Athletic Training, M.S.

Department website: https://medicine.wvu.edu/athletic-training/

Degree Offered

• Master of Science

Nature of the Program

The WVU Athletic Training program has a rich history of educating and preparing extraordinary Sports Medicine professionals for over 50 years. Over 500 athletic training students have graduated from the program and have gone on to pursue careers in medicine, college athletics, professional sports, Olympic training centers, military, performing arts, and other clinical settings.

The Master of Science in Athletic Training degree program is a two-year program consisting of classroom, laboratory, and clinical education rotations. Clinical rotations, spanning both years, may include working with WVU Big 12 athletic teams, high school athletes, professional sports, performing arts, and in hospital emergency departments. Graduates of the MSAT program are eligible to sit for the national BOC examination to become a certified athletic trainer.

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Administration

Chair

• Alma Mattocks - PhD, ATC, CHSE (Bellarmine University)
  Associate Professor

MSAT Program Director

• Samantha Scarneo-Miller - PhD, ATC (University of Connecticut)
  Associate Professor

MSAT Director of Clinical Education

• Jennifer Wheeler-Johnson - MS, ATC (University of Kentucky)
  Assistant Professor

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Faculty

Associate Professors

• Alma Mattocks - PhD, ATC, CHSE (Bellarmine University)
  Chair
• Michelle Sandrey - PhD, ATC (University of Kansas)
• Samantha Scarneo-Miller - PhD, ATC (University of Connecticut)
  MSAT Program Director

Assistant Professor

• Jennifer Wheeler-Johnson - MS, ATC (University of Kentucky)
  MSAT Director of Clinical Education

Admissions for 2026-2027

Applications for the Master of Science in Athletic Training are accepted via ATCAS from July 1 - May 1 each year. The program is 24 continuous months and begins in June.

In order to be eligible for admission, students must complete the following requirements:

1. Completion of a baccalaureate degree
   
   Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree, or plan on completing a baccalaureate degree by May of the year entering the program. Students may apply with an undergraduate degree in any major.
    

2. Overall cumulative GPA of 2.75 or greater (3.0 or greater preferred)

   The cumulative GPA includes all previous undergraduate coursework at all institutions the student has attended.

3. Clinical observation

   A minimum of 50 hours of clinical observation under the direct supervision of a certified athletic trainer is preferred.

4. Two letters of recommendations

   It is recommended that one letter be from a board-certified athletic trainer with whom the applicant has worked in a clinical setting.

5. Pre-requisite GPA of 2.75 or greater (3.0 or greater preferred), earning a grade of C or higher in all pre-requisite courses:

   • Biology (3-4 hours)
   • Human Anatomy (3-4 hours)
   • General Chemistry (3-4 hours)
   • Human Physiology (3-4 hours)
   • General Physics (3-4 hours)
   • Psychology (3 hours)

6. Interview

   Successful completion of a virtual interview.

7. Non-native speakers of English

   Non-native speakers of English with international transcripts, regardless of U.S. citizenship, must validate proficiency in the English language. Applicants may submit a satisfactory score on the TOEFL language proficiency test. The minimum required score depends on the form of the exam taken (internet based – 79, or paper based – 550).

Major Code: 8337

Accelerated Bachelor's to Masters (ABM)

The Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's (ABM) provides a pathway for well-qualified WVU Exercise Physiology (EXPH) students to enter the Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program early and complete both their undergraduate and graduate degrees within five years. Admission requirements for the ABM can be found on the Exercise Physiology page of the WVU Undergraduate Catalog.

Curriculum Requirements

A minimum grade of "C" is required in EACH didactic course. A minimum GPA of 3.0 cumulative will be required to progress and graduate from the program. It is possible for a semester GPA to fall below 3.0. In such a case, the student would be placed on probation and required to raise the cumulative GPA the following semester or face possible suspension or dismissal. A Committee on Academic and Professional Standards will be established to oversee academic progress of students.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PALM 503	AT Human Anatomy	4
AT 511	Managing Athletic Medical Trauma	2
AT 513	Foundations of Athletic Training	5
AT 520	Musculoskeletal Assessment & Diagnosis 1	3
AT 521	Musculoskeletal Assessment & Diagnosis 2	3
AT 522	Clinical Decision Making 1	2
AT 523	Evidence Based Practice 1	2
AT 524	Pediatric Sports Medicine Clinical Rotation	3
AT 530	Therapeutic Interventions 1	3
AT 531	Therapeutic Interventions 2	3
AT 532	Clinical Decision Making 2	2
AT 534	Collegiate Sports Medicine Clinical Rotation	3
AT 610	General Medical Conditions	3
AT 613	Sports Medicine Clinical Rotation 1	2
AT 620	Healthcare Administration in Athletic Training	2
AT 622	Optimizing Athletic Performance	2
AT 623	Sports Medicine Clinical Rotation 2	9
AT 629	Professional Practice in Athletic Training 1	1
AT 630	Professional Practice in Athletic Training 2	1
AT 631	Clinical Topics in Sports Medicine	2
AT 632	Evidence Based Practice 2	2
AT 633	Sports Medicine Clinical Rotation 3	8
Total Hours		67

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
				Summer	Hours
				PALM 503	4
				AT 513	5
	9
Second Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer	Hours
AT 511	2	AT 523	2	AT 610	3
AT 520	3	AT 530	3	AT 613	2
AT 521	3	AT 531	3	AT 622	2
AT 522	2	AT 532	2
AT 524	3	AT 534	3
	13		13		7
Third Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
AT 620	2	AT 630	1
AT 623	9	AT 631	2
AT 629	1	AT 632	2
		AT 633	8
	12		13
Total credit hours: 67

Accelerated Program

• B.S. Exercise Physiology and M.S. Athletic Training

Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Curriculum Requirements

A grade of C or higher must be earned in all graded courses required for the Exercise Physiology Program and Major Requirements. Students are expected to remain in compliance with all Exercise Physiology policies and procedures during the undergraduate portion of the program, and with all Athletic Training policies and procedures during the graduate portion. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in both undergraduate and graduate courses throughout their enrollment, and must have a prerequisite GPA of 3.0 to progress into the graduate phase. Eligibility to remain in the ABM will be evaluated at the end of each semester, and students may be placed on program probation for no more than one semester (with program dismissal following for students who do not return to good standing after one semester of program probation). 

ABM Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Undergraduate EXPH Curriculum Requirements		102
Shared Bachelor's/Master's Curriculum Requirements		22
Graduate AT Curriculum Requirements		45
Total Hours		169

Shared Bachelor's/Master's Curriculum Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PALM 503	AT Human Anatomy	4
AT 511	Managing Athletic Medical Trauma	2
AT 513	Foundations of Athletic Training	5
AT 520	Musculoskeletal Assessment & Diagnosis 1	3
AT 521	Musculoskeletal Assessment & Diagnosis 2	3
AT 522	Clinical Decision Making 1	2
AT 524	Pediatric Sports Medicine Clinical Rotation	3
Total Hours		22

Suggested Plan of Study 

First Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
EXPH 191	1	EXPH 101	2
EXPH 240	2	BIOL 102	3
BIOL 101 (GEF 2)	3	BIOL 102L	1
BIOL 101L (GEF 2)	1	CHEM 115	3
CHEM 110	3	CHEM 115L	1
ENGL 101 (GEF 1)	3	PSYC 101 (GEF 4)	3
MATH 124 (GEF 3)	3	GEF 5, 6, 7	3
GEF 5, 6, 7	3
	19		16
Second Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
CHEM 116	3	EXPH 367	3
CHEM 116L	1	PHYS 102 (GEF 8)	4
ENGL 102 (GEF 1)	3	PHYS 102L	0
PHYS 101 (GEF 8)	4	PSIO 241	4
PHYS 101L	0	PSYC 241 (GEF 8)	3
EXPH 364	3	STAT 211	3
GEF 5, 6, 7	3
	17		17
Third Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer	Hours
EXPH 386	3	EXPH 369	4	PALM 503	4
EXPH 388	1	EXPH 387	3	AT 513	5
EXPH 370	3	EXPH 389	1
EXPH 425	3	EXPH 461	3
EXPH 440	3	EXPH 475	3
EXPH 441	2	EXPH 477	1
		EXPH 496	3
	15		18		9
Fourth Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer	Hours
AT 511	2	AT 523	2	AT 610	3
AT 520	3	AT 530	3	AT 613	2
AT 521	3	AT 531	3	AT 622	2
AT 522	2	AT 532	2
AT 524	3	AT 534	3
	13		13		7
Fifth Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
AT 620	2	AT 630	1
AT 623	9	AT 631	2
AT 629	1	AT 632	2
		AT 633	8
	12		13
Total credit hours: 169

Major Learning Outcomes

Athletic Training

1. Program graduates will be proficient, evidence-based and patient-centered athletic training professionals. 
2. Program graduates will demonstrate effective collaboration in an inter-professional healthcare model.
3. Program graduates demonstrate the ability to engage in practice-based research to improve patient care. 
4. Program graduates will have created a customized plan to formulate strategies for life-long learning to ensure contemporary expertise through ongoing professional development, engagement in professional organizations, and advocacy for the profession.
5. Program graduates will be able to critically appraise the ethical and practical aspects of patient care and research. 

Accreditation

West Virginia University’s Master of Science in Athletic Training degree program was awarded accreditation in April 2020 by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), 6850 Austin Center Blvd., Suite 100, Austin, TX 78731-3101.