Master of Science in Athletic Training

Vision

Educate, connect, advocate athletic training. 

Mission

Assure professional instruction and clinical experiences in the field of athletic training that will allow the students to become certified athletic trainers. 

Goals

1. Develop successful health care providers 
2. Create life-long learners 
3. Promote and participate in patient-centered care 
4. Use evidence to guide practice 
5. Collaborate with other healthcare professionals 

• Step 1: Applicants will complete and submit the online application to the program through ATCAS (Athletic Training Centralized Application Service).

  • The ATCAS application requests the below information:

    • Official transcripts of all academic work attempted.
    • Two letters of recommendation attesting to the potential for success as an athletic trainer and/or the scholarly potential of the applicant;
      • At least one letter must be from a BOC (Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer) certified athletic trainer with whom the applicant has had a professional association.
      • One letter must be from a professor for a prerequisite course which the applicant completed, or from an employer, or whomever the applicant has had a professional association.
    • Documentation of knowledge of athletic training through a minimum of 150 documented hours of volunteer experience under the direct supervision of a BOC certified athletic trainer.
    • Written statement of purpose reflecting the applicant's commitment to athletic training.
    • Prerequisite requirements. All courses (prerequisite and overall) must be taken from an accredited institution.
    • Technical Standards Policy

• Step 2: Qualified applicants will be invited for an interview with the MSAT Program Admission Committee in December, January, or February.  The interviews will assist in the application reviews and admissions decisions and will occur via video conference or face to face.

• Step 3: Applicants that are offered informal admission after the interview will need to complete the Cal State Apply application (CSU requirement) by April 1st.  

• Step 4: Pay the non-refundable enrollment deposit ($150).

• (International Students Only) - applicants who do not hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution are required to satisfy English language requirements.  The following test results are accepted by CSULB: TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson, Eiken, or ALI information.  Please note that Cal State Apply deadline for international students are March 1st.

• Hold, or be eligible to hold, an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association or have completed equivalent academic preparation as determined by an appropriate campus authority, by the end of the spring semester prior to admission to the program.

• Have attained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 (A=4.00).

• Have been in good academic, professional, and clinical standing at the last institution and if applicable in the last entry-level athletic training educational program attended.

• Have successfully completed the prerequisite courses with a minimum of "C" and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 by the end of the fall semester prior to the year of admission to the program. No course may be repeated more than once and no more than 3 prerequisite courses may be repeated. CR/NC grades, correspondence courses, or independent study courses cannot be used for prerequisite requirements.

• Have completed a minimum of 150 documented hours of volunteer experience under the direct supervision of a BOC certified athletic trainer.  It is highly encouraged for students to gain experience in a variety of different clinical settings.

• Human Anatomy (1 semester with lab)
• Human Physiology (1 semester with lab)
• General Psychology (1 semester)
• Physics (1 semester)
• Chemistry (1 semester)
• Biology (1 semester)
• Biomechanics (1 semester)
• Exercise Physiology (1 semester)
• Nutrition (1 semester)
• Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries (1 semester)
• Statistics (1 semester)

There will be two review dates for application:

• Priority review
  • Submit ATCAS application by December 1^st
    • ​These applicants will be given priority consideration and highly qualified applicants may be invited for interviews by the MSAT Admissions Committee in December or January.
• Regular review
  • Submit ATCAS application by February 15^th
    • If there is room available in the incoming cohort, applicants who apply during this cycle may be offered an interview. We recommend that interested students apply as early as possible. The program reserves the right to extend the deadline to accept and review ATCAS applications after the regular deadline if space in the cohort exists.^​​

• Early decision applicants will be notified of their status in mid-December and invited for an in-person/video-conference interview.

• Regular decision applicants are notified starting late February to mid-March for in-person/video-conference interview.

• The following criteria will be used to evaluate each applicant.  All applicants will be evaluated by the MSAT Admissions Committee, which include core faculty and may include preceptors.

After admission to the Master of Science in Athletic Training Program, the following documentation must be submitted to the AT Program prior to the beginning of program instruction.

• Health insurance, titers and immunizations (HBV series, MMR, Tdap, chicken pox, and meningococcal, and any others required)
• Negative TB Test (within past 2 months)
• BOC (Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer) identification number
• Valid CPR card (as outlined by the BOC)
• Federal Criminal Background Check
• Signed Documentation: Ability to meet Technical Standards with or without accommodations, Statement of Confidentiality, and Communicable Disease Policy.
• Adhering to the Athletic Training Programs Technical Standards and academic performance standards functions are required for clinical coursework.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Science in Athletic Training degree program is a 52 unit, two year, cohort program that includes clinical education.

Core:

Take all of the following courses:

• AT 500 Athletic Training Healthcare and Clinical Skills (2) Prerequisite: Admission to the MSAT program. Co-requisite: AT 502, 510, 520, 581, and KIN 696.
• AT 502 Emergency Management in Athletic Training (1) Prerequisite: Admission to the MSAT program. Co-requisite: AT 500, 510, 520, 581 and KIN 696.
• AT 504 Evidence-Based Practice and Testing in Athletic Training (1) Prerequisites: AT 500, AT 502, and KIN 696.
• AT 506 Public Health and Epidemiology in Athletic Training (2) Prerequisites: AT 504.
• AT 510 Athletic Training Clinical Evaluation I (3) Prerequisite: Admission to the MSAT program. Co-requisites: AT 500, AT 502.
• AT 511 Athletic Training Clinical Evaluation II (3) Prerequisites: AT 510.
• AT 515 Medical Conditions and Pharmacology in Athletic Training (3) Prerequisite: AT 581.
• AT 520 Athletic Training Therapeutic Interventions I (3) Prerequisite: Admission to the MSAT program. Co-requisite: AT 510.
• AT 521 Athletic Training Therapeutic Interventions II (3) Prerequisite: AT 520. Co-requisite: AT 511.
• AT 525 Athletic Training Therapeutic Interventions: Therapeutic Modalities (2) Prerequisites: AT 581.
• AT 526 Manual Therapeutic Interventions in Athletic Training (2) Prerequisite: AT 521, AT 525, AT 583.
• AT 530 Management and Professional Issues in Athletic Training (3) Prerequisite: AT 582.
• KIN 579 Psychological Aspects of Sports Injury (3) Prerequisite: Graduate Standing or Consent of Instructor.
• KIN 696 Research Methods and Statistical Analysis (3) Prerequisite: Undergraduate major in Kinesiology or related field, undergraduate Statistic course or equivalent.

Take one of the following elective courses (3 units):

• KIN 540 Biomechanical Factors in Human Movement (3) Prerequisite: KIN 300 or equivalent.
• KIN 541 Applied Biomechanics: Lifting and work Capacity (3) Prerequisite: KIN 300 or equivalent (trigonometry and PHYS 100A recommended).
• KIN 551 Advanced Exercise Physiology (3) Prerequisite: KIN 301 or equivalent and BIOL 207 or equivalent.
• KIN 552 Exercise Testing and Training in Health and Disease (3) Prerequisite: KIN 301 or equivalent and BIOL 207 or equivalent.
• KIN 561 Musculoskeletal Injuries in Sport (3) Prerequisite: AT 207 and KIN 300 or their equivalent and BIOL 208 or its equivalent.
• KIN 562 Advanced Strength and Conditioning (3) Prerequisite: KIN 300, KIN 301.
• KIN 565 Clinical Exercise Electrocardiography (3) Prerequisite: BIOL 207, KIN 301, and/or consent of instructor.
• KIN 566 Biochemical and Hormonal Adaptations to Physical Activity (3) Prerequisite: KIN 301 or equivalent; CHEM 111A, CHEM 112A, or its equivalent.
• KIN 568 Nutrition for Exercise and Performance (3) Prerequisite: NUTR 132, KIN 301.

Take all of following courses:

• AT 581 Athletic Training Clinical Education I (2) Prerequisite: Admission to the MSAT program. Co-requisite: AT 500, 502.
• AT 582 Athletic Training Clinical Education II (2) Prerequisite: AT 581.
• AT 583 Athletic Training Clinical Education III (2) Prerequisite: AT 582.
• AT 584 Athletic Training Clinical Education IV (2) Prerequisite: AT 583.
• AT 591 Seminar in Athletic Training (1) Prerequisite: AT 583. Co-requisite: AT 584.

Complete the following courses(6 units):

• AT 699A Applied Research Project in Athletic Training (2) Prerequisite: Advancement to Candidacy, KIN 696. Co-requisite: AT 504.
• AT 699B Applied Research Project in Athletic Training (2) Prerequisite: AT 699A.
• AT 699C Applied Research Project in Athletic Training (2) Prerequisite: AT 699B.

Fall 1 Semester

Spring 1 Semester

Fall 2 Semester

Spring 2 Semester

* KIN elective can be taken any time throughout the program.
** KIN 579 can be taken during the May intersession 

Athletic training students (ATS) enrolled in the MSAT program must complete clinical education requirements under the direct supervision of a preceptor in all clinical settings. Per CAATE Standards for Accreditation of Professional Athletic Training Education Standard 31 (2020), a preceptor is either an athletic trainer or a physician.

All students accepted into the MSAT program must complete the following Clinical Education requirements to fulfill requirements for their degree:

• Athletic Training Clinical Education I
• Athletic Training Clinical Education II
• Athletic Training Clinical Education III
• Athletic Training Clinical Education IV

The clinical education rotations and assignments provide opportunities for students to gain clinical experiences associated with a variety of different populations (CAATE Standards for Accreditation of Professional Athletic Training Education Standard 17, 2020), including throughout the lifespan, different sexes, different socioeconomic statuses, varying levels of athletic ability, and non-sport activities.

The CSULB MSAT program is affiliated with various sites in the community including the following:

Prior to any clinical assignment, students need to have the up-to-date documents of the following on file:

1. Current Emergency Cardiac Care (ECC)
   • ECC certification is required and must be kept current, and the following needs to be included:
     • Adult CPR
     • Pediatric CPR
     • Second rescuer CPR
     • AED
     • Airway obstruction
     • Barrier devices (e.g., pocket mask, bag valve mask)
2. TB Tests
   • TB test indurations test should be done prior to August 1st of each year.  Individuals with previous positive skin test must have chest X-rays.
3. Immunization Records
   • All incoming graduate and post-baccalaureate students must show proof of the following vaccines by August 1st of the admission year:
     • Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
     • Varicella (Chickenpox)
     • Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap)
     • Hepatitis B
     • Meningitis ACY-W (required for students 21 and younger)
     • Additional annual vaccination may be required (e.g., influenza)
4. Background Check
   • Criminal background check must minimally include:
     • Seven years history
     • Address verification
     • Nationwide Sex Offender Index search
     • Two names (current legal and one other name)
     • Nationwide Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Scan
     • Social Security Number verification
     • Nationwide Database Search
   • Applicants with Prior Criminal Conviction
     • A prior conviction of any crime (with the exception of misdemeanor traffic offenses or traffic ordinance violations that do not involve the use of alcohol or drugs), or any professional discipline, may prevent the student from taking the Board of Certification examination.
     • Individuals with a conviction and/or professional discipline should request a predetermination of eligibility from the BOC prior to starting the MSAT program.  Please review the Professional Practice and Disciplinary Guidelines and Proceduresfor details on BOC website.

Program Information and Outcomes

The following are aggregated student achievement data for BOC exam pass rate, graduation rate, retention rate, and graduation placement rate. The same data can be retrieved directly from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) website using the following link: 

California State University Program Information and Outcome Data

CSULB BOC Exam Pass Rate

Pass rate of the students who have taken the Board of Certification Examination.

CSULB Program Graduation Rate

Graduation rate measures the progress of students who began their studies as 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. Graduation rate is calculated as the sum of students with a Graduated status divided by the total number of students in the cohort (excludes students with a deceased or Leave of Absence (medical) status).

CSULB Program Retention Rate

Retention rate is defined as the percentage of students who have been admitted to the professional program who return to the institution to continue their studies the following academic year. Retention rate is calculated as the sum of students returning to the institution divided by the total number of students in the cohort (excludes students with a deceased or Leave of Absence(medical) status).

*Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a number of our UG students decided to switch majors during this time.

CSULB Graduation Placement Rate

Graduation placement rate is defined as the percentage of students within the 6-months of graduation that have obtained positions in the following categories: employed as an athletic trainer, employed as other, and not employed.  Not employed includes those who are enrolled in another degree program.