Athletic Training (MS)

Program Overview

• Options: Master of Science 
• Location(s): On Campus
• Credits: 61
• Duration: 24 months
• Cost: $681 per credit; $43,000 total
• Deadline: Rolling admissions
• Start term(s): Summer semester
• Careers: Athletic Trainer

Fast Facts

• Our Athletic Training graduate courses are competitively priced, being offered at the lowest per-credit price in the region.
• Mercyhurst's Department of Sports Medicine is one of the longest-running Athletic Training programs in the country, established in 1985.
• All students in this program will have a clinical placement, which include: trauma hospitals, family medicine practices, orthopedics, emergency, medical services, prosthetics and orthotics, and outpatient physical therapy/rehabilitation, as well as Mercyhurst's 25 varsity athletics teams.
• The Mercyhurst Athletic Training alumni network is composed of hundreds of graduates throughout the United States and internationally.
• The program is based in newly renovated sports medicine-specific classroom spaces, including two labs and one lecture classroom.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate:
  • Mastery of entry-level CAATE educational standards to successfully complete the BOC exam
  • A holistic healthcare professional who views each patient as a multi-faceted person
  • Preparation for successful entry into the healthcare field as an effective and respectful communicator and collaborator
  • Integrate didactic and psychomotor skills under the supervision of proficient preceptors within diverse and varied clinical settings
  • Provide a well-balanced education of evidence-based practice and theory while integrating the Mercy Model of equal treatment of all peoples

Course Requirements

The M.S. in Athletic Training is a 61-credit program that can be completed in two years.

Year 1, Summer (6 credits)

• ATR 501: Athletic Training Foundations (4 credits)
• ATR 504: Emergency Management (1 credit)
• ATR 508: Evidence-Based Research I (1 credit)

Year 1, Fall (13 credits)

• ATR 510: Clinical Experience I (1 credit)
• ATR 515: Clinical Experience II (1 credit)
• ATR 543/544: Clinical Management- Appendicular Skeleton/Lab (4 credits)
• ATR 571/572: Therapeutic Interventions and Application I/Lab (3 credits)
• BIO 532/533: Human Anatomy/Lab (4 credits)

Year 1, Spring (15 credits)

• ATR 520: Clinical Experience III (1 credit)
• ATR 525: Clinical Experience IV (1 credit)
• ATR 528/529: Integrative Movement and Reconditioning/Lab (2 credits)
• ATR 560: Athletic Training Seminar I (1 credit)
• ATR 563/654: Clinical Management-Axial Skeleton/Lab (3 credits)
• ATR 581/582: Therapeutic Interventions and Application II/Lab (4 credits)
• ATR 590: Performance Nutrition (3 credits)

Year 2, Summer (6 credits)

• ATR 605: Healthcare Across Communities (3 credits)
• ATR 630: Immersive Clinical Experience I (3 credits) 

Year 2, Fall (12 credits)

• ATR 638: Administrative Aspects in AT (2 credits)
• ATR 642/643: Medical Interventions/ Lab (4 credits)
• ATR 610: Clinical Experience V (2 credits)
• ATR 615: Clinical Experience VI (2 credits)
• ATR 660: Athletic Training Seminar II (2 credits)

Year 2, Spring (9 credits)

• ATR 608: Evidence-Based Research II (1 credit)
• ATR 620: Clinical Experience VII (2 credits)
• ATR 635: Immersive Clinical Experience II (3 credits)  
• ATR 652: Psychosocial Considerations in AT (2 credits)
• ATR 670: Athletic Training Capstone (1 credit)

Mission and Vision

The mission of the Professional Entry-level Master of Science in Athletic Training at Mercyhurst University is to prepare the student to become a successful BOC candidate and clinician outside of the Gates by combining the didactic, theoretical, and clinical evidence-based skills with the premise that every patient is an individual. In the spirit of the core values of the Sisters of Mercy and Mercyhurst University, MSAT students will be challenged to become self-aware, culturally competent, ethical healthcare professionals. The Mercyhurst University professional athletic training program aspires to offer an extensive academic and clinical experience with devoted faculty to ensure the professional and personal growth of each student pursuing BOC certification.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the Master’s of Science in Athletic Training graduate program must fulfill the following admissions requirements; applications are only accepted for a summer semester start term:

• A 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA is required. 
• Completed Athletic Training Centralized Application Service (ATCAS) application.
• A bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited school. Ideal candidates will have a very strong undergraduate record/degree in a field of Sports Medicine, Biology, pre-health concentrations, Natural Science, Kinesiology, or Exercise Science.
• Pre-requisite coursework completed with a B- (or institutional equivalent) or better in biology with a lab, chemistry with a lab, anatomy and physiology with labs, physics, psychology, and statistics.
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you’ve attended.
• Current resume/curriculum vitae.
• Letter of intent (500-750 words) outlining the student’s education and career aspirations as well as any relevant and/or interesting life experience and any additional information the applicant feels would be important to include. 
• Letters of recommendation (3) from an athletic trainer, a science or athletic training professor, and a work reference.
• A personal interview. The most qualified candidates will be invited to interview with the program director. 
• 30 observation hours with an Athletic Trainer are strongly recommended.
• International applicants whose records are written in a language other than English must have their documents translated into English and a notarized statement attesting to the accuracy of the translations.
• International applicants whose primary language is not English must attain a TOEFL score of at least 69 on the Internet-based exam OR an IELTS score of at least 5.8 OR a Duolingo English Test score of no less than 100.

Off-Campus Clinical Experiences

In the MSAT Program clinical education sequence, students will be exposed to a variety of experiences. These include experiences with Mercyhurst University Athletics and Performing Arts, physician practices in orthopedic and general medicine, surgical observations, and off-campus experiences with local school districts. The Mercyhurst University Athletic Training Program is continuously engaging with local community members to broaden on and off-campus clinical experiences to encompass a diverse patient population, including the performing arts, occupational, military, and industrial settings.

Students are responsible for transportation to and from off-campus affiliated sites. Students are expected to have access to transportation as noted in the Mercyhurst University Graduate Course Catalog. Additionally, any costs associated with travel to and from the assigned clinical site(s) will be the responsibility of the student. The student assumes all liability in the event of a motor vehicle accident. Unfortunately, no monetary compensation for traveling expenses is available; however, the program will make reasonable attempts to accommodate student experiences if transportation is limited.

Accreditation

The Mercyhurst University Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program has been granted Accreditation – In Good Standing status by the Commission on the Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) until end of the 2029-2030 academic year.

Accreditation Outcomes

The Mercyhurst University Athletic Training program discloses a number of student outcomes as part of our accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Athletic Training Education (CAATE). To learn more, please review our CAATE Outcomes document.

Explore Financial Aid

Earn an affordable master’s degree in athletic training with competitive per-credit costs. Visit our Graduate Cost and Financial Aid webpage or contact us at grad@mercyhurst.edu or 814-824-3351.