Master of Science in Athletic Training

Prerequisite Requirement

Candidates for admission are recommended to hold a baccalaureate degree in exercise science or related field. Additionally, completion of prerequisite coursework outlined below with a minimum of “C” is required. Candidates with all prerequisites completed at the time of application may be given preference over those still completing courses. Courses older than eight years will not be accepted. Ask in advance if there is a question about if a course will satisfy a prerequisite.

• Physics - A minimum of 4 credits (including lab)
• Biology - A minimum of 4 credits (including lab)
• Chemistry - A minimum of 4 credits (including lab)
• Human Anatomy & Physiology - A minimum of 8 credits (including two labs); Non-human anatomy and physiology courses are not acceptable.
  • Option 1: One semester of Human Anatomy with lab and one semester of Human Physiology with lab
  • Option 2: Two semesters of Anatomy and Physiology combined courses with a lab each (A&P I and A&P II)
• Statistics - A minimum of 3 credit hours
• General Psychology - A minimum of 3 credit hours; Any course taken within a psychology department/unit will be acceptable
• Exercise Physiology - A minimum of 3 credit hours
• Human Nutrition - A minimum of 3 credit hours
• Kinesiology or Biomechanics - A minimum of 3 credit hours

Submission of transcripts from required courses and/or degree conferring institution may be required to verify acceptance by the program administration.

Admission Requirements for the Master of Science in Athletic Training

Admission to the MSAT program is competitive. Meeting minimal admission requirements does not guarantee an applicant an interview or admission to the program.

Cohorts are admitted in the summer semester only. To apply to the MSAT program, applicants must first have a verified application on the Athletic Training Centralized Application System (ATCAS). Candidates who advance in the admission process will be required to complete an application to the Troy University Graduate School. Troy University Graduate School application fees will be waived, and materials submitted to ATCAS will be used to complete the Troy University Graduate School application to avoid redundancy and eliminate excess costs. For information on general Troy University graduate admissions requirements, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog.

Application Deadlines:

For full consideration, applicants must have a verified application on ATCAS and all materials submitted to the Troy University Graduate School prior to March 31st. All candidates are required to complete a program interview, either on-campus or via video conferencing. Interviews may be held on a rolling basis prior to and then soon after the March 31 deadline. Students will be notified of their admission status soon after their program interview. Applications may be accepted on a rolling basis after March 31st dependent on seat availability. We will close application on May 10 annually or until admission capacity is reached.

Unconditional Admission

1. Applicants must have baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited four-year institution. Students with a baccalaureate degree from an unaccredited or otherwise accredited institution should see Unaccredited or Otherwise Accredited Student Admission. Applicants who have attended a college/university outside of the United States must also provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation.
2. Strong applicants will have an overall grade point average of minimum 3.0 on a four-point scale.
3. Verified application on ATCAS and completed Troy University Graduate School application, including a) completed documentation & essay; b) official transcript(s) from each college/ university attended; c) two (2) completed letters of recommendation with one coming from an athletic trainer or physician; d) proof of Basic Life Support for the Healthcare Provider CPR certification; e) documented completion of at least 100 observation hours with an athletic trainer received*; f) successful program interview.

*If observation hours are not completed prior to application, candidate may submit documentation demonstrating progress towards completion and a written plan discussing how they will obtain the remaining observation hours signed by the supervising athletic trainer(s).

International applications, American citizens or permanent residents who learned English as a second language must score at least a 575 (paper) or a 90 (internet) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOFL) or a score of a 6.5 on IELTS.

Conditional Admission

Conditional Admission does not apply to this program.

Transfer Credit

A maximum of six semester hours taken at another regionally accredited institution of higher education with a “B” grade or better may be applied toward the degree. These courses must be comparable to Troy University courses and must be reviewed by the graduate athletic training faculty adviser who will make a recommendation to the Department Chair then the Dean of the College of Health and Human Services and the Graduate Dean. For students completing the Master of Science in Athletic Training, all transfer credits used to satisfy degree requirements may not exceed five years at the time of the course completion.

Degree Requirements

A student completing the coursework with a 3.0 or better GPA, fulfilling candidacy requirements, and successfully completing the required capstone requirement will be awarded the degree.

• Note 1: Grades below “C” are not acceptable for meeting requirements for a subsequent course.
• Note 2: Students must earn a “B” or better in AT 6655 - Research & Analysis in Sports Medicine  
• Note 3: Students must earn a “B” or better for their required Capstone project within AT 6665 - Capstone Project .
• Note 4: Students must pass a comprehensive exam with a grade of 80% or better to demonstrate preparedness for the BOC Examination. This exam will be given to every student during AT 6663  . Students will be allowed a maximum of three (3) attempts to earn 80%. Failure to earn 80% or higher in three (3) attempts will result in denial of application to the BOC Examination. Students not earning an 80% on the comprehensive exam will be eligible to earn their degree if all remaining academic and clinical obligations are completed appropriately.

Additional Program Costs

Current expenses for tuition fees and other university fees are listed on the Troy University website. Students are also expected to pay for the following: appropriate clinical attire, transportation costs, annual background checks, annual drug tests, and semester TB skin tests.

Independent Learning

All students in the Master of Science in Athletic Training program are required to engage in independent learning, a process in which individuals take the initiative, with or without the help of others, to attain knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors. Activities such as case studies, critical analysis of literature, research/capstone projects, and clinical practica provide important independent learning experiences that give students ample opportunity to demonstrate and develop independent learning skills.

Curriculum

The MSAT degree program is a two-year full-time professional master’s program requiring 51 semester hours beyond the bachelor’s degree. The courses are taken in a prescribed sequence over 6 semesters, including 20 semeter hours of clinical practice. Clinical practice occurs under the direct supervision of an athletic trainer or physician.

Required Courses - 51 Semester Hours

Degree Plan

Master of Science in Athletic Training Degree Plan/Progress Record