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Athletic Training B.S.-to-M.S. Program

The Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training degree program is now an innovative 3+2 program structure where students complete both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in a total of five years. Incoming freshmen declare the major Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training, and then apply to the Professional Master of Science in Athletic Training program in their third academic year. When accepted to the program, these students then complete both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in the last two years of the program, allowing students to earn graduate credits at a discounted undergraduate rate.

Students with a bachelor’s degree from another institution are also encouraged to apply to the Marshall University Athletic Training program. These students can complete the M.S. portion of the program in two years like most traditional master’s degree programs in Athletic Training.

Early Assurance Program

The Marshall University Professional Master of Science in Athletic Training (PMSAT) Early Assurance Program (EAP) allows high school seniors (in-state or out-of-state) to apply for conditional acceptance into the Masters in Athletic Training Program. Successful applicants will have a guaranteed seat in the Athletic Training program, pending the completion of all undergraduate requirements and program pre-requisites from Marshall University. These students do not have to apply to the Athletic Training program in their third academic year, as long as they meet all PMSAT program requirements.

About the Athletic Training Program

The Marshall University Athletic Training Program is a professional degree program enabling students to earn both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in five years, preparing students to sit for the national Board of Certification (BOC) exam for athletic trainers. The Professional Master of Science in Athletic Training Program (PMSATP) is fully accredited by the CAATE (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education). Marshall University has one of the most affordable athletic training program tuitions in the country. The multifaceted program blends classroom instruction, research, and clinical rotations where students obtain real life experience working hands-on with certified athletic trainers, physicians, physical therapists, and other allied health care professionals. Marshall University offers a variety of clinical settings both traditional and non-traditional, as well as a unique curriculum that prepares students to take and pass the national BOC exam. Recent PMSATP graduates have gained employment in settings that include, but are not limited to, high school, college, and professional athletics, outpatient clinics, industrial rehabilitation sites, physician practices, the performing arts, military, safety settings, and higher education.

We offer the only 3+2 athletic training graduate program in the state of West Virginia in addition to the traditional 4+2 offering. The 4+2 offering is perfect for those who have earned a bachelor’s degree from another institution who are seeking a master’s degree in athletic training.

We offer a rigorous academic program that blends classroom and laboratory instruction with clinical rotations where students obtain required clinical education experiences being assigned to BOC-certified athletic trainers, physicians, physical therapists, and other allied health care professionals. The athletic training program at Marshall offers classes in:

• Foundational clinical skills in athletic training
• Assessment of orthopedic injuries
• General medical conditions
• Therapeutic interventions
• Organization and administration in athletic training
• Current trends in athletic training
• Research methods
• Completion of a graduate research project

Why study Athletic Training at Marshall?

Marshall University is the only institution in the state of West Virginia to offer a 3+2 program structure, so students in the Marshall Athletic Training program are eligible to take the BOC exam a year earlier in their education than students in competing programs. Additionally, the program’s structure reduces tuition costs, making Marshall one of the most affordable athletic training programs in the country, even for out-of-state students.

Already have a bachelor’s degree? No problem – students who meet the pre-requisites can still pursue the program like most traditional two-year master’s degree programs in athletic training.

Once you are admitted to Marshall University and have declared athletic training as your major, you must complete specific prerequisite courses to apply for admission into the PMSAT. At the end of this three year period, after completing 90 hours of course work and meeting all PMSATP program admission requirements, students then apply to our Professional Master of Science in Athletic Training program. Once admitted, students need two additional years to complete all the PMSAT program class and clinical education requirements and graduate with an athletic training master’s degree. Students from other institutions who have met all the PMSAT admission requirements are also encouraged to apply to the PMSAT program.

We encourage you to review the 2023-24 PMSATP Policies and Procedures Manual before applying. Acceptance into the PMSATP is competitive and separate from acceptance to Marshall University.

With student debt in the U.S. at a record high, finding a program that allows you to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees in just five years is an amazing opportunity. Whether you’re interested in aspects of fitness like weight training, personal training, and strength training or you just want to become a certified athletic trainer, our Professional Master of Science in Athletic Training will prepare you to succeed in a variety of industries.

Career Outlook for Athletic Training Majors

Athletic trainers (ATs) are health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.  Athletic trainers are an integral part of health care in many clinical settings. The certified athletic trainer has the medical and physiological skills necessary to provide initial assessment and treatment of injury and the foresight to reduce the risk of their occurrence. A professional degree in Athletic Training and BOC certification offers graduates opportunities to practice in a variety of clinical settings including, but not limited to:

• Public and private secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional and Olympic sports
• Youth leagues, municipal and independently owned youth sports facilities
• Physician practice, similar to nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists and other professional clinical personnel
• Rural and urban hospitals, hospital emergency rooms, urgent and ambulatory care centers
• Clinics with specialties in sports medicine, cardiac rehab, medical fitness, wellness and physical therapy
• Occupational health departments in commercial settings, which include manufacturing, distribution and offices to assist with ergonomics
• Police and fire departments and academies, municipal departments, branches of the military
• Performing arts including professional and collegiate level dance and music

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of athletic trainers is projected to grow 19 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for athletic trainers is expected to increase as people become more aware of the effects of sports-related injuries, and as the middle-aged and older population remains active. The athletic trainer salary varies amongst fields with the highest salaries in the performing arts and professional sports industries.

Opportunities

National Conferences and Scholarship Opportunities

As an athletic training student, you may be chosen for scholarship awards or will have abstracts selected for presentation at the state, district and national level. A few examples of these student achievements include:

• Kimberly Hill was awarded the 2020 William Prentice / MAATA (D3) Scholarship, valued at $2,300, from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Research and Education Foundation.
• Bekah Warrington served as a graduate assistant for our athletic training master’s program and was the 2nd place recipient of the A.C. “Whitey” Gwynne Scholarship in which she received a $1,000.00 award.
• Kate Waddell was the 2nd place recipient of the Larry Sutton Scholarship, which also earned her a $1,000.00 award.
• Christina Rizzie, a first year PMSATP student from Hurricane, WV, was selected as the first place recipient for the oral presentation of her case study on “Tibia and Fibula Fracture in High School Athlete” at the 2018 WVATA conference.
• Caitlin Gale, a second year PMSATP student from Huntington, WV, was selected as the third place recipient for her poster presentation entitled “Linear Head Impact Magnitude Among Collegiate Football Players” at the 2018 WVATA conference.

Seven of the 11 (64%) student presentations accepted for the 2020 MAATA conference were Marshall athletic training students. In our athletic training program at Marshall, you will have the chance to participate in competitions, research initiatives and national conferences that help prepare you for a variety of athletic training jobs.

Specialized Faculty

As an athletic training major at Marshall, you’ll get the chance to learn from highly trained faculty who are integrated into professional organizations such as the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association (MAATA) Critical Incident Stress Management Committee, the West Virginia Athletic Trainers Association (WVATA) and the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Committee on Professional Ethics. These connections are valuable for our students as they can lead to exciting research opportunities and pathways to successful athletic training careers.

CAATE Program Assessment Measures

Click here: CAATE Program Information and Outcomes Page