UWF students demonstrating athletic training procedures on PenAir Field on the UWF Pensacola campus.

Andrews Institute and Baptist Health Care Master of Science in Athletic Training

Program Details

Credit Hours: 50

Course Length: 16 weeks

Estimated Program Length: 24 months

Apply Now

Program duration may depend on course load and availability. Consult with your advisor.

Program Details

Credit Hours: 50

Course Length: 16 weeks

Estimated Program Length: 24 months

Apply Now

Program duration may depend on course load and availability. Consult with your advisor.

Athletic trainers are health care professionals educated to provide management of health care problems associated with sport and physical activity. An M.S. in Athletic Training from UWF will give you the skills you need — and a competitive edge in the job market.

Why Study Athletic Training at UWF?

CAATE Accreditation Seal The Andrews Institute and Baptist Health Care Master of Science in Athletic Training Program at UWF is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

After the initial comprehensive review, the AIBHC MSAT Program at UWF was granted the maximum initial 5-year accreditation.

The mission of the Andrews Institute and Baptist Health Care Master of Science in the Athletic Training Program at University of West Florida is to prepare patient-centered clinicians who apply evidence-based practice and ethical reasoning by interacting with the physically active population and advancing the knowledge of the profession through interdisciplinary community engagement and partnerships within the region’s health care network.

AIBHC MSAT program at UWF will prepare you for a successful career as an athletic trainer in high school athletics, college/university athletics, professional sport teams, sports medicine and orthopedic medical clinics and other clinical settings where athletic trainers are employed.

The UWF Athletic Training M.S. program begins in the summer semester (Term 4). Please see the UWF Academic Calendar for more information.

Apply Now

Visit Campus

What You Will Learn

The Andrews Institute and Baptist Health Care Master of Science in Athletic Training program will prepare you for a rewarding health care career. Our two-year program is specifically designed to meet national and state licensure requirements. When you complete the program, you will be eligible to sit for the Board of Certification examination for athletic training.

Our program will teach you about the five domains of athletic training: risk reduction, wellness, and health literacy; assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis; critical incident management; therapeutic intervention; healthcare administration and professional responsibility.

You will also engage in clinical education opportunities throughout the Pensacola region. Clinical education affiliation sites include Division I UWF Athletics, Pensacola State College, Andrews Institute Orthopedic and Sports Medicine clinics, Baptist Health Care Primary/Family Care Clinics, and local high schools in Escambia county and Santa Rosa county.

You will also engage in a full clinical immersion during the fall semester of the second year in the program. This clinical rotation is a full-time assignment with a preceptor at a clinical site that gives you an understanding of the role of the Certified Athletic Trainer and the demands of a typical workday. Past full clinical immersion sites have included Texas A&M University; Seattle Sounders FC; University of South Alabama; University of Georgia; University of Florida; University of Louisiana, Lafayette; Andrews Institute Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physician Clinics; University of Tennessee, Chattanooga; but you get to choose and we help establish this full immersion clinical site based on your preferences and career goals.

UWF offers classes through various delivery methods, including face-to-face, hybrid, and online. Though UWF makes every effort to provide on-campus classes in face-to-face programs, there is a possibility that some classes will have limited availability and may be offered online only. For more information, review the modes of delivery and instructional methods.

Courses & Requirements

The overall objectives of the Athletic Training program are to instruct, evaluate, and provide hands-on experience for students in the following domains: Risk Reduction, Wellness, and Health Literacy; Assessment, Evaluation, and Diagnosis; Critical Incident Management; Therapeutic Intervention; and Healthcare Administration and Professional Responsibilities.

Semester I (Summer B)

ATR 5105C Advanced Principles in Athletic Training - 3 credit hours
ATR 5120C Anatomical Basis for Clinical Practice in Athletic Training - 3 credit hours
ATR 5115C Acute and Emergency Care in Athletic Training - 3 credit hours

Semester II (Fall)

ATR 5217C Evaluation and Diagnosis of Orthopedic Conditions I - 3 credit hours
ATR 6305C Therapeutic Modalities in Athletic Training - 3 credit hours
ATR 5815C Athletic Training Clinical Experience I - 3 credit hours

Semester III (Spring)

ATR 5218C Evaluation and Diagnosis of Orthopedic Conditions II - 3 credit hours
ATR 6316C Rehabilitation Techniques in Athletic Training - 3 credit hours
ATR 5825C Athletic Training Clinical Experience II - 3 credit hours
ATR 6620 Research in Athletic Training I - 3 credit hours

Semester IV (Summer)

ATR 6425 Pharmacology and Diagnostic Imaging in Athletic Training - 2 credit hours
ATR 5435 Evaluation and Diagnosis of General Medical Conditions - 3 credit hours

Semester V (Fall)

ATR 6835 Athletic Training Clinical Experience III - 6 credit hours

Semester VI (Spring)

ATR 6621 Research in Athletic Training II - 3 credit hours
ATR 6845 Athletic Training Clinical Experience IV - 3 credit hours
ATR 6517 Administration and Professionalism in Athletic Training - 3 credit hours

The application process for the UWF Master of Science in Athletic Training consists of two steps, application through ATCAS (the Athletic Training Centralized Application Service) and application to the UWF Graduate School.

In addition to the University graduate admission requirements described in the Admissions section of the catalog, the department bases decisions for regular admission on a holistic review of credentials in which the following criteria are used to assess the potential success of each applicant:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
A minimum of 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and a letter grade of "C" or better on all prerequisite courses. The following prerequisite coursework (letter grade of “C” or better) is required for admission:
Anatomy/Physiology with lab - 2 courses
- Biology with lab - 1 course
- Physics - 1 course
- Biomechanics - 1 course
- Chemistry - 1 course
- Exercise Physiology - 1 course
- Nutrition - 1 course
- Psychology - 1 course
- Statistics - 1 course
The following prerequisite coursework is preferred by the department:
- Principles of Athletic Training or equivalent
- Functional Kinesiology
Official transcripts from all institutions attended that include prerequisite courses
50 hours of observation under a licensed and certified athletic trainer. Please use the MSAT Observation Form.
Two letters of recommendation; one letter should be from a practicing athletic trainer
A résumé/curriculum vitae
Letter of intent

Application Deadlines:

Preferred Deadline: November 1 (every year)
Final Deadline: March 1

Have questions about this program or the admissions process? Contact our graduate admissions team at gradadmissions@uwf.edu.

The Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) at the University of West Florida is a rigorous and intense program that places specific requirements and demands on the students enrolled in the program. An objective of this program is to prepare graduates to enter 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 MSAT establish the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to this program to achieve the knowledge, skills and competencies of an entry-level 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 seeking admission into the MSAT. In the event a student is unable to fulfill these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, the student will not be admitted into the program. Compliance with the program's standards does not guarantee a student's eligibility for the BOC certification exam.

Candidates for selection to the MSAT must demonstrate:

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;
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 and treatment of patients;
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;
The ability to record the physical examination results and a treatment plan clearly and accurately;
The capacity to maintain composure and continue to function well during periods of high stress;
The perseverance, diligence and commitment to complete the athletic training education program as outlines and sequenced;
Flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in clinical situations;
Affective skills and appropriate demeanor and rapport that relate to professional education and quality patient care.

Candidates for selection to the MSAT will be required to verify they understand and meet these technical standards or that they believe that, with certain reasonable accommodations, they can meet the standards. The University of West Florida Student Accessibility Resources will coordinate reasonable accommodations for a student with a documented disability that does not fundamentally alter the program's essential or technical standards. Reasonable accommodation will be determined through an interactive process between the student, Student Accessibility Resources staff, and the MSAT faculty and this may include a review of whether the accommodations requested are reasonable, taking into account whether the accommodation would jeopardize clinician/patient safety, or the educational process of the student or the institution, including all coursework, clinical experiences and internships deemed essential to graduation. Students should contact UWF Student Accessibility Resources for information on how to request reasonable accommodations for this program.

MSAT Handbook 2026-27

Athletic Training M.S. Semester Application Deadlines
Fall Semester	Spring Semester	Summer Semester
No admission	No admission	Preferred Deadline is November 1 (every year) Final Deadline: March 1 (every year) Rolling admission through May 1. Applications will remain open and reviewed on a rolling basis until either the cohort is filled, or May 1, whichever comes first.

You must submit your application and all supporting documents by the specific deadline for your term. Missing documents will result in an incomplete application. Earlier deadlines may apply for graduate assistantships.

International students planning to study on campus with an F-1 visa must fulfill all application requirements by both the program deadline and International Graduate Admissions deadline, whichever comes first, to allow time for visa processing.

Full Course Descriptions Registration Requirements

Accreditation

UWF's graduate program, offered through face-to-face courses by the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health's Department of Movement Sciences and Health, is designed to follow the standards established by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) and will meet local, state and national requirements for licensed, certified athletic trainers.

University of West Florida:

Code: UWF01
Program Type: Professional
Address: 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, FL 32514
Program Accreditation Status: Accredited
Initial Accreditation Date: January 25th, 2023
Year of Next Comprehensive Programmatic Review: 2028 - 2029
Website: uwf.edu

Mission Statement: The mission of the MSAT Program is to prepare patient-centered clinicians who utilize current evidence and ethical reasoning abilities utilizing high-impact practices and diverse clinical experiences that foster community engagement with a variety of professionals.

Program Outcomes: Graduates from the Master of Science in Athletic Training Program should be able to do the following:

Content: Demonstrate procedural knowledge and skills related to best practices in patient-centered care. Formulate a comprehensive plan to coordinate administrative services.
Communication: Collaborate with other healthcare and wellness professionals through the continuum of patient care. Advocate for a variety of social determinants of health through clinical experiences and community engagement.
Critical Thinking: Incorporate evidence-based practice and quality improvement processes into clinical decision making. Critically appraise literature to inform clinical practice.
Integrity/Values: Utilize behaviors that are ethical and compliant with professional practice.

CAATE Program Information and Outcomes

Once a Board of Certification ID is matched to each student in a cohort, and the student has taken the BOC exam, this table will populate from data directly from the BOC. The aggregate pass rate is calculated by the number of graduates taking the exam divided by the number of graduates who pass the exam. Important note: The first time pass rate and total pass rate may be different than what was previously received by programs from the BOC in the Institution Pass Report . The BOC pass rate on previous reports from the BOC was calculated without regard to student cohort and was based on the BOC exam year (April-February of each year). BOC pass rate data posted on the program's website MUST match the data on this table.

UWF MSAT BOC Pass Rate
Measure	3 Year Aggregate
Number of students graduating from program	28
Number of students graduating from program who took examination	28
Number of students who passed the examination on the first attempt	11
Percentage of students who passed the examination on the first attempt	39
Number of students who passed the examination regardless of the number of attempts	20
Percentage of students who passed the examination regardless of the number of attempts	71

Measures the progress of students who began their studies as a full-time degree-seeking students by showing the percentage of these students who complete their degree within 150% of "normal time" for completing the program in which they are enrolled. Programs must post the following data for the past three years on their website: the number of students admitted to the program, the number of students who graduated, and the percentage of students who graduated.

UWF MSAT Program Graduation Rate
Measure	3 Year Aggregate
Number of students graduating from program	28
Student Graduation Rate (%)	93

Percentage of students within six months of graduation who have obtained positions in the following categories: employed as an athletic trainer, employed as other, and not employed. Programs must post the following data for the past three years on their website: the number of students who graduated from the program, the number and percentage of students employed as an athletic trainer, the number and percentage of students employed as other, and the number and percentage of students not employed.

UWF MSAT Student Employment/Placement Rate
Measure	3 Year Aggregate
Number of students Employed as Athletic Trainers	28
Student Employment/Placement Rate as Athletic Trainer (%)	19
Number of students Employed other than as Athletic Trainers	68
Percentage of students who passed the examination on the first attempt	9
Student Employment/Placement Rate other than as Athletic Trainer (%)	32
Number of students Not Employed	0
Student Not Employed Rate (%)	0

Careers & Outlook

Athletic training graduates will be able to work across a wide range of settings, including high schools sports, colleges and universities sports, professionals sports, physician clinics, the performing arts, and the military.

Career Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a 11% growth in athletic training careers from 2024-34.

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

2026-27 Graduate Tuition Rate per Credit Hour*
Residency	Tuition Rate per Credit Hour**
Florida Residency	$378.85 per credit hour
Alabama Residency	$483.85 per credit hour
Non-Florida Residency	$1,137.43 per credit hour

**Tuition and mandatory fees may vary depending on type of learning modality, program of study, and specific course materials. For certificate programs, please verify tuition with your academic department.

Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred. Refer to Cost of Attendance Estimates and Financial Literacy for more information on UWF costs and financial aid.

*Rates apply to courses on the Pensacola campus and exclude market-rate and self-supporting programs.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid

The University of West Florida offers various financial aid options for our students, including loans, scholarships and grants for degree-seeking students. We provide eligible students with an alternative to paying the full amount of tuition at the beginning of each term in the form of an installment payment plan or a short-term loan. Visit the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships website and the Office of Graduate Studies' Tuition and Funding webpage for more information.

Alabama Differential Out-of-State Tuition

Residents of Alabama are eligible for Alabama Differential Tuition, a reduced out-of-state tuition rate. To verify residency status for tuition purposes, new graduate students should contact the Office of Graduate Studies. Current enrolled students should contact the Office of the Registrar. Visit the Office of Graduate Studies' Tuition and Fees webpage for more information.

Military and Veterans

The Military and Veterans Resource Center serves as the campus advocate for military, dependents and veteran students. Contact the MVRC to learn more about the various military and veteran education assistance or tuition waiver opportunities and eligibility requirements.

Program Costs

For costs associated with UWF Tuition and Fees, please visit the Tuition and Fees webpage on the Office of Graduate Studies website.

Students pursuing admission into and retention in the UWF MSAT will incur additional expenses that are required in order to maintain needed credentials.

MSAT Program Costs
Item	Amount	Frequency
UWF Application Fee	$30	One time
Athletic Training Centralized Application Service (ATCAS) Fee	$93	One time
Baptist Student Badging	~$100 (depending which company is used for drug screening and background check)	One time
Immunizations	Will vary based on student's health insurance	One time or as determined by healthcare provider
PPD/TB Skin Test	$15-$25	Annually
CPR for the Healthcare Provider Certification	$40	One time
NATA Membership (allows students to apply for scholarships, have access to journals and career center)	$89	Annually (encouraged but not required)
Clothing	Varies	As needed
Transportation	Varies based on clinical experience placement	Every semester
The cost of housing and travel is on the student during clinical immersion.	This cost is variable depending on where the clinical immersion is located.	Fall semester - 2nd year