The DCU Programme

The BSc in Athletic Therapy and Training in Dublin City University is a four-year undergraduate degree. It is accredited by Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland, which is the national governing body for Athletic Therapists in Ireland.  Commencing in 2005 with the first group of Athletic therapy and training students in DCU, the program and staff have expanded and developed in line with the evolving requirements of modern healthcare and musculoskeletal medicine.

 

An Athletic Therapist specialises in the management of musculoskeletal injury in sporting and non- sporting groups.  Their speciality includes the prevention, assessment, intervention and management of musculoskeletal injuries.  Graduates of this programme will have a diverse range of skills and competencies to develop creative, innovative and effective solutions to both evolving and predictive health care needs. The Athletic Therapy and Training programme equips students with the medical knowledge, clinical abilities, problem-solving skills, confidence, and practical experience needed to become a Certified Athletic Therapist.

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Students in DCU are encouraged to develop high levels of theoretical knowledge but also to appreciate the necessity of strong interpersonal skills, empathy and respect for others. DCU is dedicated to ensuring that all graduates provide the highest quality of healthcare to all patients and athletes.  This is achieved by reinforcing the emphasis on evidence-based practice, the implementation of immersive practical training, including five clinical placement modules and a teaching faculty with diverse clinical experience in assessment and rehabilitation.

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The B.Sc. Athletic Therapy and Training programme at Dublin City University aims to facilitate undergraduate students to become competent, autonomous professionals, enabling them to become life-long learners within the Athletic Therapy profession.  DCU proudly presents this course that equips graduates with the skills to pursue a career in looking after the health of both athletes and the general public.  

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Year one begins with anatomy and the basic sciences, giving students an understanding of the anatomy of the body and the pathophysiology of injury. The theory and practice that underpin physical conditioning to prevent and rehabilitate injury, and enhance health and performance is also studied.

 

In Year two, students learn how to assess, treat and rehabilitate injuries and further develop the theory and practice of training. They also undertake First Aid and Emergency Care to prepare them to provide pitch-side assistance in various sports. This accredited programme allows students to become Certified Cardiac First responders and Certified Emergency First Responders by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council of Ireland (PHECC). In addition, students begin to complete clinical modules that continue each semester for the remainder of the course. These modules provide clinical field experience, as well as involvement in the student-led injury clinic based within the school that is supervised by Certified Athletic Therapists.

 

Year Three expands their knowledge and learning of in-depth principles of rehabilitation, therapeutic modalities and soft tissue therapies.

 

In the first half of Year Four, students complete their capstone clinical placement module by undertaking three to five months of experience working full-time in a clinical setting in Ireland or abroad (including athletic therapy and training facilities in American universities). The latter half of the fourth year includes a major research project and advanced rehabilitation and independent practice.  The immersive clinical experience gained in Year Four gives you a genuine competitive edge with employers when you graduate.