The Masters in Athletic Training (MAT) program is designed to produce scholarly healthcare practitioners that excel in the areas of leadership, education, and service in all aspects of life. Program graduates will be committed to continuous patient-centered care and advocacy within their community using evidence-based practices within their chosen Arena.
The MAT is a 2-year (six consecutive semesters – fall, spring, summer, fall, spring, summer) cohort program with a highly competitive admissions process. Student cohorts will be admitted once a year for a Fall semester start date.
Application Deadlines
To be considered for admission into the JSU Masters in Athletic Training program, applications must be submitted via Athletic Training Centralized Application System (ATCAS) by using the following link: http://atcas.liasoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login
Applicants are considered for admission for the fall semester only. For priority consideration, all application materials must be submitted via ATCAS before February 1; the final deadline to submit all application materials is April 1.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 1 | Priority Registration |
| April 1 | Final Deadline |
Applications completed after April 1 will be considered for admission in the Summer semester the following year.
Application Materials Required for the Masters in Athletic Training (MAT)
Applicants for the MAT must submit all of the following documentation through the ATCAS (https://caate.net/apply-now/).
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities with degrees posted.
- A video submission to include: personal background, reasons for interest in the program, and career aspirations (3 to 5 minutes in length).
- Letters of Recommendation (2) – One letter must be from a Certified Athletic Trainer; the other letter must be from an academic professor.
- Professional Resume
- Completed Direct Observation Verification Form (Showing a minimum of 50 hours)
- Letter of Interest and Professional Cover Letter
- International student applicants must see the International Student Applicants’ section of this catalog for other application and enrollment requirements.
- Professional interview may be required.
- Satisfactory writing sample may be required.
Admission Requirements for the Masters in Athletic Training (MAT)
Applicants are admitted to the MAT on a selective basis upon review of the completed application package by the MAT Selection Committee. Additionally, applicants must meet general admission requirements of Graduate Studies. Preference will be given to applicants with an undergraduate major in fields such as Exercise Science and Wellness (ESW), Kinesiology, Physical Education, Biology, or closely related major. Applicants must meet the following admission requirements regardless of undergraduate major:
- Overall minimum GPA of 2.75 (based on a 4.0 scale).
- Applicants must submit proof of successful completion of the following prerequisite courses with a “C” or better:
- General Biology (4 hours)
- General Chemistry (4 hours)
- Physics (4 hours)
- Anatomy and Physiology 1 & 2 (8 hours)
- Biomechanics (3 hours)
- Exercise Physiology (3 hours)
- Kinesiology (3 hours)
- Psychology (3 hours)
Completion of prerequisite coursework is required to meet unconditional program admission. Prerequisite courses should be completed prior to starting the program. (Depending on the prerequisite deficiencies, students may be allowed to take courses during the first semester of program enrollment.)
Unconditional Admission
To obtain unconditional admission to the MAT program students must meet the following admission requirements:
- Initial undergraduate degree GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.00 scale and completion of all prerequisite coursework.
Conditional Admission
To obtain conditional admission to the MAT program students must meet one of the following admission requirements:
- Applicants who fail to meet the 2.75 GPA requirement for unconditional admission may be eligible for conditional admission to the program with 105 quality points earned on the required pre-requisite courses. Applicants who are granted conditional admission based on this requirement must achieve a GPA of at least 3.00 on the first 12 graduate hours attempted. Failure to meet these conditions will result in the student being dropped from the MAT program.
- Applicants who meet the 2.75 GPA requirement for unconditional admission, but have not met prerequisite coursework may be eligible for conditional admission to the program.
- POST Admission Requirements – Unconditional or conditional admission to the MAT program is provisional based on the completion of the following items and receipt by JSU before the first day of class:
- Background check
- BLS CPR certification
- Drug Screening (initial and random)
- TB Skin Testing
- Hepatitis B Series/Titers
- Immunizations (MMR, DPT, etc.)
- Medproctor (immunization verification and immunization compliance software)
Progression and Retention
After students have been formally accepted into the Masters in Athletic Training program at Jacksonville State University, the athletic training student must maintain a 3.0 GPA. If the GPA falls below a 3.0, a student will be placed on academic probation per the Graduate Studies policy. A maximum of two courses with a grade of "C" may be counted toward degree completion and graduation. A student earning a third "C" or lower may be dismissed from the MAT program. A student may not commence a new academic semester until any grade of Incomplete (I) is resolved. If a student receives a grade of "F" or two "C"s, they must speak with the instructor of record on how they can improve their grade in order to stay in the Masters in Athletic Training program and resolve their incomplete (I) grade in a timely fashion. Any student receiving a grade of "F" in any course may be dismissed from the program. Students who have been academically removed from the program and wish to re-enter the program, must retake any course in which they earned a "C" prior to continuing on full-time in the Masters in Athletic Training program.
In order to graduate, all students must successfully complete all course requirements per course syllabi, pass the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) in AT 536 and AT 556, in order to proceed to the next academic semester, and present a clinical case study or critically appraised topic at Jacksonville State University's Research Symposium for HPE 590 course.
Minimum Requirements for the Masters in Athletic Training
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1: Fall | ||
| AT 512 | Foundational Concepts of Athletic Training | 3 |
| AT 513 | Emergency Care | 3 |
| AT 515 | Therapeutic Interventions I | 2 |
| AT 517 | Physical Exam I | 3 |
| AT 518 | Physical Exam I Lab | 1 |
| Semester 2: Spring | ||
| AT 525 | Therapeutic Interventions II | 2 |
| AT 526 | Clinical Education I | 2 |
| AT 527 | Physical Exam II | 3 |
| AT 528 | Physical Exam Lab II | 1 |
| NU 544 | Statistical Methods in Health Care | 3 |
| Semester 3: Summer | ||
| AT 535 | Therapeutic Interventions III | 2 |
| AT 536 | Clinical Education II | 2 |
| AT 537 | Physical Exam III | 3 |
| AT 538 | Physical Exam Lab III | 1 |
| AT 523 | Medical Documentation and Informatics | 2 |
| Semester 4: Fall | ||
| AT 542 | Evidence-Based Practices: Implications in Athletic Training | 2 |
| AT 546 | Clinical Education III | 3 |
| HPE 590 | Directed Studies in Wellness and Sports Studies | 3 |
| Semester 5: Spring | ||
| AT 550 | Medical Conditions | 3 |
| AT 553 | Athletic Training Ethics and Administration | 3 |
| AT 556 | Clinical Education IV | 2 |
| HPE 539 | Diet and Performance | 3 |
| Semester 6: Summer | ||
| HPE 537 | Diversity Issues and Trends in Wellness and Sport Studies | 3 |
| AT 562 | Health Promotions & Wellness | 2 |
| AT 566 | Clinical Education V | 2 |
| Total Hours | 59 | |
59 Graduate Semester Hours Required for this Degree