Athletic Training, M.S.

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Coordinator: Dominique Ross

Associate Professor: Ross; Assistant Professor: Madden; Senior Lecturer: Neptune

The University of Southern Maine (USM) Master of Science in Athletic Training prepares students to become athletic trainers (ATs) in a growing health care field. ATs are qualified health care providers educated in prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, management, and rehabilitation of orthopedic and non-orthopedic conditions. They are employed in a variety of settings including athletics, physician practices, hospitals, performing arts, work-place care, military, and public safety. The AT program at USM values hands-on experience and has designed the second year to combine online courses with immersive clinical education. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), and upon successful completion, students are eligible to sit for the national Board of Certification exam.

Program Requirements

Required Courses:

Program Policies

Academic Policies

Students admitted to the master of science in athletic training (MSAT) program complete 65 credits over 6 semesters, including in-person, online, and clinical experiences. Students must earn a grade of B- or higher to successfully complete a course and must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.67 to earn the MSAT degree.

The University of Southern Maine Athletic Training Program is accredited with the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) exam. After passing the BOC exam, students will earn the BOC Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) credential. To practice athletic training, students will need to comply with state regulations (including but not limited to gaining licensure, registration) or separate exam requirements.

Clinical Education Policies

Personal health insurance is required for all students in this program. Students may select the university insurance coverage or a private company as long as the coverage meets that of the University policy.

Clinical experiences will provide a progression of increasingly complex and autonomous patient-care. Students will have four traditional clinical experiences and two immersive clinical experiences with a variety of patient populations and health conditions.

Prior to beginning clinical experiences, students may be required to complete an annual criminal background check and fingerprinting. If a student has been convicted of a felony and is uncertain if their conviction may jeopardize potential board certification, he or she should request a predetermination of eligibility at any time by submitting their documentation to the Board of Certification (BOC) via email, fax, or mail prior to submitting their application. The Professional Practice and Discipline Committee reviews all convictions. Students should review the Professional Practice and Disciplinary Guidelines and Procedures for details. Candidates who are granted eligibility to sit for the BOC exam should review their state’s practice act prior to sitting for the BOC exam. Their conviction(s) could affect their ability to obtain licensure in that state. In addition, conviction(s) could impact the ability for the program to find clinical placements meeting the Standards outlined by the CAATE. In the event that the program is unable to establish clinical placements, the student may not be eligible for degree completion.

Students are required to become members of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association for the duration of the MSAT Program.

In addition to the general policies described in Academic Policies, specific policies of this program are as follows.

Time Limit

The MSAT program is designed to be completed in six consecutive semesters, including summer. In the event that a student must repeat a course or take a leave of absence from the program, they must work with the MSAT Program Director to ensure all requirements are met. All courses for the MSAT degree must be completed within five years from the date of first matriculation.

Grade Policy

All courses in the athletic training curriculum must be completed with a minimum grade of B- (2.67) to carry graduate credit. If a student receives a grade below B-, the student must repeat the course in the next semester that it is offered. In some cases, students who earn a C in ATH courses may be eligible to work with the Program Director to create an academic remediation plan. Because athletic training courses are not offered every semester, it may be necessary for the student to take a leave of absence from the program until the required course is offered again. A student is only permitted to repeat a course once.

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.67 in each semester in order to progress in the program. A student whose grade point average falls below 2.67 in any semester will be placed on academic probation and will have the subsequent 12 credit hours of coursework to bring the grade point average up to at least 2.67. Students who fail to do this will be dismissed from the program. A student may not be placed on academic probation more than once.

Any student whose cumulative GPA is below 2.67 in their final semester will be dismissed from the program and will not be permitted to graduate.

Transfer Policy

The MSAT program abides by the University of Southern Maine transfer policy as outlined in the Graduate Catalog. In addition, all transfer courses must be evaluated by the MSAT Program Director to determine whether they meet CAATE standards associated with the USM MSAT course. Only those courses that meet the standards will be accepted for transfer.