Master of Science in Athletic Training (Residential)
Athletic trainers are healthcare professionals who specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries and illnesses, particularly of an orthopedic and musculoskeletal nature. Post-professional athletic training education prepares individuals for advanced clinical practice, and research and scholarship, in order to enhance the quality of patient care, optimize patient outcomes, and improve population health.
Athletic training is a two-year post-professional residential program culminating in a Master of Science degree in Athletic Training (MS in AT). Didactic coursework in advanced areas of study and clinical education, including funded graduate assistantships, occurs concurrently throughout the two years of the program to enhance student application of obtained knowledge and skills. The post-professional master’s degree program in athletic training is designed for state licensed and/or athletic trainers certified by the Board of Certification (BOC), or individuals who have met eligibility requirements to sit for the BOC certification examination prior to matriculation. Courses are designed with an emphasis on academic rigor, clinical practice, and a hands-on research experience. Faculty and staff work closely with students to develop the professional attitudes and clinical problem-solving skills necessary for optimum patient care.
Length of Program
The Master of Science in Athletic Training program can be completed in two years. The curriculum is comprised of 50 semester credit hours.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition is due twice a year at ATSU. It is due at the beginning of the first and second semester. Each payment is half the cost for the entire year. Tuition may be paid any time during the week that it is due. Delinquent tuition penalties accrue at 1.5% per month, which is 18% per year. For more information on Student Account Collection, please reference ATSU Policy #50-112 within the Financial Policies section of this catalog.
| Class/Year |
Tuition |
Student Technology Fee |
| Class of 2022, year 2 |
$21,048 |
$1,150 |
Application ProcessAdmissions
Students interested in the Athletic Training (MS) residential program, may use the online application available at http://www.atsu.edu/ashs/programs/athletic_training/index.htm or call 480.219.6000 to be connected with a specific program for more information.
Written requests for applications should be sent to: Arizona School of Health Sciences, Attention: MS in AT Program, 5850 E. Still Circle, Mesa, AZ 85206.
A completed application, official transcripts, official GRE scores or other approved assessment scores, letters of recommendation, and a nonrefundable application fee must be submitted to complete the application process for all programs.
Application Deadline
Applications for the Master of Science in Athletic Training program are accepted on a rolling admissions basis; applicants are encouraged to apply early, prior to March 1. All subsequent applications are considered until class openings are filled.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for admission to the Master of Science in Athletic Training program must meet the following requirements prior to matriculation.
- Applicants are required to meet all ATSU and ATSU-ASHS general admission requirements.
- Applicants must have achieved a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale.
- Candidates accepted for admission to the MS in AT program will have earned a baccalaureate degree in athletic training prior to enrollment.
- Applicants are required to submit all official college or academic transcripts prior to matriculation.
- Applicants to the AT program must demonstrate Board of Certification (BOC) certification as an athletic trainer or completion of all eligibility requirements to sit for the BOC certification examination.
- Applicants are required to submit official GRE scores. Any scores older than three years prior to matriculation year will not be accepted. GRE scores should be postmarked by the March 1 timeline of the application year. The GRE Code for ATSU-ASHS is 3743 (There is no department or program code.).
- Applicants must secure references from: 1) a present or former faculty member, academic adviser, or employer with some relevance to the student’s career as an athletic trainer, and 2) a healthcare professional. Letters from an educational consulting service will not qualify. Letters of reference must be submitted for each application year.
- Applicants must submit two copies of personal resume. Guidelines are offered in the application instructions.
- Students must obtain and maintain CPR certification. Verification must be submitted to ATSU-ASHS prior to enrollment.
- Applicants who wish to be considered for more than one program must submit a separate application and fee, official GRE scores, transcripts, and references for each health sciences program. Acceptance to ATSU-ASHS is to a specific program and is not transferable to any other program. Application materials are not transferable from one application year to another.
- All students are required to demonstrate proficiency in English when applying to the Arizona School of Health Sciences, A.T Still University. See the ATSU-ASHS English Proficiency section for more details.
- Applicants are expected to be computer literate and experienced in word processing. All curricula require extensive computer usage. Accepted applicants are required to have a laptop computer prior to the first day of class.
- See the Minimum Technology Specifications under the General Admission Requirements section.
Graduation Requirements
To earn a Master’s of Science in Athletic Training degree, all students must:
- Maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.75*
- Complete with a passing grade (“C” or better) all prescribed courses and clinical rotations
- Obtain final thesis approval documenting completion of all thesis requirements
*The U.S. Department of Education requires that all students receiving federal financial assistance must meet and maintain satisfactory academic progress, which is defined as minimum GPA of a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. However, the MS in AT student is advised that the residential Athletic Training program degree completion requirements presented above include a GPA standard that is more rigorous. Failure to maintain the minimum AT Program GPA of 2.75 will constitute a violation of program Standards of Academic Performance.
Curriculum
Upon completion of the ATSU Post-Professional Athletic Training Program, students’ will be able to achieve the following outcomes:
- Demonstrate safe and effective clinical decision-making in athletic training practice in a manner that integrates quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and patient-oriented outcomes.
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge and clinical practice skills in the examination, diagnosis, and management of sport related injuries and illnesses.
- Demonstrate advanced clinical practice, integrating effective communication, knowledge, skills, and clinical reasoning, professionalism, and self-reflection in daily practice.
- Demonstrate foundational knowledge of human anatomy.
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills for designing, conducting, analyzing, and disseminating athletic training research.
Courses