Athletic Training, MAT (ATHTRN-MAAT)

Program Description

The Masters of Athletic Training program will provide the opportunity for students to gain didactic and clinical knowledge and develop skills, experiences, and positive attitudes working with patients who are injured or ill. According to the NATA, “Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.” (https://www.atyourownrisk.org/about-ats/ accessed September 7, 2020).  ATs work not only in secondary schools, colleges/universities and professional athletics, but in physician practice, in sports medicine and/or wellness clinics, in a variety of occupational settings (industry, manufacturing, public service) and within the military. 

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements for Students with a Bachelor’s Degree

Regular graduate status requires an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.70 (based on a 4.00 system) or an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.50, but with a 3.00, or better for the last 90 quarter hours or 60 semester hours earned toward the undergraduate degree; or an overall graduate grade point average of 3.00 if the applicant has previously completed 12 quarter or 9 semester credit hours at the graduate level (See policy 5010.1 Regular Degree Status). Admission into this status also requires approval by the program coordinator.

• Additional admission requirements:
  • Bachelors degree from an accredited college/university, including all pre-requisite coursework
  • Clean Ohio BCI & I/FBI background check
  • Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
  • Current immunization record
• Students who do not meet the required GPA and/or pre-requisite course completion requirements may be admitted as conditional following university guidelines as specified (see policy 5010.2 Conditional Degree Status)
• Once established, the MAT program intends to utilize the Athletic Training Centralized Application System (ATCAS).

3+2 Accelerated Admission/Matriculation Option

First year students who declare the Health Sciences major with a concentration in Pre-Athletic Training have the option of applying for the accelerated pathway 5-Year Master in Athletic Training program.

In order to remain in good standing within the 5-Year MAT program, students must meet the following requirements.

• Completion of Wright State University’s Core and Health Sciences BS degree requirements.
• Completion of a minimum of 101 credits.
• Overall 2.70 GPA.
• A minimum grade of “C” in each prerequisite course.
  • Strength & Conditioning (ATR 3020) or Therapeutic Exercise (ATR 3030)
  • Personal Health (HED 1230)
  • Kinesiology (KNH 2530)
  • Exercise Physiology (KNH 2550)
  • Nutrition (KNH 2620)
  • Anatomy and Physiology (ANT 2100/2120 or 3100/3120)
  • General Biology I + Lab (BIO 1120)
  • General Chemistry I + Lab + Recitation (CHM 1210/L/R)
  • General Physics I + Lab + Recitation (PHY 1110/L/R)
  • Introduction to Psychology + Lab (PSY 1010/L)
  • Abnormal Psychology (PSY 3110)
  • Statistics (STT 1600 or 2640)

By the end of the Fall Semester in their third-year students should meet with their academic advisor to decide whether or not they want to apply to the MAT program, or withdraw from the accelerated program and finish the requirements towards the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree.

Students who wish to pursue the 3+2 MAT program may apply through the Graduate School portal by March 1^st in the Spring semester of the third year. In addition to the completion of the requirements above, students will be required to submit the following: 

• Statement of purpose for pursuing the Masters degree in Athletic Training
• Two letters of recommendation; suggested sources:
  • Former/current educator who can attest your academic ability
  • Former/current employer or supervisor who can attest to your personal characteristics/abilities

Program Learning Objectives

Student enrolled in this program will learn to:

• demonstrate understanding of and competency in the domains of athletic training as currently defined by the Board of Certification (BOC) Practice Analysis and the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) Curriculum Content

• demonstrate the ethical behavior and personal/professional responsibility expected of a healthcare practitioner

• utilize problem solving and clinical reasoning skills to guide clinical practice. 

• interpret evidence-based research to answer clinical questions and to determine best practices 

• recognize mental health concerns in their patient population and provide appropriate referral

• effectively communicate with patients, family members, other medical professionals, and administrative personnel as part of an inter-professional healthcare team 

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can: 

• Demonstrate understanding of and competency in the domains of athletic training as currently defined by the Board of Certification (BOC) Practice Analysis and the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) Curriculum Content.
  1. Program will collect student achievement measures annually to include program graduation rate, program retention rate, graduation placement rate, and first-time BOC pass rate.
  2. Program will meet or exceed a 3-year aggregate of 70% first-time pass rate on the BOC examination.
  3. 100% of AT students will indicate that they were “prepared” in the Core Competencies and Patient/Client Care Standards on the AT Program Alumni Survey administered two years following graduation.
• Demonstrate the ethical behavior and personal/professional responsibility expected of a healthcare practitioner.
  1. Students will join the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) which also includes membership to the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association (GLATA) and the Ohio Athletic Trainers’ Association (OATA).  Upon joining, students will agree to adhere to the Code of Ethics established by each organization.
  2. 100% of students will secure their National Provider Identifier (NPI) during the 1^st term of the program.
  3. 100% of students will earn “satisfactory” scores on 80% of the “professional conduct” section of the Clinical Rotation Form each semester.
• Utilize problem solving and clinical reasoning skills to guide clinical practice.
  1. 100% of students will earn 80% or better of the required Knowledge & Skills Assessments in all Clinical Practice courses (exception: CP V: full immersive rotation).
  2. 100% of students will submit documentation of a minimum of three (3) Patient Encounters per clinical rotation (simulations may be utilized as necessary).
• Interpret evidence-based research to answer clinical questions and to determine best practices.
  1. 100% of students will earn a B or better on the Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) during KNH 7800: Research Methods.
  2. 100% of students will earn a B or better on each of three (3) Case Report Analyses during ATR 7700: Clinical Reasoning.
• Recognize mental health concerns in their patient population and provide appropriate referral.
  1. 100% of students will submit documentation of a patient encounter involving mental health concerns and appropriate referral in the final Clinical Practice (i.e.: CP V) (simulations may be utilized as necessary).
• Effectively communicate with patients, family members, other medical professionals, and administrative personnel as part of an inter-professional healthcare team.
  1. 100% of students will submit a minimum of three (3) Communication Journals in each of the Clinical Practice courses (i.e.: CP I - V).

For More Information

• Master of Athletic Training
• School of Health and Exercise Sciences
• College of Health, Education, and Human Services