Academic Catalog 2026-2027

ATR - Athletic Training

ATR 5000  Seminar in Athletic Training  (1 Unit)  
This course is designed to introduce the athletic training student to the athletic training program and the resources available during their 1st and 2nd year experience. During this course students will be exposed to the resources in the PLNU library as well as professional development tools (Myers Briggs/Strengths Quest.) Selected topics pertinent to the field of athletic training and applicable to all levels of the athletic training major are presented. Course includes student presentations, guest speakers, faculty speakers, and topics that are not covered in other courses in the curriculum.
Letter grade.  
Also offered as ATR 6000.  
Fee: Course fee applies. See "Special Fees" in Financing a PLNU Education.  
ATR 5005  Research Methods and Statistical Techniques for Clinical Decision Making in Sports Medicine  (3 Units)  
This course will explore the variety in research design and statistics commonly used in clinical research, further developing student analytical skills needed to support professional evidence-based practice in athletic training. Students will evaluate the merit and relevance of published research to the practice of athletic training from the perspective of experimental methodology and design. This course also provides an overview of statistics including descriptive and inferential statistics and one-way ANOVA. Students should have a basic understanding of conducting library and Internet information searches prior to taking this course. Students will select a topic of interest related to athletic training, conduct a review of the literature, define a research question, and prepare and present a report to their peers. Students will complete Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI training).
Letter grade.  
Also offered as ATR 6005.  
ATR 5012  Therapeutic Interventions for the Lower Extremity  (2 Units)  
This course will provide graduate level athletic training students with the knowledge and skills required to appropriately and effectively use therapeutic exercise and manual therapy techniques to promote healing, return to optimal function, and enable peak performance in the lower extremity. Students will explore the theory and practice behind multiple therapeutic techniques to restore human function. Students will have the opportunity to integrate functional rehabilitation strategies, joint mobilization techniques, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, motor control training, and applied biomechanics to create specific rehabilitation protocols for common lower extremity orthopedic pathologies. Students will synthesize evaluation findings and apply them directly to rehabilitation program development. To be successful in this course, students must synthesize information presented in lecture and laboratory and apply it to the clinical setting.
Letter grade.  
Also offered as ATR 6012.  
Corequisite(s): ATR 5012L  
ATR 5012L  Therapeutic Interventions for the Lower Extremity Lab  (1 Unit)  
This course is designed to allow students to apply and integrate their didactic knowledge during a laboratory setting. Students will learn to apply all therapeutic interventions learned in class to patients in clinical settings, with emphasis on lower extremity joint mobilizations, movement retraining, and return-to-play progressions.
Letter grade.  
Also offered as ATR 6012L.  
Corequisite(s): ATR 5012  
ATR 5013  Therapeutic Interventions for the Upper Extremity  (2 Units)  
This course will provide graduate level athletic training students with the knowledge and skills required to appropriately and effectively use therapeutic exercise and manual therapy techniques to promote healing, return to optimal function, and enable peak performance in the upper extremity and cervicothoracic regions. Students will explore the theory and practice behind multiple therapeutic techniques to restore human function. Students will have the opportunity to integrate functional rehabilitation strategies, joint mobilization techniques, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, motor control training, scapular stabilization, and applied biomechanics to create specific rehabilitation protocols for common upper extremity orthopedic pathologies. Students will synthesize evaluation findings and apply them directly to rehabilitation program development. To be successful in this course, students must synthesize information presented in lecture and laboratory and apply it to the clinical setting.
Letter grade.  
Also offered as ATR 6013.  
Corequisite(s): ATR 5013L  
ATR 5013L  Therapeutic Interventions for the Upper Extremity Lab  (1 Unit)  
This course is designed to allow students to apply and integrate their didactic knowledge during a laboratory setting. Students will learn to apply all therapeutic interventions learned in class to patients in clinical settings, with emphasis on upper extremity joint mobilizations, scapular control, movement retraining, and return-to-play progressions.
Letter grade.  
Also offered as ATR 6013L.  
Corequisite(s): ATR 5013  
ATR 5015  Therapeutic Agents  (2 Units)  
This course is designed to introduce students to the contemporary usage and basic foundation of therapeutic modalities, transmission of energy, infrared, and mechanical therapy. Through lecture, discussion, and laboratory experience, an evidence based approach of musculoskeletal rehabilitation involving therapeutic modalities will be examined.
Letter grade.  
Also offered as ATR 6015.  
Corequisite(s): ATR 5015L  
ATR 5015L  Therapeutic Agents Lab  (1 Unit)  
This course is designed to allow students to apply and integrate their didactic knowledge during a laboratory setting. Students will learn to apply all of the therapeutic agents learned in class to patients in clinical settings.
Letter grade.  
Also offered as ATR 6015L.  
Corequisite(s): ATR 5015  
ATR 5087  Evidence-Based Orthopedic Assessment of the Lower Extremity  (3 Units)  
This course addresses evaluation techniques and care for musculoskeletal injuries to the lower extremities for graduate-level athletic training students. The student must integrate knowledge of anatomical structures, physiology principles, and evaluative techniques to provide a basis for evidence based critical decision-making in an injury management environment.
Letter grade.  
Also offered as ATR 6087.  
Concurrent: ATR 5087L  
ATR 5087L  Evidence-Based Orthopedic Assessment of the Lower Extremity Lab  (1 Unit)  
This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive hands on approach to injury evaluation and assessment of lower extremity pathologies. During this lab students will learn and begin to develop a systematic approach to injury evaluation. Students will learn special testing and injury evaluation techniques.
Letter grade.  
Also offered as ATR 6087L.  
Concurrent: ATR 5087  
ATR 5088  Evidence-Based Orthopedic Assessment of the Spine and Upper Extremities  (3 Units)  
This course addresses evaluation techniques and care for musculoskeletal injuries to the upper extremities and spine for graduate-level athletic training students. The student must integrate knowledge of anatomical structures, physiology principles, and evaluative techniques to provide a basis for decision-making using the current evidence in an injury management environment.
Letter grade.  
Also offered as ATR 6088.  
Concurrent: ATR 5088L  
ATR 5088L  Evidence-Based Orthopedic Assessment of the Spine and Upper Extremities Lab  (1 Unit)  
This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive hands on approach to injury evaluation and assessment of upper extremity and spinal pathologies. During this lab students will learn and begin to develop a systematic approach to injury evaluation. Students will learn special testing and injury evaluation techniques.
Letter grade.  
Also offered as ATR 6088L.  
Concurrent: ATR 5088  
ATR 5090  Clinical Internship I  (3 Units)  
This course is the first of five required athletic training clinical education courses. Athletic training students will be evaluated on clinical integration proficiency of knowledge, skills, and abilities including: general health and fitness assessment; environmental conditions assessment; recognition of emergencies and acute injury care; and professional communication and documentation strategies. Additionally, students will be expected to build upon their acquired knowledge to actively engage in facilitated integration of skills and abilities covered in the curriculum. Students will be assigned to clinical education experiences under the direct supervision of a preceptor. Students will explore evidence-based practice and reflect upon their clinical experiences to facilitate critical thinking and clinical decision making skills development. Students must complete a minimum of 200 and a maximum of 500 clinical hours.
Letter grade.  
Also offered as ATR 6090.  
"C" Designation is for California Internships. "E" Designation is for Out of State Internships.  
ATR 5091  Clinical Internship II  (3 Units)  
This course is the second of five required athletic training clinical education courses. Athletic training students will be evaluated on clinical integration proficiency of knowledge, skills, and abilities including: taping, wrapping, bracing, protective equipment fitting; clinical assessment, diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of the lower extremity and spine; and professional communication and documentation strategies. Additionally, students will be expected to build upon their acquired knowledge to actively engage in facilitated integration of skills and abilities covered in the curriculum. Students will be assigned to clinical education experiences under the direct supervision of a preceptor. Students will explore evidence-based practice and reflect upon their clinical experiences to facilitate critical thinking and clinical decision making skills development.
Letter grade.  
Also offered as ATR 6091.  
"C" Designation is for California Internships. "E" Designation is for Out of State Internships.