The Master of Science in Athletic Training is an entry-level professional program that prepares you to take the Athletic Training Board of Certification exam. Certified athletic trainers are medical experts in preventing, recognizing, managing, and rehabilitating injuries that result from physical activity. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association as an allied healthcare profession.
This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
Professional athletic trainers use the latest advances in the field to prevent, diagnose, and treat injuries and to help clients maximize their physical performance. The academic study is rigorous. The pay-off can be a great career in sports medicine and the opportunity to help others on a daily basis
Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) work in athletic departments, hospitals, clinics, sports, industry, the military, and wherever people are physically active. Build a foundation in sciences and practice your skills in the university athletic training room. Graduate fully prepared to sit for the Athletic Training Board of Certification exam.
Note: If you want to be admitted to the Master of Science in Athletic Training, you must apply and be accepted to the Department of Athletic Training program in addition to being admitted to the university.
To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.
You must additionally complete:
Read the full policy here.
In addition to University 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 is required. |
| 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:
More Information
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 Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.
Admission requirements include the following:
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.
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
We begin reviewing applications on the 5th of January each year. Students should apply through the Athletic Training Centralized Application Service (ATCAS) Following the 5th of January deadline, 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.
This Master’s degree requires 58 units distributed as follows:
Athletic Training Content Coursework (43 units)
Clinical Education Component (13 units)
Comprehensive Exam (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.
This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.
Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible complete the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology and start a Master of Science in Athletic Training at NAU.
OR
Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences - Fitness Wellness and start a Master of Science in Athletic Training at NAU.
Students accepted into the Accelerated Program should complete the same requirements for the graduate degree as defined above.
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 fees are established by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). A program fee has been approved for this program. See program fee details. Program fees are subject to change and updated July 1 for the next academic year.