Curriculum & Courses for the Master of Science in Athletic Training

The Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program requires 65.5 credit hours. It can be completed in two years (six semesters), including summers.

Year 1 - Summer (9.5 credit hours)

This course covers the roles and responsibilities of an athletic trainer as well as the history, governance structure, and regulation of the athletic training profession. This course will also cover introductory concepts related to evidence-based practice, basic evaluation skills, and documentation. Instruction and practical application of taping, wrapping, bracing techniques, and protective equipment are also included.
This course is designed to cover in-depth Basic Life Support Skills. Topics addressing prevention, recognition, and management of life-threatening and/or severe injury/illness are included. Application of skills that include the environment, CPR/AED, airway management, immobilization, bleeding control and sudden illness management are also addressed. Students will be certified in Basic Life Support.
This course is an introduction to the structural and anatomical study of the human body for athletic training students focusing on the interrelationships of structure, function and human movement. Special emphasis will be given to those systems with direct and major roles in exercise performance, namely the muscular, skeletal, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. The structure and related function of each of these body systems will be examined in detail, emphasizing the key components related to exercise and training. The major anatomical structure of other body systems (e.g., gastrointestinal) will also be covered. Gross anatomical identification of specific bones, landmarks, origins/insertions/actions, joint structures, nerves, vessels and organs will be the primary focus of this course.

This introductory clinical experience is designed to integrate newly acquired knowledge and skills necessary for high-quality patient-centered. Students are expected to engage in hands-on skills, clinical reasoning, professional verbal and written communication, evidence-based practice, and ethical conduct through practical application. Students will gain clinical experiences under the direct supervision of an athletic training preceptor(s).

Year I - Fall (15 credit hours)

This course consists of an in-depth study of the normal anatomical structures in the lower extremities, including joint structure and musculoskeletal/nervous systems. Also discussed are common risk factors and causes of injuries as identified by contemporary epidemiological studies, common injuries to each body part, typical symptoms, and common clinical signs associated with injuries/illnesses with the physically active. A lab covering the assessment techniques for injuries commonly seen in the lower quarter will be included.
This course is designed to provide the student with the foundational theory and principles related to injury/illness intervention. Included are topics addressing tissue healing, theories of pain and pain control, concepts of kinetic chain stability and mobility, as well as principles related to the use of therapeutic medications.
This course covers the origin, insertion, and action of muscles and muscle groups of the body with attention the methods to evaluate muscle length and joint range of motion and to measure strength using manual muscle or break tests. Basic theoretical principles of movement science including motor control, motor learning, motor development, and general principles of biomechanics for movement analysis will be discussed. Application of these principles to the study of human motion, postural evaluation, gait analysis, and evaluation of muscle function during activities common to sport participation and rehabilitation are also addressed.
This course serves as an introduction to research methodology and qualitative and quantitative data analysis as related to evidence-based practice of athletic training. The course addresses formulating clinical questions, searching, reading, and appraising research, understanding levels of evidence, and citing and referencing works to become consumers of and designers of evidence. The course also introduces students to the selection, application, and interpretation of basic descriptive, correlational, and interferential statistics.
This course is designed to refine psychomotor skills and introduce specific athletic training proficiencies, integrating cognitive concepts and skills into progressively higher-level practical applications. Skill integration will be achieved through the successful completion and evaluation of new and existing skills/clinical proficiencies under the direct supervision of an athletic training preceptor(s).

The practicum will consist of clinical experiences designed to integrate previously acquired knowledge and skills necessary for high-quality patient-centered. Students are expected to demonstrate hands-on skills, clinical reasoning, professional verbal and written communication, evidence-based practice, and ethical conduct through progressively higher-level practical application. Students will gain clinical experiences under the direct supervision of an athletic training preceptor(s).

Year 1 - Winter (14.5 credit hours)

This course consists of an in-depth study of the normal anatomical structures in the upper extremities, head, spine, and pelvis, including joint structure and musculoskeletal/nervous systems. Also discussed are common risk factors and causes of injuries as identified by contemporary epidemiological studies, common injuries to each body part, typical symptoms, and common clinical signs associated with injuries/illnesses with the physically active. A lab covering the assessment techniques commonly seen will be included.
This course focuses on the in-depth study of therapeutic exercises used in athletic training. Instruction will include rehabilitation plan development, implementation, documentation, and evaluation of the efficacy of the rehabilitation program. Specific and current rehabilitation techniques will be introduced to the student for specific athletic injuries.
This course is designed to provide the student with the basic understanding of pathophysiology as a change from normal physiological functioning of the various systems of the human body. The course is based on illness and disease within a systems framework across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on an overview of the etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical features of common illnesses and diseases most often encountered by allied health care professionals. The course will also introduce the student to therapeutic medications commonly prescribed for injury and illnesses associated with the physically active population, both prescription and over-the-counter. Included in the course will be indications, contraindications, precautions, record-keeping procedures, drug classifications, side effects, and governing regulations related to the use of medication with the physically active.
This course is designed to refine psychomotor skills and introduce specific athletic training proficiencies, integrating cognitive concepts and skills into progressively higher-level practical application. Skill integration will be achieved through the successful completion and evaluation of new and existing skills/clinical proficiencies under the direct supervision of an athletic training preceptor(s).

The practicum will consist of clinical experiences designed to integrate previously acquired knowledge and skills necessary for high-quality patient-centered. Students are expected to demonstrate hands-on skills, clinical reasoning, professional verbal and written communication, evidence-based practice, and ethical conduct through progressively higher-level practical application. Students will gain clinical experiences under the direct supervision of an athletic training preceptor(s).

Students will engage in research activities through locating, appraising, critiquing, and synthesizing the best available evidence.

Year 2 - Summer (6.5 credit hours)

The practicum will consist of clinical experiences designed to integrate previously acquired knowledge and skills necessary for high-quality patient-centered. Students are expected to demonstrate hands-on skills, clinical reasoning, professional verbal and written communication, evidence-based practice, and ethical conduct through progressively higher-level practical application. Students will gain clinical experiences under the direct supervision of an athletic training preceptor(s).

Students will engage in research activities through locating, appraising, critiquing, and synthesizing the best available evidence. Students will produce multiple iterations of their written research product in response to peer and faculty feedback.

This course provides students with the basic program design concepts and rationale to design fitness programs for individuals, emphasizing cardiovascular training, strength training, flexibility training, balance, power, and speed/agility. Students will learn how to design exercise programs based on underlying principles of individualized fitness assessment, body composition results, personal health/fitness goals, weight management, and exercise design principles. The course is also designed to provide the students with a basic understanding of nutritional concepts.

Year 2 - Fall (10.5 credit hours)

This course covers the physiological effects, indications, contraindications, and precautions of contemporary therapeutic modality use. Students will design and plan therapeutic interventions. The focus will be on the application of therapeutic modalities according to evidence-based protocols. Included in this course will be the role of equipment safety and maintenance of therapeutic modalities.
This lecture/seminar course will focus on the professional management and administrative issues in athletic training. This course will introduce the student to the advanced theory and techniques associated with the management of the more complex issues associated with athletic training. Organization and administration topics will include management and supervision of personnel, financial resources, as well as the preparation in planning, designing, developing, organizing, implementing, directing, and evaluating an athletic training health care program and facility. Current issues in athletic training related to professional conduct and practice will also be discussed. Legal concerns, risk management and insurance will also be discussed.
This course is designed to explore the process of planning, implementing, and executing quality improvement strategies in athletic training. Students will be exposed to content related to outcome measure assessment and implementation as well as the role of electronic medical record systems in collecting and synthesizing clinical data. Finally, the course will use real world examples, data, situations, and challenges to engage students in the development of clinical outcome and electronic medical record skills.
This course is designed to refine psychomotor skills and introduce specific athletic training proficiencies, integrating cognitive concepts and skills into progressively higher-level practical applications. Skill integration will be achieved through the successful completion and evaluation of new and existing skills/clinical proficiencies under the direct supervision of an athletic training preceptor(s).

The practicum will consist of clinical experiences designed to integrate previously acquired knowledge and skills necessary for high-quality patient-centered. Students are expected to demonstrate hands-on skills, clinical reasoning, professional verbal and written communication, evidence-based practice, and ethical conduct through progressively higher-level practical application. Students will gain clinical experiences under the direct supervision of an athletic training preceptor(s).

Students will engage in research activities through locating, appraising, critiquing, and synthesizing the best available evidence. Students will produce multiple iterations of their written research product in response to peer and faculty feedback.

Year 2 - Winter (9.5 credit hours)

This course is designed to describe communication strategies, techniques, and psychosocial interventions commonly used in athletic training. Included in this course are the recognition and management strategies of mental health conditions, as well as the role or personality in motivation in response to events and return to activity. The focus will be on the application of communication strategies, and development of management and referral strategies. The course will also address cultural competence in patient care and the role of various mental healthcare providers that comprise the mental health referral network.

This course will emphasize advocacy and leadership in the athletic training profession. Students will learn about advocacy initiatives and leadership roles that can be taken within and outside of the profession of athletic training at the local, state, and national levels. Students in the course will apply advocacy concepts through professional experiential exercises. Current issues in athletic training related to ethical conduct and practice will be applied through case studies and course discussion. Students will also create professional development plans according to personal and professional goals and requirements.

This course is a culminating experience in athletic training that will provide the student with a comprehensive review of athletic training foundational and specific knowledge regarding the domains of athletic training. This course will help the student to prepare for athletic training practice.
This course is designed to refine psychomotor skills and introduce specific athletic training proficiencies, integrating cognitive concepts and skills into progressively higher-level practical applications. Skill integration will be achieved through the successful completion and evaluation of new and existing skills/clinical proficiencies under the direct supervision of an athletic training preceptor(s).

The practicum will consist of clinical experiences designed to integrate previously acquired knowledge and skills necessary for high-quality patient-centered. Students are expected to demonstrate hands-on skills, clinical reasoning, professional verbal and written communication, evidence-based practice, and ethical conduct through progressively higher-level practical application. Students will gain clinical experiences under the direct supervision of an athletic training preceptor(s). This is the culminating clinical immersion after which students are expected to possess the clinical and professional skills required to enter practice as an athletic trainer.

Students will engage in research activities through locating, appraising, critiquing, and synthesizing the best available evidence. Students will finalize their written research product and complete oral dissemination.
Back to top ↑