Athletic Training, Master of Science

In addition to University Requirements:

• Complete individual plan requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion	58
Additional Admission Requirements	Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Fieldwork Experience/Internship	Required
Comprehensive Exam	Comprehensive Exam may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Research	Individualized research may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Additional Fees/Program Fees	Required
Some online/blended coursework	Required
Progression Plan Link	View Program of Study
Licensure	This program may lead to licensure.
Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan	Optional

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the Athletic Training graduate program is to prepare students to work with physically active individuals in a variety of settings to provide injury prevention and care services. To succeed in this, we emphasize both classroom (didactic) and clinical education every semester in our program. This provides our students with not only the necessary knowledge and skills to become Athletic Trainers, but also the practice to perfect their skills prior to becoming nationally certified. Our program is tailored toward students who want to be involved in both healthcare and sports, working with athletes to both prevent injuries and to provide a continuum of care to get them back to participation after injury.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Athletic Training Master’s Degree Program at Northern Arizona University is to provide a learner-centered graduate experience that effectively links didactic and clinical education in the prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. The program faculty promote professional and ethical conduct, encourage professional leadership, prepare students to be successful on the national Board of Certification (BOC) examination, and strive to produce competent and confident Athletic Trainers prepared for a career in athletic training.

Student Learning Outcomes

Outcomes align with Standards from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)

Foundational Knowledge
Core Competencies in:

• Patient-Centered Care
• Interprofessional Practice & Education
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Clinical Practice Quality Improvement
• Health Care Informatics
• Professionalism
• Patient/Client Care, including examination, diagnosis, and therapeutic intervention.
• Prevention, Health Promotion, and Wellness
• Health Care Administration

See the full list of standards for the Athletic Training Program.

 

Additional Admission Requirements

• Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

• The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.
  
  Admission requirements include the following:

  • Transcripts.
  • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.

  
  Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.
  
  Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

  International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

• • Evidence of experience in athletic training (at least 60 observation hours in a facility that employs an AT).
  • Proof of CPR certification prior to beginning the program. 

• • In addition to applying to the Graduate College, complete the ATCAS application process.

• • Prerequisite courses completed with a grade of C or better, or in progress at the time of application to the program:
    • General Biology BIO 181, BIO 181L,
    • Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II BIO 201, BIO 201L, BIO 202, BIO 202L 
    • General Chemistry CHM 130 or CHM 151
    • Introduction to Physics PHY 111
    • Introduction to Psychology PSY 101
    • Exercise Physiology, BIO 338, BIO 338L
    • Kinesiology, BIO 334 or PE 325
    • Human Nutrition, NTS 135 or higher

• • 2 letters of recommendation, one of which is from a certified athletic trainer.
  • An interview with one or more program faculty (to be scheduled after the application review).

• We begin reviewing applications on January 5th each year.  Students should apply through the Athletic Training Centralized Application Service (ATCAS)   Rolling admissions will be conducted until the program is full. If accepted into the program, students must then apply to the NAU Graduate College.
  
  Students who have been previously enrolled in another institution’s CAATE accredited professional master’s degree athletic training program and wish to transfer to our NAU MS-AT program, may transfer up to 25% (14 credits) of our total program credits (58 credits), per NAU Graduate College policy and at the program director’s discretion.  Application requirements used for admission to their previous program will be accepted in total as equivalent to our NAU MS-AT program requirements, as long as the student attended classes and was not dismissed due to poor grades.  We encourage transfer students and will work with each on an individual basis to ensure an appropriate educational background to ensure success in our program.

• Upon admission, we require that students have a physical exam by a physician of their choice; show proof of immunization for hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria; and attest that they meet the technical standards established by our program and by the Northern Arizona University's Disability Support Services.
  
  For more information details on individual program admission requirements, please visit Admission Requirements - Master of Science in Athletic Training.

Master's Requirements

• This Master's degree requires 59 units distributed as follows:

  • Athletic Training Content Courses: 43 units
  • Clinical Education Components: 14 units
  • Comprehensive Exam: 2 units
  
  Take the following 59 units with a Grade of "C" or better:

• Athletic Training Content Courses (43 units)

  • AT 500, AT 510, AT 515, AT 520, AT 525, AT 526, AT 530, AT 535, AT 536, AT 540, AT 545, AT 555, AT 610, AT 620, AT 625, AT 630, AT 635 (43 units)

• Clinical Education Component (14 units)

  • AT 501, AT 502, AT 504, and AT 505 – which complete our clinical education component (14 units)

• Comprehensive Exam (2 units)

  • AT 597 (2 units) Students enrolled for AT 597 must take and pass a written comprehensive exam.

• The Graduate College requires a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA and no more than 6 hours of “C” while in the program, in order to graduate. You should be aware that you may be placed on probation if your grade point average falls below a 3.00, or if you receive a grade lower than a "C" in any course required for the program. If you are on probation, you will be assigned limited or no clinical experience.

• Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program
  
  This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan. Accelerated Programs provide the opportunity for outstanding undergraduates working on their bachelor’s degree to simultaneously begin work on a master’s degree. Departments may allow students to complete both degrees in an accelerated manner by approving up to 12 units applicable toward both degrees. Students must apply to the accelerated program and the master’s program by the application deadline, and meet all requirements as listed on the Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs to be considered for admission. Admission to programs is competitive and qualified applicants may be denied because of limits on the number of students admitted each year. Be sure to speak with your advisor regarding your interest in Accelerated Programs.
   

Additional Information

• Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

• PROGRAM FEE INFORMATION

• Program fees are established by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). A program fee of $1000 per semester has been approved for this program on the Flagstaff Mountain Campus and a program fee of $1500 per semester for the Phoenix Biomedical campus.

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