Master of Science in Athletic Training

The Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program is a professional graduate program designed to prepare students for the Board of Certification examination (BOC) and to prepare students for an entry level career in the prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Prospective students for the MSAT program have two points of entry:

Program Description

For additional information, contact: athletictraining@centralmethodist.edu or 660-248-6217

Program Outcomes

Outcome #1 - Athletic Training students will demonstrate advancing clinical proficiency utilizing evidence-based practice through sound principles of clinical research.

Objectives:

1.1 Critically examine clinical research in order to employ evidence-based practice in decision making.
1.2 Obtain clinical proficiency through advancement of skill acquisition utilizing the Athletic Training Milestones.

Outcome #2 - Athletic Training students will synthesize health informatics and critical thinking skills culminating into a system focused on improving the quality and delivery of patient-centered care.

Objectives:

2.1 Implement health informatics technology to communicate accurately and effectively through listening, speaking, and writing to improve the quality of patient-centered care.
2.2 Utilize critical thinking and evidence-based decision making in creating quality healthcare patient plans.
2.3 Integrate prevention, diagnosis, rehabilitation, and organizational skills into quality patient-centered care.

Outcome #3 - Athletic Training students will demonstrate the common values and behaviors of the athletic training profession while employing professional excellence, ethical leadership and social responsibility.

Objectives:

3.1 Effectively communicate with interprofessional members of the sports medicine team.
3.2 Respectfully and professionally engage with diverse populations and work environments.
3.3 Participate in local, state, regional and national athletic training professional activities.
3.4 Employ ethical decisions within the scope of professional practice.

Outcome #4 - Athletic Training faculty and clinical faculty will demonstrate excellence in the didactic and clinical environments to foster student development and professional preparedness.

Objectives:

4.1 Provide engaging and quality didactic experiences.
4.2 Provide engaging, diverse, and quality clinical experiences.
4.3 Faculty participate in local, state, regional and national athletic training professional activities.
4.4 Faculty employ ethical decisions within the scope of professional practice.

Admissions Requirements

Admission into the MSAT Program is highly competitive. Application does not guarantee acceptance.

Option 1: Five-year BS in Exercise Science/MSAT Program. This option allows the student to complete a baccalaureate degree in Exercise Science and Master’s Degree in Athletic Training in five years.

Suggested: ACT composite of 21 or higher or SAT equivalent.
Students matriculating to the MSAT program must have a residential and science GPA of 3.25 or higher.
Students will begin the graduate portion of the program in the 4^th year (summer term).
Upon successful completion of all degree requirements, in their 4th year the student will be awarded a BS in Exercise Science (Pre-AT track).
Upon successful completion of the fifth-year requirements the student will be awarded the MSAT.
This program is recommended for entering freshmen, student athletes, transfer students, or students who change majors early who want to pursue an athletic training degree at CMU.
Students on this 3+2 track are given priority admission.
Students who are not accepted into the MSAT program may continue with a course of study in a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science provided they meet the requirements.
Additional requirements listed below.

Transfer admission criteria for BS in Exercise Science/MSAT

Students may transfer into the Exercise Science/Pre-AT track at any point (years 1, 2 or 3).
Additional requirements listed below.

Option 2: Two-year Professional Program (MSAT).

This program is only for those students who want to pursue athletic training as a career, have completed a bachelor’s degree in any major, and have met the admissions requirements.
This is a two-year program including summers.
BA/BS degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
Undergraduate cumulative and science GPA of 3.25 or higher.
Transfer credit will be considered on an individual basis.
Additional requirements listed below.

Additional Admissions Requirements for Option 1 and Option 2

Completion of a minimum of 75 hours of athletic training observation documented under the direct supervision of a BOC certified athletic trainer. See website for hours documentation form.
Completion of all application materials. See university athletic training website for ATCAS application link.
- Athletic Training essay
- Submission of official transcripts
- Observation hours
- Submit three references
- Technical standards verification (upon acceptance)
- Copy of immunization records (incl. MMR, Tetanus, TB, Hep B, Hep C)
- Criminal background check (occurs upon acceptance)
- Drug test (occurs upon acceptance)
- Proof of emergency cardiac care certification. (upon acceptance) Please see link for acceptable cards: http://www.bocatc.org/athletic-trainers#maintain-certification
Completion of the following prerequisites with a grade of “C” or better (no more than 2 repeats total)
- Completion of the following prerequisites with a grade of “C” or better (no more than 2 repeats total)
  - Biology I w/Lab (e.g. CMU BI101)
  - Human Physiology (e.g. CMU BI205)
  - Exercise Physiology (e.g. CMU EX327)
  - Chemistry I (e.g. CMU CH111)
  - Physics I (e.g. CMU PH111)
  - Statistics (e.g. CMU MA105)
  - Kinesiology (e.g. CMU AH324)
  - Psychology (e.g. CMU PY301 and/or PY223)
  - Ethics (e.g. CMU PL306 and/or PL106) - Highly Recommended
  - A grade of “B” or better is required in all Athletic Training (AT) courses and including:
  - Anatomy (e.g. CMU BI204)
  - Medical Terminology (e.g. CMU AH211)
A grade of “B” or better is required in all Athletic Training (AT) courses and including:
- Anatomy (e.g. CMU BI204)
- Medical Terminology (e.g. CMU AH211)
Upon submission of application materials, an on-site interview with MSAT Admissions Team will be required.

Certification:
Students who successfully complete the Master of Science in Athletic Training program are eligible to sit for the BOC certification examination. Results of the BOC exam are calculated on a scale from 200 to 800 with a passing point of 500.

Retention Policy

Preceptors will assess the student's performance each semester. Each student must earn a 75% in order to matriculate. Students who fail to earn 75% will be placed on a one-semester remediation plan. Failure to adequately satisfy remediation criteria will result in dismissal from the program.
Students must maintain a GPA of 3.25 to matriculate and graduate.
Graduation requires completion of a minimum of 60 hours of coursework with a GPA of 3.25/4.0.
Students can only earn a maximum of two course grades of C. Should a student receive a third C, the student will be dismissed from the program.
Students are required to follow the curriculum sequence for the MSAT. Courses are only offered in specific semesters/terms. Students are not allowed to progress to the next semester/term course sequence until they have passed all courses in the current semester.
Withdrawal from any AT course other than for medical reasons will result in automatic withdrawal from the program. If withdrawing, students may reapply during the next admission cycle.

Additional Fees

Additional Fees

In addition to tuition, housing, books / supplies, and transportation costs (https://www.centralmethodist.edu/academics/graduate/master-of-science-athletic-training/admission-completion-requirements.html for a breakdown of tuition and fees), students in the Athletic Training Program will incur additional expenses. The following is a breakdown of the most common costs:

Course fee (Foliotek Portfolio -AT 511)- $90
Travel to and from clinical sites - varies
Liability Insurance for clinical rotations - $40 (yearly)
CMU Student AT Association Fee /Professional Memberships - $30/$90.
Cost of drug test and criminal background check
$250 non-refundable acceptance fee
Please see university web-site for most current university tuition and fees.

NOTE: Fees are subject to change.

Application deadline: Priority deadline is March 15th; All students applying after March 15th will be considered for entry on a rolling basis.

Health requirements: Immunization Policy of CMU requires students enrolled at Central Methodist University for the first time to have documented proof of measles immunity, a recent tetanus/diphtheria booster, and complete a questionnaire screening for tuberculosis. This documentation is required prior to class attendance.

Student’s applying to the Athletic Training program must provide vaccination records for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), Tetanus, and submit proof of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C vaccination. Students failing to show proof of MMR, Tetanus, and Hepatitis B and C vaccinations may be admitted to the ATP but will not be allowed to start clinical rotations until proof is confirmed. Immunizations for Hepatitis A, Meningococcal, and an annual flu vaccine is highly recommended for all ATP students. It is possible that a particular facility may require additional screening requirements before being allowed to begin a clinical observation/rotation. Students must be aware that exemptions for any reason may affect clinical rotation placement. The situation could occur where the student would be unable to complete the clinical course and thus be unable to complete the requirements of the AT program.

Athletic Training Program Non-Discriminatory Policy

It is the Athletic Training program policy that all decisions regarding recruitment and admissions shall be made without discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, disability, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation or other individual characteristics other than qualifications for the program, quality of performance, and conduct related to the program in accord with the university's policies, rules and applicable.

Sabbatical Policy

At some point during the Masters of Science in Athletic Training curriculum an Athletic Training Student may choose to take an extended leave of absence from the program. The Sabbatical Policy is designed to allow the Athletic Training Student to take extended time off and still reserve their slot in the Athletic Training Program. The Athletic Training Student may request for a sabbatical for personal reasons such as illness, family illness, military obligations, etc. With the Athletic Training Program being a cohort teaching platform, the sabbatical time will be one cohort cycle (1 year), until those courses are offered again, thus the Athletic Training Student will be shifting to the next cohort cycle. The sabbatical maybe extended in extenuating circumstances only by permission of the Athletic Training Program Director. At the time of the sabbatical request being granted all University policies governing the student still apply.

Sabbatical Procedure:

A written letter must be written to the Athletic Program Director requesting a sabbatical. The

letter must include the rationale for the request, and timeline of the request.

After the sabbatical has been granted it is the Athletic Training Students responsibility to

communicate to the Program Director to status of the sabbatical.

The Athletic Training Student must request in writing, to the Athletic Training Program

Director, for the termination of the sabbatical and for the return into the Athletic Training Program or request for an extension for extenuating circumstances. Failure to request either by the defined timeline will result in the Athletic Training Student being dismissed from the program. If the student should choose they must re-submit to the application process to be re-accepted.

3 + 2 Athletic Training Tuition & Fees

The accelerated 3+2 program allows students the opportunity to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in less time and/or fewer hours that a traditional route. Central Methodist University students who need 29 or fewer credit hours to complete all of the requirements of the exercise science program and have an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.25 at the time of admission may be considered for accelerated graduate admission as a graduate student in the Master of Science in Athletic Training program. Students in the 3+2 program will be undergraduate students (with associated financial aid) through the spring semester of their fourth year. Undergraduate tuition will apply to the 7 graduate courses taken during the summer, fall, and spring terms of the fourth year. Graduate tuition will apply to the remaining graduate courses in the fourth year.

NOTE: Federal regulations permit undergraduate students to receive financial assistance only for their current degree program. Students are strongly encouraged to contact Central Methodist University Office of Financial Aid to find out how their financial aid amount would be adjusted. University scholarship, tuition waivers, athletic certification, and veteran’s benefits may also be impacted.

3 + 2 Athletic Training Accelerated Program Credit

For students who have been admitted to the accelerated 3 + 2 graduate program, a maximum of 29 graduate credit hours may be used toward satisfying their undergraduate degree requirements. Grades earned in the accelerated program will count in both the undergraduate and graduate GPAs. Students who drop out of the accelerated graduate program will not be eligible to use the graduate credit hours toward any graduate degree; however, the courses will continue to apply toward the undergraduate degree.