Academic Experience

The primary academic mission of the Graduate Athletic Training specialization is to educate and develop clinical scholars to be leaders in the field of athletic training. We recruit graduate students who are Board of Certification Certified Athletic Trainers, or, at minimum, those who have completed requirements for certification, and provide them with an opportunity to gain advanced knowledge and experience in their chosen area of expertise through a combination of didactic lecture in the classroom, supervised practical application of this knowledge in a clinical setting, and a strong research experience oriented toward some aspect of clinical practice. Our primary academic objectives are to provide advanced experiences that improve clinical skills related to evidence-based clinical practice and to develop the academic skills needed to evolve clinical practice and advance the profession of athletic training.

A science/practice model provides the ideal graduate preparation. Practical clinical experience is included in each student’s program alongside innovative didactic instruction to reinforce the relationship between theory and practice. This clinical and didactic experience set includes cutting edge coursework & immersive clinical experiences with emphasis on neurotrauma/concussion, return to sports, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, & manual therapies as well as collaborative & caring mentors, preceptors, supervisors, and faculty.

Additionally, the research experience culminates in a formal thesis which encompasses 6 credit hours.  The program requires 2 full-time academic years for completion of the degree.

All graduating students earn a Master of Arts in Exercise and Sport Science with a Specialization in Athletic Training. For the athletic training students, the Master of Arts requires the completion of 32 credit hours inclusive of 26 hours of formal class work, a 6 hours of research thesis and approximately 1200 hours of supervised clinical experience.  Additional information concerning degrees may be found in the University catalogue.