exercise Testing & Prescription  3
Instruction in the guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. Didactic instruction and practical training will be used to educate students in the various methodologies used to assess adult health and fitness. Practical experiences include the assessment of cardiovascular risk, coronary artery disease risk stratification, body composition assessment, functional capacity assessment and muscular fitness assessment.

1 Area II is automatically fulfilled because this program is in the Social Sciences. Area I is fulfilled by the required natural science courses in  this program.

2 Chemistry course may be substituted with approval.

3 Physics course may be substituted with approval.

4 Psychology course may be substituted with approval.