Athletic training is practiced by athletic trainers, health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients. Athletic training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and intervention of emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities (www.NATA.org).
Students who wish to complete the Athletic Training Program (ATP) will begin at the undergraduate level for the first three years and complete the foundation courses that serve as prerequisites to apply to the program. Once completing these courses the student will apply to the program and, if accepted, will directly be admitted into the program which will allow them to finish in two years, thus completing the Professional Master of Science in Athletic Training degree.
Specifically, during the first three years at MU, students will be taking required core courses and Athletic Training prerequisite courses (i.e., anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, exercise physiology, etc.), in addition to courses required to apply to graduate and other professional programs the student may be interested in pursuing. During the final two years and assuming that the student has applied and been accepted into the ATP, he/she will then enroll in the required Athletic Training core courses. The M.S. in Athletic Training prepares students to become entry-level athletic trainers and qualifies them to take the BOC Exam (national board exam). The ATP is a rigorous academic program that includes coursework in athletic training and other science-related courses, in addition to required clinical education experiences.
A degree in Athletic Training offers graduates opportunities to practice in a variety of clinical settings. These settings include, but are not limited to, high school, college, and professional athletics; outpatient clinics; industrial rehabilitation sites; physician practices; the performing arts; safety settings, and higher education. The Athletic Training curriculum includes eight areas of emphasis: Comprehensive, Health Communication, Pre-Med, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Physician’s Assistant, Occupational Safety and Health, Pre-Chiropractic, and Safety.
Admission Criteria
Acceptance into the Athletic Training program is competitive and not guaranteed. Prospective students must meet the following minimum criteria to be considered for admission to the program:
- Admission to Marshall University;
- Declared Athletic Training as a major, including area of emphasis;
- An overall minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.
- A letter grade of C or better on all required prerequisite athletic training coursework:
- Completion of all required MU core courses
- Completion of a minimum of 90 credit hours
- Submit all necessary documents to apply to the Athletic Training Program. For information and details go to www.marshall.edu/athletic-training.
- Completion of directed observation experience requirements as outlined by the Marshall University ATP
- Successful interview (Note: interviews are extended during the spring semester with applications due in early March)
- Ability to meet the Technical Standards of Admission documented by a licensed physician
- General Education Course
- Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.
Course Requirements
Prerequisites
Prospective students must have already taken or be currently enrolled in the following when applying to the Athletic Training Program.
Course List | Code | Title | Credit Hours |
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| BSC 227 | Human Anatomy (or equivalent) | 4 |
| BSC 227L | Human Anatomy Lab | 1 |
| BSC 228 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| BSC 228L | Human Physiology Lab | 1 |
| DTS 210 | Nutrition | 3 |
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| Biostatistics | |
| Statistical Methods | |
| Inter Behavioral Stat | |
| Introductory Statistics (CT) | |
| ESS 345 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| HS 200 | Comp Medical Terminology (CT) | 3 |
| HS 215 | Intro to Athletic Training | 3 |
| HS 220 | Personal Health | 3 |
| HS 222 | Hlth Prov First Aid/CPR/AED | 3 |
| HS 365 | Functional Kinesiology | 3 |
| PSY 201 | Introductory Psychology (CT) | 3 |
Recommended Courses
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Areas of Emphasis
The Area of Emphasis must be completed prior to applying for the Professional Master of Science in Athletic Training degree. For additional information and details on the program, including the Athletic Training courses and the clinical education experiences that are required once admitted to the Athletic Training program, please refer to the Graduate Catalog.
