Program Overview

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Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT)

The Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program prepares individuals for a career as a certified athletic trainer. Athletic trainers (ATs) are health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients.

Program Description

The Master of Science in Athletic Training program is open to all college graduates who have met prerequisite requirements and demonstrate sufficient preparation, potential for professional education, and ability to perform the essential functions needed to practice as an athletic trainer as determined by athletic training faculty review of admission documents. The program is a full-time, cohort-model program.

Accreditation

The Athletic Training Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

Program Admission Prerequisite Courses

To be eligible for the program, applicants must complete the following prerequisite courses:

• Hold, or be eligible to hold, an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association or have completed equivalent academic preparation as determined by an appropriate campus authority.
• Have attained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 (A=4.00).
• Have been in good academic, professional, and clinical standing at the last institution and if applicable in the last entry-level athletic training educational program attended.
• Successfully complete the following courses with a minimum of "C" and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 by the end of the fall semester prior to the year of admission to the program:
  • Natural Sciences:
    • CHEM 100 Chemistry in Today's World (4)
    • PHYS 100A General Physics (4)
  • Biological Sciences:
    • BIOL 207 Human Physiology (4)
    • BIOL 208 Human Anatomy (4)
  • Statistics:
    • BIOL 260 Biostatistics (3)
    • KIN 483 Statistics in Human Movement Science (3)
    • PSY 110 Introductory Statistics (4)
    • STAT 108 Statistics for Everyday Life (3)
  • Behavioral Sciences:
    • PSY 100 General Psychology (3)
  • Kinesiology:
    • ATEP 207 Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries (3 units)
    • KIN 300 Biomechanics of Human Movement (3)
    • KIN 301 Exercise Physiology (3)
    • KIN 312 Motor Control and Learning (3)
  • Nutrition and Dietetics:
    • NUTR 132 Introductory Nutrition (3)

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) is a two-step process:

1. Graduate Student Application
2. Program application via ATCAS and admission to the MSAT The MSAT degree program is a four-semester cohort model with instruction beginning in the Fall term.

Graduate Student Admission to the University

Applicants must meet the University (CSULB) admission requirements for Graduate Programs. Applications for graduate admission are accepted October 1 to January 15.

Admission to the MSAT

Only applicants deemed eligible to be admitted to the University for Graduate Programs will be considered for admission into the Master of Science in Athletic Training degree program. Eligible applicants will also complete and submit the online application to the program through ATCAS.

Post-Admission Program Requirements

After admission to the Master of Science in Athletic Training Program, the following documentation must be submitted to the AT Program prior to the beginning of program instruction:

• Health insurance
• Titer and immunizations (HBV series, MMR, Tdap, chicken pox, and meningococcal)
• Negative TB Test (within past 2 months)
• Malpractice insurance
• BOC (Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer) identification number
• Signed Documentation: Ability to meet Technical Standards with or without accommodations, Statement of Confidentiality, and Communicable Disease Policy
• Federal Criminal Background Check will be conducted upon arrival on campus for program instruction

Retention

To remain in the program, students must:

1. Maintain a 3.00 or better grade point average in all graduate work completed at CSULB.
2. Make continuous satisfactory progress toward the degree objective.
3. Each major course must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.

Advancement to Candidacy

To advance to candidacy, students must:

1. Attain classified status as a student in a graduate program at CSULB.
2. Meet the University requirements for advancement to candidacy.
3. Fulfill the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) for Graduate Students.
4. Complete a minimum of one semester (fall session) of graduate level coursework in the program.
5. Be enrolled during the term in which advancement to candidacy takes place.
6. Obtain approval for one's individual program plan from the Graduate Advisor and then from the Associate Dean of the College of Health and Human Services.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Science in Athletic Training degree program is a 53 unit, two-year, cohort program that includes clinical education.

Core:

Take all of the following courses:

• AT 500 Athletic Training Healthcare and Clinical Skills (2)
• AT 502 Emergency Management in Athletic Training (1)
• AT 504 Evidence-Based Practice and Testing in Athletic Training (1)
• AT 506 Public Health and Epidemiology in Athletic Training (2)
• AT 510 Athletic Training Clinical Evaluation I (3)
• AT 511 Athletic Training Clinical Evaluation II (3)
• AT 515 Medical Conditions and Pharmacology in Athletic Training (3)
• AT 520 Athletic Training Therapeutic Interventions I (3)
• AT 521 Athletic Training Therapeutic Interventions II (3)
• AT 525 Athletic Training Therapeutic Interventions: Therapeutic Modalities (2)
• AT 526 Manual Therapeutic Interventions in Athletic Training (2)
• AT 530 Management and Professional Issues in Athletic Training (3)
• KIN 568 Nutrition for Exercise and Performance (3)
• KIN 579 Psychological Aspects of Sports Injury (3)
• KIN 696 Research Methods and Statistical Analysis (3) Take all of the following courses:
• AT 581 Athletic Training Clinical Education I (2)
• AT 582 Athletic Training Clinical Education II (2)
• AT 583 Athletic Training Clinical Education III (2)
• AT 584 Athletic Training Clinical Education IV (2)
• AT 591 Seminar in Athletic Training (1) Complete the following culminating experience requirements (6 units):
• AT 699A Applied Research Project in Athletic Training (2)
• AT 699B Applied Research Project in Athletic Training (2)
• AT 699C Applied Research Project in Athletic Training (2)

Culminating Experience

The culminating applied research project experience is a key element of the master's degree program. It is designed as an "applied research inquiry" experience that supports the scientific inquiry process and application. It promotes the use of critical thinking skills to evaluate relevant medical scientific information from both the literature and hands-on research experiences, combined with the clinician's knowledge and expertise, to then enhance clinical decision making.