Master of Athletic Training

The Master of Athletic Training uses a competency-based approach in both the classroom and clinical settings. Using a medical education model, athletic training students gain hands-on experience in various professional settings and across a variety of educational domains to prepare them to serve as allied health care providers for the physically active population. Certified Athletic Trainers have specialized education in: Risk reduction, wellness, and health literacy; assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis; critical incident management; therapeutic interventions; and health administration and professional responsibility. Educational content is based on cognitive (knowledge), psycho-motor (skills), and clinical proficiencies (professional, practice-oriented outcomes).

The Athletic Training Program is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

 Students wishing to pursue the Master of Athletic Training degree may do so as part of the accelerated BS-to-MAT program (3 undergraduate years in an approved curriculum + 2 graduate years), or after the completion of their bachelor’s degree. Students are not required to complete a Norwich University bachelor’s program or participate in an accelerated pathway to be admitted.

Successful completion of the Athletic Training Program enables students to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) exam to practice as a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC).  To successfully complete the program, students must be able to:

• Adhere to all health and safety requirements necessary for clinical education.

• Adhere to the Technical Standards document for the program.

• Comply with HIPAA/FERPA regulations pertaining to patient information.

• Complete the program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0.

• Courses are expected to be completed at a grade average of a B. Up to two courses will be allowed to be completed with a minimum grade of a C+

• Complete a cumulative 1000 clinical hours, as part of clinical education coursework, throughout the course of the program.  An illustrative breakdown of clinical hours across the five clinical care courses is below:

  • Surveys: 25

  • Clinical 1: 125

  • Clinical 2: 250

  • Clinical 3: 250

  • Clinical 4: 350

One clinical course may be retaken during the course of the program AND the course may only be retaken one time.

Didactic courses that need to be retaken may only be retaken one time.

Failure to achieve passing scores in retaken clinical or didactic courses, or failure to adhere to above listed criteria, will result in dismissal from the program.

Goals

• Students will gain a diverse and comprehensive didactic and clinical education in athletic training.

• Students will lead classroom experiences with guidance and mentoring from clinicians, advisors, and faculty.

• Students will translate classroom leadership into transformative clinical experience through patient care and simulated practice.

Careers for this Major

Certified Athletic Trainers re commonly employed in the following settings:

• Colleges & Universities

• Hospital & Clinical Settings

• Occupational Health

• Military

• Performing Arts

• Physician Extender

• Professional Sports

• Public Safety

• Secondary Schools

Providing an official transcript from an accredited institution demonstrating successful completion of a bachelor’s degree OR enrollment in an approved accelerated curriculum.

• Maintain/provide proof of an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75.

• Provide verification of Certification in Emergency Cardiac Care through a course that meets the standards set forth by the Board of Certification.

• Provide completed program application

• Provide documentation of having completed at least 30 observation hours with a Certified Athletic Trainer

• Provide a cover letter

• Provide a résumé

• Provide a reference letter from a Certified Athletic Trainer

• Adhere to the technical standards of the program as described in the student handbook.

Students wishing to pursue the Master of Athletic Training degree may do so either as part of the accelerated BS-to-MAT program in 3+2 years, or two years as a graduate student.

To be considered for admission into the MAT program, the following criteria is required:

Overall GPA 2.75

Students enrolled in an accelerated program applying with less than 2.75 GPA may still be conditionally approved to enroll in 500 level coursework with permission from the Program Director. 

Completion of undergraduate coursework

Students enrolled in an accelerated program may complete up to 6 credits per semester outside of the MAT curriculum. *

Note:  enrolling in 6 credits on top of the 500-level coursework may place students on financial overload.

*All prerequisite/ foundational knowledge courses listed below MUST be complete prior to 500 level work

Prerequisite coursework overall GPA of 2.3

Prerequisite coursework requiring an average 2.3 GPA includes:

• BI 101 Principles of Biology

• BI 215 Human Anatomy and Physiology I

• BI 216 Human Anatomy and Physiology II

• CH 103 General Chemistry I

• PS 201 Physics I

• HHPR 301 Exercise Physiology

• HHPR 365 Kinesiology

• PY 211 Introduction to Psychology

• MA 232 Statistics