Athletic Training MSAT

Overview

The School of Health Professions offers the Masters of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program, which is a 2-year, 6-semester program of full-time study including clinical experiences to prepare you for a future career as an athletic trainer.

Upon successful completion of the academic degree in athletic training, the student is eligible to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) exam. Students who pass the BOC exam may be employed at various settings such as high schools, clinical outreach programs, clinics, colleges and universities, professional sports, industrial wellness, and performing arts.

Campus: Hattiesburg

Admission Requirements

Admission to the MSAT program depends upon sufficient enrollment, university resources, and qualifications of applicants. A select number of applicants will be admitted to the program based on the criteria of the Graduate School Admission Requirements and Procedures . In addition, the applicants must also adhere to the requirements of the School of Health Professions Athletic Training program:

1. Bachelors degree from an undergraduate degree-granting institution
2. Minimum TOEFL/IBT score of 79 for international applicants
3. Must have earned a 2.8 or higher-grade point average (GPA) (based on a 4.0 system) from all undergraduate courses.
4. Students must have completed the following courses with a grade of ‘C’ or better: Anatomy (4 credit hours), Physiology (4 credit hours), Biology (3 credit hours), Chemistry (3 credit hours), Physics (3 credit hours), and Psychology (3 credit hours). Students are also required to take Nutrition (3 credit hours), Biomechanics (3 credit hours), and Exercise Physiology (3 credit hours). See the full pre-requisite policy found at the bottom of this page. 
5. An application for the program will need to be submitted through the Graduate School at USM, which will include:

• Cover Letter and Resume/CV
• 3 writing prompts
• 3 letters of recommendation (professional and/or academic)
• Minimum of 100 hours of clinical observation under the supervision of a certified athletic trainer.
• Completion of the technical standards document
• Following review of applications, select applicants may be contacted for an interview by College of Nursing and Health Professions faculty and staff from the Athletic Training MSAT Program Admissions Committee. Interviews will be either in-person or via Zoom. The Athletic Training MSAT Program Admissions Committee will make a determination based on an applicant’s application and interview process. The interview process is led by the program and not the Graduate School.  

Program Requirements and Academic Policies

The program of study includes 66 hours of required coursework, including 5 semesters (18 credit hours) of clinical experience. A comprehensive exam, a research project, a  minimum 3.0 GPA in coursework is required for graduation. No grade below a “C” is acceptable in any coursework attempted. No more than 2 grades of “C+” or “C” across 6 credit hours is allowable in any coursework attempted.

If a student has a felony conviction, the student may not be able to complete the degree because the student may not be able to perform the required clinical experience at the high school level.

Technical Standards for Admission

The AT program at The University of Southern Mississippi is a demanding and concentrated program that places detailed and specific requirements on the students enrolled in the program. An objective of this program is to prepare graduates for professional-level employment in a variety of employment settings and to render care to a wide spectrum of individuals engaged in physical activity. The technical standards set forth by the AT program establish the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to this program to achieve the knowledge, skills, and abilities of an athletic trainer, as well as meet the expectations of the program’s accrediting agency (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education [CAATE]). The following abilities and expectations must be met by all students admitted to the AT program. The AT program technical standards are available on The University of Southern Mississippi Athletic Training Website.

Compliance with the technical standards does not guarantee students’ eligibility for the Board of Certification (BOC) exam.

Candidates for selection to the Southern Miss AT program must demonstrate:

1. The mental capacity to assimilate, analyze, synthesize, integrate concepts and problem solve to formulate assessment and therapeutic judgments and to be able to distinguish deviations from the norm.
2. Sufficient postural and neuromuscular control, sensory function, and coordination to perform appropriate physical examinations using accepted techniques; and accurately, safely, and efficiently use equipment and materials during the assessment of patients.
3. The ability to record physical examination results and a treatment plan clearly and accurately.
4. Accurately, safely and efficiently use equipment and materials during the assessment and treatment of patients.
5. The ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and colleagues, including individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds; this includes, but is not limited to, the ability to establish rapport with patients and communicate judgments and treatment information effectively. Students must be able to understand and speak the English language at a level consistent with competent professional practice.
6. The capacity to maintain composure and continue to function well during periods of high stress.
7. The perseverance, diligence, and commitment to complete the AT program as outlined and sequenced. The clinical experience may include hours during early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and time outside of the academic calendar.
8. Flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in clinical situations.
9. Affective skills and appropriate demeanor and rapport that relate to professional education and quality patient care.

Candidates for selection to the AT program are required to verify that they understand these technical standards and believe that they can meet each of these standards.

Academic Progression

The MSAT program is a uniquely integrated curriculum that builds on past education and experiences and progresses from basic to complex using a competency-based approach. All students must complete the program in its entirety in the sequence listed.

In addition to the USM graduation criteria, to be eligible for graduation from the Athletic Training Program, the following criteria must be met:

1. A minimum 3.0 GPA in coursework is required for graduation. No grade below a “C” is acceptable in any coursework attempted. No more than 2 grades of “C+” or “C” across 6 credit hours is allowable in any coursework attempted.
2. Satisfactory completion of clinical experiences as required by the Athletic Training Program and the CAATE.
3. Successful completion of a final Oral Practical Examination given in the final semester.
4. Current BLS/ACLS certification.

Additional Costs

There are additional costs (above tuition/fees and costs of textbooks) for course materials, lab fees, and expenses related to travel to the clinical sites or conferences/workshops. Costs may include but are not limited to (a) professional liability insurance, (b) physical examination and immunizations, (c) professional state and national association fees, and educational workshops and conferences, (d) transportation to all off-campus clinical sites, and (e) uniforms. Each student has a minimum of one off-campus clinical assignment during the curriculum. Students may contact the AT program coordinator for a complete list of expenses.

Course Requirements

Note: MSAT Prerequisite Policy

When a student completes their application for the University of Southern Mississippi Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program, the Program Director will review the applicant’s transcripts to ensure completion of all prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or better. The prerequisite coursework for Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Psychology, Anatomy, and Physiology must be completed prior to starting the program. Students may be enrolled in any of these courses at the time of application and may be accepted into the program on a conditional basis (the condition being that those courses are successfully completed prior to the start of the MSAT program as verified by an official transcript).

While we strongly encourage that applicants also complete the prerequisite coursework for Nutrition, Biomechanics, and Exercise Physiology prior to starting the MSAT program, we understand that these courses are more difficult to obtain at various institutions. Therefore, applicants who are missing no more than two of these prerequisite courses may be accepted into the program on a conditional basis. Students may only take the remaining coursework one time and it must be completed by the end of the second semester of the MSAT program. Failure to complete the remaining coursework satisfactorily will result in dismissal from the MSAT program. Students will be expected to complete these courses along with their full graduate course load. These additional courses are not included in the graduate tuition rate and will be an extra cost incurred by the student.

Prerequisite coursework can be completed at any accredited 2-year or 4-year institution of higher learning in the United States and may be completed in-person or online. If there are questions concerning a course name or course content satisfying any of the prerequisites, the applicant may be asked to supply a course description and/or a syllabus for the course in question. Once the requested materials are reviewed, the Program Director will determine if the course content is satisfactory to meet the prerequisite. For international applicants submitting coursework that was completed outside of the United States, additional requests may occur (including but not limited to translation of transcripts to English, a conversion scale for grades to a 4.0 scale, or a description of curricular content from the institution of higher learning).