Program Overview

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Athletic Training, MS

Department Chair: Xristos Gaglias

The Stony Brook University (SBU) Athletic Training Program (ATP), offered by the School of Health Professions (SHP), is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). This is a full-time, two-year, entry-level professional graduate program leading to a Master of Science degree.

Athletic Trainers (ATs) are healthcare professionals who render service and treatment, under the direction of, or in collaboration with a physician. As part of the healthcare team, services provided by ATs include injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. Once a graduate is certified to practice, the athletic trainer must follow individual state regulatory requirements for practice. Athletic trainers’ work settings include secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional sports, higher education and emerging settings such as the performing arts, physician practice, public safety, military, occupational health, and healthcare administration.

The athletic training student’s comprehensive professional preparation is directed toward the development of specified competencies in the following content areas: Evidence-Based Practice; Prevention and Health Promotion; Clinical Examination and Diagnosis; Acute Care of Injury and Illness; Therapeutic Interventions; Psychological Strategies and Referral; Healthcare Administration; and Professional Development and Responsibility. Formal instruction begins in the classroom and laboratory, and is extended into the field through various clinical experiences. All students are required to fulfill their clinical education requirements under the direct supervision of a preceptor. Clinical education provides the student with authentic, real-time opportunities to practice and integrate athletic training knowledge and psychomotor skills. This includes clinical decision-making and professional interactions required to become a competent athletic trainer.

The curriculum prepares students for the Board of Certification (BOC) examination. Upon passing this examination, an individual may apply for certification by the New York State Education Department Office of Professions. In addition to the master’s degree, the school’s Certificate of Professional Achievement in Athletic Training is awarded upon satisfactory completion of all required coursework.

Admission Requirements

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA

Specific Required Courses (minimum grade of “C”):

• 4 credits of Biology with lab
• 8 credits of Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs
• 4 credits of Chemistry with lab
• 4 credits of Physics with lab
• 3 credits Psychology
• 3 credits Kinesiology or Biomechanics
• 3 credits of Statistics

NOTE: Required science coursework must be completed within the last ten years.

Recommended Courses:

• Exercise Physiology
• Nutrition

Other Admissions Requirements:

• Current certification in basic life support cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• 50 hours of volunteer clinical experience observing an athletic trainer
• Two academic or professional reference letters
• TOEFL scores (international students)

Program Requirements

The two-year graduate curriculum consists of 77 graduate credits, including lecture, laboratory, and clinical education. The curriculum will include foundational content, patient care, research, and critical inquiry.

YEAR ONE will include coursework based on physical agents, professional practice, clinical diagnosis and treatment, critical care, evidence-based practice, research design, and two clinical education experiences.

YEAR TWO will include coursework in research methods, healthcare management, advance therapeutic intervention, nutrition, general medical conditions, research, and four clinical education rotations. Students will be conducting research, utilizing IRB protocol, culminating in a capstone activity resulting in an APA style journal report and poster. In addition, students will be participating in interprofessional education and interacting with other healthcare practitioners through the general medical conditions course and clinical education.

Each clinical rotation will involve a minimum number of hours dependent on course credit and location within the program course sequence.

Special Academic Requirements

In addition to the academic policies of the school, students must achieve a minimum grade of “C” in each course in the athletic training program. Additionally, students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average to remain in good academic standing and participate in clinical affiliations.

Course Progression

Professional courses (HAL) must be taken in a sequential manner. Students who receive a grade of “D+” or below must first retake the course before progressing to the next course in the sequence. ATP professional courses may only be repeated once. A student who receives a course grade of “C-“, may progress on to the next sequence, but must remediate the insufficient grade. Failure to obtain the grade of “C” or higher in two attempts may result in the student being dismissed from the program.

Professional Courses (Year One)

• HAL 515 - Foundations of Athletic Training 4 credits
• HAL 520 - Principles of Physical Agents 3 credits
• HAL 525 - Evidence Based Practice 1 credit
• HAL 530 - Critical Care 4 credits
• HAL 535 - Clinical Diagnosis & Treatment I 5 credits
• HAL 540 - Clin Diagnosis & Treatment II 5 credits
• HAL 545 - Clin Diagnosis & Treatment III 3 credits
• HAL 565 - Research Design for Athletic Training 2 credits
• HAL 581 - Athletic Training Clinical I 7 credits
• HAL 582 - Athletic Training Clinical II 7 credits

Professional Courses (Year two)

• HAL 550 - Advanced Therapeutic Interventions 5 credits
• HAL 555 - Healthcare Management for Athletic Training 3 credits
• HAL 560 - Nutrition And Supplement Use for Sport Performance 3 credits
• HAL 570 - Research Methods for Athletic Training 2 credits
• HAL 572 - Critical Appraisal 1 credit
• HAL 575 - General Medical Conditions 4 credits
• HAL 583 - Athletic Training Clinical III 3-5 credits
• HAL 584 - Athletic Training Clinical IV 7 credits
• HAL 585 - Athletic Training Clinical V 7 credits
• HAL 586 - General Medical Clinical 1 credit