Integral members of the sports medicine team, athletic trainers (AT) provide health care to individuals in the areas of injury prevention, evaluation, management and rehabilitation. For the School of Health and Medical Sciences, patient needs are more than a mere focus — they are the centerpiece of the Master of Science in Athletic Training program (MSAT). Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education since October 2003, the program is the only entry-level MSAT in New Jersey and one of fewer than 20 such programs in the country.  

Program Mission
The mission of the MSAT program is to prepare individuals to become competent and independent clinicians who will enhance the quality of patient health care and to advance the profession of athletic training.  The program teaches and provides practical experiences to enable graduates to assume leadership roles.

Program Goals
The goal of the MSAT program is to prepare graduates to apply a wide variety of specific health care skills and knowledge within each of the following domains: prevention, recognition and evaluation, management/treatment and disposition, rehabilitation, organization and administration, education and counseling, and research.  To achieve these goals a comprehensive curriculum has been designed to integrate formal classroom instruction and clinical education.

Throughout the two-year, 64-credit program, students focus on quality of care and the uniqueness of each patient needing treatment. Distinctive courses, such as Clinical Imaging and Evaluation of the Spine, are taught by University faculty and physicians who have practical experience in the field. Foundation courses are “cross-program,” meaning students gain an appreciation from their peers in other health professions, including occupational therapy and physical therapy, and learn from a distinguished, interdisciplinary faculty.

Dynamic clinical research is a major focus of the MSAT program. Student topics include hamstring flexibility as it relates to injury, Mulligan taping techniques in ankle sprains and the public’s perception of athletic trainers. Students present their research at professional conferences and an annual, on-campus Research Colloquium sponsored by the School of Health and Medical Education. Graduates of the program possess an understanding of the research process and recognize the importance of applying evidence-based research to clinical practice.

MSAT students are well prepared for the Board of Certification Examination. In 2005, the first time passing rate on all three sections was nearly 80 percent, well above the national average of 26 percent. The curriculum also prepares students for the National Strength and Conditioning Specialist examination.

The program boasts a competitive admissions process. Students accepted into the program include undergraduates enrolled in the University’s 3+2 dual-degree program, students with non-AT bachelor’s degrees who want to become a certified AT, and individuals who desire a change in career.

Clinical rotations begin in the first semester of the program, allowing students early on to integrate their classroom knowledge with clinical learning in varied working environments. Clinical sites include:

• Local high schools, colleges and universities;
• General medical facilities;
• Professional sport teams; and
• Wellness and sport performance facilities.

For more information on the entry-level M.S. in Athletic Training, check out the admission and curriculum requirements and apply today.