Athletic Training, M.S. | University of West Florida

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 UWF Master of Science in Athletic Training Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). After the initial comprehensive review, the UWF MSAT Program was granted the maximum initial 5-year accreditation.

UWF's Master of Science in Athletic Training program will prepare you for a successful career in high school athletics, college/university athletics, professional sport teams, industry, medical clinics and other settings.

As an athletic trainer, you will help prevent injuries and illnesses; provide assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of acute and/or chronic injuries; and return patients to sport or activity.

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What You Will Learn

The 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.

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 at the Andrews Institute clinics, doctor's offices and outreach settings including nearly every high school in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Additionally, students are assigned to most UWF's sports programs as well as at Pensacola State College, Select Physical Therapy, University of South Alabama, Coastal Carolina University, Cardinal Gibbons High School, and Texas A&M University.

You will also take an immersion clinical education course. This clinical rotation is a full-time assignment with a preceptor that gives you an understanding of the role of the Certified Athletic Trainer and the demands of a typical workday.

Courses

Admission Requirements

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, the department requires:

A minimum of 3.00 cumulative GPA and a grade of C or higher on all prerequisite courses:
- 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

Technical Standards

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 Student Accessibility Resources (phone #850.474.2387, or uwf.edu/sar) for information on how to request reasonable accommodations for this program.

Accreditation and Outcomes

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.

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.

Student Outcomes

Student outcomes from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education

Additional Information

For costs associated with UWF Tuition and Fees, please visit Cost & Financial Aid.

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

Other MSAT Program Costs

Item	Amount	Frequency
UWF Application Fee	$30	One time
ATCAS Fee	$93	One time
Castlebranch Package (background, drug, and eLearning)	$161	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	$65	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
AT Kit and Supplies	Vary based on vendor	One time
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