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, 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

MSAT Program Director

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

MSAT Coordinator of Clinical Education

• Allison Hetrick - MEd, ATC, NREMT, CSCS (University of Cincinnati)
  Clinical Instructor

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Faculty

Associate Professor

• Michelle Sandrey - PhD, ATC (University of Kansas)

Assistant Professors

• Allison Hetrick - MEd, ATC, NREMT, CSCS (University of Cincinnati)
  MSAT Coordinator of Clinical Education
• Samantha Scarneo-Miller - PhD, ATC (University of Connecticut)
  MSAT Program Director

Admissions for 2025-2026

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 3.0 or greater, 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

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 3	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

Curriculum Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
University Requirements		16
EXPH/AT ABM Program Requirements		40
Undergraduate EXPH Curriculum Requirements		65
Graduate AT Curriculum Requirements		45
Total Hours		166

University Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 5, 6, and 7		15
EXPH 191	First-Year Seminar	1
Total Hours		16

EXPH/AT ABM Program Requirements

A grade of C- or higher must be earned in all graded courses required for the Exercise Physiology Program Requirements. In addition, students must maintain a minimal cumulative GPA of 2.5 to remain in the program. Students who fail to meet or maintain these minimal requirements will be eligible for dismissal. 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
BIOL 101	General Biology 1 (GEF 2)	3
BIOL 101L	General Biology 1 Laboratory (GEF 2)	1
BIOL 102	General Biology 2	3
BIOL 102L	General Biology 2 Laboratory	1
CHEM 115	Fundamentals of Chemistry 1	3
CHEM 115L	Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 Laboratory	1
CHEM 116	Fundamentals of Chemistry 2	3
CHEM 116L	Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 Laboratory	1
MATH 124	Algebra with Applications	3
PHYS 101	Introductory Physics 1 (GEF 8)	4
PHYS 101L	Introductory Physics 1 Laboratory	0
PHYS 102	Introductory Physics 2 (GEF 8)	4
PHYS 102L	Introductory Physics 2 Laboratory	0
PSIO 241	Elementary Physiology	4
PSYC 101	Introduction to Psychology (GEF 4)	3
PSYC 241	Introduction to Human Development (GEF 8)	3
STAT 211	Elementary Statistical Inference (GEF 3)	3
Total Hours		40

Undergraduate EXPH Curriculum Requirements

A grade of C- or higher must be earned in all graded courses required for the major. In addition, students must maintain a minimal cumulative GPA of 2.5 to remain in the program.  Students who fail to meet or maintain these minimal requirements will be eligible for dismissal.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
EXPH 101	Introduction to Exercise Physiology	2
EXPH 240	Medical Terminology	2
EXPH 364	Kinesiology	3
EXPH 367	Exercise Nutrition	3
EXPH 369	Strength/Conditioning Methods	4
EXPH 370	Writing for Exercise Science	3
EXPH 386	Advanced Physiology of Exercise 1	3
EXPH 387	Advanced Physiology of Exercise 2	3
EXPH 388	Physiology of Exercise Laboratory 1	1
EXPH 389	Advanced Physiology of Exercise Lab 2	1
EXPH 425	Motor Learning & Control	3
EXPH 440	Anatomy for Exercise Physiology	3
EXPH 441	Gross Anatomy Laboratory for Exercise Physiology	2
EXPH 461	Exercise is Medicine	3
EXPH 475	Industry Organization in Exercise Physiology	3
EXPH 477	Professional Development for Exercise Physiologists	1
EXPH 496	Senior Thesis	3
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		65

Graduate AT 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
AT 523	Evidence Based Practice 1	2
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 3	2
AT 633	Sports Medicine Clinical Rotation 3	8
Total Hours		45

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.