Program Codes:
MSAT
Master of Science
INTRODUCTION
Athletic trainers (ATs) are highly qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who render service or treatment to an ever-evolving physically active population. Recent history has seen the Athletic Training profession experience unprecedented growth, both in its numbers and its scope.The Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) Program will prepare students for the demands of the rapidly progressing athletic training profession.
The MSAT Program is a two (2) year, year-round graduate program designed to produce high-quality students eligible to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) Exam during their final semester of coursework. The Program would meet and/or exceed all Commission for Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) educational requirements while providing a diverse education into various innovative aspects of the athletic training profession. The curricula is intended to provide a comprehensive approach to the application of dynamic conceptual and discipline-specific skills within the healthcare arena through a hands-on and individualized approach.
ACCREDITATION
The Mercyhurst University Athletic Training Program is accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) through July 1, 2029.
ACCEPTANCE REQUIREMENTS
Students applying for acceptance into the Mercyhurst University Master of Science in Athletic Training Program must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Her/His transcript must illustrate successful course completion of courses in:
Students must also maintain current emergency cardiac care (ECC) and first-aid certifications prior to enrolling in the MSAT Program.
Admission decisions will be at the discretion of Mercyhurst University and the MSAT Program, provided
Student success will be monitored following each semester to ensure demonstrable progress towards Program-specific goals/outcomes. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate active progress towards completion of all Program requirements (e.g. coursework, clinical experience, etc.) Should a student not maintain the minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA, (s)he will be placed on Probation. A student on Probation will have one semester to bring the cumulative GPA above 3.0 or will be dismissed from the MSAT Program during the following semester.
CLINICAL EDUCATION
An integral part to athletic training education, clinical education will be earned through a variety of mediums, predominantly focusing on in-person clinical experience. A total of nine (9) courses will provide guidance pertaining to Clinical Education through a variety of settings and/or mediums. Clinical Education will focus on various populations and diverse settings similar to those seen in the athletic training profession.
The purpose of this course is to provide fundamental and foundational information to students for the allied health profession of Athletic Training. Students will gain knowledge in injury/illness pathophysiology, evaluation, and immediate corrective course of action. History of the profession, necessary educational background and job opportunities, and the value of interprofessional collaboration will be discussed in order to promote professional development. The evaluation sequence, along with proper documentation, will be introduced and students will be encouraged to apply this knowledge.
Additionally, students will apply the hands-on skills to preventative or post-injury management. Throughout the course, students will be using and
focusing on their critical thinking skills in relation to their profession.
This course will provide fundamental and foundational information for the allied health profession of Athletic Training to Master of Science in Athletic Training students. Theories and techniques for performance of victim assessment, basic life support and medical emergencies will be taught, enabling students to administer immediate care to an injured or suddenly ill person.
This course is primarily focused on physical activity-related conditions and will begin to equip the student with the basic emergency skills of an Athletic Trainer.
The purpose of this course is to provide a fundamental introduction to the Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT). Students will come to understand the critical role of clinical evidence in research as allied healthcare professionals. The focus of the course will explore how epidemiology shapes healthcare practices for patients. Exploration wil include the acquired knowledge of the steps to find reliable information and the ability to critically process the link between data collection and professional practice.
The first in a series of Athletic Training clinical experience courses, this practicum course provides students with an opportunity to apply classroom material. Students will gain clinical experience under the supervision of designated clinical preceptors, ranging from direct patient-care to athletic training administration and healthcare organization.
Clinical assignments may occur in a variety of settings: athletics (youth, secondary, collegiate, professional, general populace), clinical, performing arts, military, civil servants, industrial emergency, or general medical/healthcare.
This course requires inital communication with the instructor, clinical experience hours, and finishes with communication summarizing said clinical experence.
The second in a series of Athletic Training clinical experience courses, this practicum course provides students an opportunity to apply classroom material. Students will gain clinical experience under the supervision of desgnated clinical preceptors, ranging from direct patient-care to athletic training administration and healthcare organization.
Clinical assignments occur In a variety of settings: athletics (youth, secondary, collegiate, professional, general populace), clinical, performing arts, military, civil servants, industrial, emergency, or general medical/healthcare.
This course requres nitial communication with the isntructor, clinical experience hours, and finishes with communication summarizing said clinical experience.
This didactic course introduces students to the clinical evaluation and management of appendicular skeleton (lower and upper extremity) injuries and conditions. Additionally, students will be
presented with the pathophysiology of common ailments, including looking at etiology, prevention and management of said ailments. There will be a strong emphasis on anatomy of bone,
muscle, and ligament at each joint. Students will be presented with hands-on clinical assessment of each area and will be evaluated on their individual psycho-motor skills.
This course is intended for students in the MS for Athletic Training program. The course reviews the scientific and foundational principles associated wth pain theory, tissue response, clinical
decision-making, and the role of psychological complexities. Finally the symbiotic relationship between those principles and those of therapeutic interventions will be discussed, debated and
researched.
This laboratory course is intended for students in the MS in Athletic Traning program. The course provides the opportunity for students to apply principles and therapeutic techniques learned in
the didactic Therapeutic Interventions and Application I course. An emphasis is placed upon students utilizing modalities, therapies, and other interventions to achieve desired Patient-Reported Outcomes.
This course in human anatomy approaches the human body from an athletic training perspective. The course will present an extensive and intensive consideration of the musculoskeletal system, nervous and cardiovascular systems, and upper and lower extremities, as well as an overview of a number of the visceral systems.
Information will be presented formally in lecture from both regional and systemic perspectives. This body of anatomical knowledge will be supplemented and reinforced by audiovisual materials and direct examination of anatomical models, human skeletal materials, and dissection of human cadavers.
This lab accompanies BIO 532, and is a supplement and reinforcement of the information presented in the course, Human Anatomy for Athletic Trainers.
The third in a series of Athletic Training clinical experience courses, this practicum course provides students an opportunity to apply classroom material. Students will gain clinical experience under the supervision of designated clinical preceptors, ranging from direct patient-care to athletic training administration and healthcare organization. Clinical assignments could occur in a variety of settings: athletics (youth, secondary,collegiate, professional, general populace), clinical, performing arts, military, civil servants, industrial, emergency, or general medical/healthcare.
This course requires initial communication with the instructor, clinical experience hours, and finishes with communication summarizing said clinical experience.
The fourth in a series of Athletic Training clinical experience courses, this practicum course provides students an opportunity to apply classroom material. Students will gain clinical experience under the supervision of designated clinical preceptors, ranging from direct patient-care to athletic training administration and healthcare organization. Clinical assignments could occur in a variety of settings: athletics (youth, secondary, collegiate, professional, general populace), clinical, performing arts, military, civil servants, industrial, emergency, or general medical/healthcare.
This course requires initial communication with the instructor, clinical experience hours, and finishes with communication summarizing said clinical experience.
The Integrative Movement and Reconditioning didactic course focuses upon concepts relating to rehabilitating a patient to return to physical activity or physiologic improvement of the patient for physical activity. Utilizing the concept of "Exercise as Medicine," appropriate exercise program construction can serve to prevent or rehabilitate injuries that commonly afflict the physically active population.
Students can expect to be presented with relevant exercise concepts, their indications and contraindications, and how to evaluate and construct appropriate exercise programs specific to the desired patient outcome.
The Integrative Movement and Reconditioning laboratory course focuses upon the application of concepts relating to rehabilitating a patient to return to physical activity or physiologic improvement of the patient for physical activity. Utilizing the concept of "Exercise as Medicine," appropriate exercise program construction can serve to prevent or rehabilitate injuries that
commonly afflict the physically active population.
Students will have the opportunity to apply relevant exercise concepts, their indications and contraindications, and evaluate and construct appropriate exercise programs specific to the
desired patient outcome.
The Athletic Training Seminar I course is the first of two laboratory-style review courses for Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) students. Students will have the opportunity to
apply previously instructed skills and knowledge through presentations, assignments, and hands-on demonstration.
This course not only serves as a review, but allows the student to benchmark her/his progress through the MSAT up until and through the completion of the course.
This didactic course introduces students to the the clinical evaluation and management of axial skeleton ("midline of the body") injuries and conditions. Students will be presented with the
pathophysiology of common ailments, including looking at etiology, prevention and management of said ailments. There will be a strong emphasis on anatomy of bone, muscle and ligament at each joint. Additionally, a focus will be placed pathologies affecting the head and the subsequent management of said conditions.
Students will be presented with hands-on clinical assessment of each area and will be evaluated on their individual psycho-motor skills.
This laboratory course introduces students to the clinical evaluation and management of axial skeleton ("midline of the body") injuries and conditions. Students will be presented with the
pathophysiology of common ailments, including looking at etiology, prevention and management of said ailments. There will be a strong emphasis on anatomy of bone, muscle and ligament at each joint. Additionally, a focus will be placed pathologies affecting the head and the subsequent management of said conditions.
Students will be presented with hands-on clinical assessment of each area and will be evaluated on their individual psycho-motor skills.
This didactic course is intended for students in the Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) Program. This course builds upon the scientific and foundational principles presented in ATR 571, with a focus towards various rehabilitation interventions.
The course will explore the symbiotic relationship between those principles and the combination ofvarious therapeutic interventions, with an eye towards evidence-supported best practices and
patient-reported outcome measures.
This laboratory course is intended for students in the Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) Program. This course builds upon the scientific and foundational principles presented in ATR 572, with a focus towards various rehabilitation interventions.
The course will explore the symbiotic relationship between those principles and the combination of various therapeutic interventions, with an eye towards evidence-supported best practices and
patient-reported outcome measures.
Performance Nutrition will present students knowledge critical to how nutritional concepts can be applied to healthcare and performance. Embracing the concept of "Food as Medicine," the
course will dive into the foundational knowledge required to apply nutritional concepts to various populations.
Students will look at the building blocks of nutrition, the needs of various populations, and how nutrition plays a critical behind-the-scenes role in an individual's health and ability to perform physically and mentally.
The Healthcare Across Communities course prepares students to work with and interact with a variety of patients. Students will gain a foundational knowledge of Public Health and the impact of
federal, state, regional, and local health regulations on the community-at-large, as well as the athletic trainer's role in health promotion and disease prevention in a variety of settings. Emphasis will be placed on the social determinants of health and the impact on patient outcomes, disease prevention programming, health education, epidemiology related to physical activity, and navigating the healthcare systems. By the end of the course, students will understand the implications of historical and current health decisions that impact society today.
This course is designed for students to experience all aspects of an Athletic Trainer's daily work routine within a traditional athletic setting. The student will be immersed in the daily routine of a
Certified Athletic Trainer, experiencing all aspects of patient-care.
The assigned clinical hours, site evaluation, and preceptor evaluations will constitute the majority of the student's grade in the immersive clinical experience. Students will also be required to
perform live evaluations of injured patients, document SOAP notes, using best practices and available injury documentation software, and make increasingly autonomous patient-care decisions
under the direction of the assigned preceptor. Students will also complete reflective journals to improve clinical reasoning, engage in quality control of services rendered, and increase
self-awareness.
This course is designed for level two MSAT students to engage in further hands-on teaching and assessment of clinical skills required of Athletic Training students preparing for the BOC examination.
Students will engage with assigned preceptors at clinical sites to complete various hands-on skills that align with the didactic content of concurrently and previously enrolled classes. The
components assessed in this course will include a variety of therapeutic interventions. Students will also be required to complete evaluations of their assigned preceptors, clinical setting, and
write reflective journals throughout the duration of assigned clinical experiences.
This clinical experience is designed for level two MSAT students to engage in further hands-on teaching and assessment of clinical skills required of Athletic Training students preparing for the BOC examination.
Students will engage with assigned preceptors at clinical sites to complete various hands-on skills that align with didactic content in concurrently and previously enrolled classes. The components assessed in this course will include various medical interventions, patient education for drug awareness (prescription and recreational drug use). Students will also be required to complete evaluations of their assigned preceptors, clinical setting, and write reflective journals throughout the duration of assigned clinical experiences.
This course will focus on the administration of healthcare from the perspective of the Certified Athletic Trainer. Administrative aspects discussed in this class will include strategic planning
facility management, budgeting, and policy/procedure development, implementation, and revision. Insurance navigation, risk assessment, and models of healthcare delivery will also be
discussed. Students will be expected to complete assignments and activities that will help them understand the components of administration from the perspective of an Athletic Trainer. Students will also engage in self-reflection of professional development in the form of interviewing and resume/CV writing/revision.
This course will prepare the athletic training student to work in a variety of settings with a diverse population. Students will explore the general medical evaluation process, including non-MSK evaluation, assessment, diagnosis, and referrals. In addition to a review of legal principles, students will gain a working knowledge of pharmacology and management of medication in the athletic training facility. An emphasis on knowledge of special conditions and working with special populations is included, as is practical application of bracing, splinting, and casting.
This laboratory course supplements the Medical Interventions lecture (ATR 642) and will prepare the athletic training student to work in a variety of settings with a diverse population. Students will explore the general medical evaluation process, including non-MSK evaluation, assessment, diagnosis, and referrals. In addition to a review of legal principles, students will gain a working knowledge of pharmacology and management of medication in the athletic training facility. An emphasis on knowledge of special conditions and working with special populations is included, as is practical application of bracing, splinting, and casting.
ATR 642
The Athletic Training Seminar II course is the second of two review courses for the Master of Science in Athletic Training students. Students will have the opportunity to apply previously instructed skills and knowledge through presentations, assignments, and hands-on demonstration. This course not only serves as a review, but allows the student to benchmark his/her progress through the program, up until and through completion of this course. Additionally,students will have the opportunity to be presented with new information supplemental to their career as a healthcare provider.
This online course will require students to integrate previously learned foundational research concepts from ATR 508 into their clinical practice. Lectures and assignments will integrate
epidemiological considerations for best practices regarding injuries, treatment, rehabilitation, long-term management, healthcare systems, and various other evidence-based practice areas.
Ethics in research, as well as the formal process of research study submission to peer-reviewed journals will also be discussed. Students may also engage in scholarly research activities. These
activities may include but are not limited to: active presentation of original research at professional conferences, original research through previously submitted IRB applications, expansion of previously written critically-appraised topics (CATs), community engagement and outreach, or retrospective research of patient outcomes.
This clinical experience course is designed for level two MSAT students to engage in further hands-on teaching and assessment of clinical skills required of Athletic Training students preparing for the BOC examination.
Students will engage with assigned preceptors at clinical sites to complete various hands-on and clinically oriented skills that align with didactic content in concurrently and previously enrolled classes. The components assessed in this course will include aspects of administrative roles in which Athletic Trainers serve, as well as fabrication of orthotic devices and casting.Students will also be required to complete evaluations of their assigned preceptors, clinical setting, and write reflective journals throughout the duration of assigned experiences.
This course is designed for students to experience all aspects of an Athletic Trainer's daily work routine within a setting that more closely aligns with the student's career goals and aspirations.The purpose of this course is to be fully immersed in the daily routine of a Certified Athletic Trainer. The student will be exposed to all aspects of patient-care. Students will be
concurrently enrolled in ATR 608 and ATR 670, which will be offered in an asynchronous online format.
The assigned clinical hours, site evaluation and preceptor evaluations will constitute the majority of the student's grade. Students will also be required to perform live evaluations of injured
patients, document SOAP notes using best practices and available injury documentation software and make increasingly autonomous patient-care decisions under the direction of the assigned
preceptor. Students will also complete reflective journals to improve clinical reasoning, engage in quality control of services rendered, and increase self-awareness.
This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of the psychology of sport, injury, and rehabilitation. Mental illness recognition, triage, and referral will be discussed for patients in a variety of settings. Students will gain foundational knowledge in and/or application skills of emotion, motivation, mental skills training and use, psychological antecedents of injury, psychology of injury and rehabilitation, career transition and termination, disabilities,rehabilitation/exercise adherence, eating disorders, alcohol and drug/substance abuse, gender and cultural diversity, and research methods related to the psychology of sport, injury, and rehabilitation.
The purpose of this capstone athletic training course is to allow the second year MS Athletic Training student to integrate the didactic, psychomotor, affective, and clinical experiences attained throughout the program. The student will develop a self-assessment to evaluate professional competence, personal goals related to work/life balance, and professional and career goals as part
of this self-exploration and BOC exam preparation course.