Master of Science (MS) in Athletic Training

Master of Science in Athletic Training

Offered By: College of Nursing and Health Care Professions

Work Toward a Career in Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation

The Master of Science (MS) in Athletic Training program at Grand Canyon University is designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment as athletic trainers in various clinical and educational settings. These may include schools, colleges and universities, rehabilitation clinics and hospitals, as well as emerging settings in amateur and professional sports.1

As an athletic trainer, you would be responsible for reducing the risk of athletic injuries, as well as providing emergency and stabilizing care when injuries do occur. If you’re passionate about both sports and health science, you may feel called to serve your community as an athletic trainer.

GCU Athletic Training Works with Athlete on Field
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Examine Core Concepts in Athletic Care

This athletic training degree is offered by our College of Nursing and Health Care Professions. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA), Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an allied healthcare profession.2 At GCU, you will have opportunities to prepare for certification as a professional athletic trainer while being immersed within our Christian learning environment. As a Christian university, GCU emphasizes servant leadership and professional ethics.

As a student in the MSAT degree program, you will participate in on-campus lectures, hands-on labs, simulations and clinical experiences at local athletic and rehabilitation facilities. If you are passionate about anatomy, physiology, injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education and helping others, this highly specialized field may be right for you. As an on-campus student at GCU, you will have access to our many campus life activities and amenities. Enjoy being surrounded by like-minded students as you work to pursue your professional ambitions.

TOTAL CREDITS & COURSE LENGTH:
Total Credits: 65
Campus: 15 weeks
[More Info]
TRANSFER CREDITS:
Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)
TUITION RATE:
Campus: $8,250 per semester
[Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid]

Cost of Attendance

 

Athletic Training Topics and Labs

This advanced, on-campus degree program was designed to align with industry expectations and certification requirements. Some core topics you can expect to cover in this program include:

  • Medical condition evaluation and diagnosis 
  • Emergency management 
  • Athletic training research methods and statistics 
  • Biomechanics 
  • Psychosocial conditions 
  • Kinetic chain and spine analysis 

You will also be required to complete a capstone project at the end of the program. This project is intended to prepare you to be a clinical scholar and distribute research that is relevant in the field of athletic training. You will also complete supervised clinical hours in a professional setting to apply what you’ve been taught in classes and labs.
 

The athletic training degree teaches skills and knowledge in each of the five domains of professional practice: 

  • Injury and Illness Prevention and Wellness Promotion 
  • Examination, Assessment and Diagnosis 
  • Immediate and Emergency Care 
  • Therapeutic Intervention 
  • Healthcare Administration and Professional Responsibility
     

As an MSAT degree student at GCU, you will examine critical competencies in the following areas:

  • Effective communication: Construct effective communications appropriate to diverse audiences, purposes and occasions.
  • Critical thinking: Use various analytic and problem-solving skills to examine, evaluate and challenge ideas and arguments.
  • Christian worldview: Express aspects of the Christian worldview, which affect human value and dignity, ethical decision-making, academic disciplines and vocation.
  • Leadership: Recognize and apply ethical, moral and values-based leadership by collaborating respectfully with individuals and encouraging others to achieve their goals.
     

Our MS in Athletic Training program was developed to prepare you for a career in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Upon successful completion of the coursework, you will be eligible to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) exam to obtain athletic training certification. Nearly every state requires athletic trainers to obtain a certification, and certification typically requires that athletic trainers graduate from a degree program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).3 GCU’s master’s in athletic training is CAATE-accredited.

Career Paths for MSAT Degree Graduates

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), colleges and universities are one of the largest employers of qualified athletic trainers.1 In these settings, they may support NCAA athletic divisions as well as intramural and club sports programs. Jobs with an athletic training degree are also commonly available in:1

 

  • Hospitals 
  • Professional sports teams
  • Law enforcement and military departments
  • Fitness centers
  • Physicians' offices
  • Performing arts organization

13%

Estimated job growth rate for athletic trainers from 2023 to 20334

Earn Your MSAT Degree From an Accredited University

The Master of Science in Athletic Training is currently accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), 2001 K Street NW, Third Floor North, Washington, DC 20006 USA. In addition to benefitting from programmatic accreditation, you will also be attending an institutionally accredited university. The Higher Learning Commission has continually accredited GCU since 1968. The College of Nursing and Health Care Professions shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies. Institutional accreditation is a reflection of our commitment to providing quality education and comprehensive curriculum for our students.

 

MS in Athletic Training Program Admissions

 

Eligibility for this athletic training master’s is dependent on specific program requirements, including admissions, clinical requirements and the application process. This degree is part of the Athletic Training Centralized Application System’s (ATCAS) centralized application portal. Students interested in the MSAT at GCU should apply using the ATCAS system. Complete the form on this page to get started.

The application process to this degree program is usually swift and seamless as long as you adhere to specific application requirements and meet application deadlines, such as:

  • Meet the above requirements for application.
  • All applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
  • Applicants who meet all minimum admission requirements can apply to start in the fall, spring or summer semester.
  • All minimum criteria must be successfully met no later than seven days prior to the start date of the semester for which you are seeking full admission.

Admission to the athletic training program requires you to meet the following academic requirements:

  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from a conferred baccalaureate degree earned at an accredited institution 
  • Minimum grade of C (2.0) or better on all required prerequisite coursework listed below:
General Biology lecture and lab*BIO-181, 181L
Human Anatomy lecture and lab, four credit minimum*BIO-201 and 201L OR BIO-210 and 210L
Human Physiology lecture and lab, four credit minimum*BIO-202 and 202L OR BIO-211 and 211L
General Chemistry lecture and lab, four credit minimum*CHM-113 and 113L
General Physics lecture and lab, four credit minimum*PHY-111 and 111L
Exercise PhysiologyEXS-340 and 340L
Introduction to Psychology*PSY-102
Introduction to NutritionNSC-150 or BIO-319
KinesiologyEXS-335 and 335L

 

*CAATE requirement (Standard 54).

  • For applicants, conferred baccalaureate degree will be evaluated for courses that are equivalent to the required prerequisite coursework.
  • Completed GCU background check (within the last six months of the application deadline)

To meet all CAATE accreditation standards and guidelines, as well as liability and health precautions, all students must complete the following information 30 days prior to starting their first clinical course to the Office of Field Experiences: 

  • Certification in first aid 
  • Certification in Emergency Cardiac Care (Approved by the Board of Certification, Inc.)
  • State of Arizona DPS Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card
  • Health History and Physical Examination form
  • ATP Technical Standards form 
  • Updated immunization records
  • Proof of health insurance
  • Proof of valid professional student liability insurance
  • Completed HIPAA and FERPA confidentiality acknowledgment form
  • National Athletic Trainers’ Association membership

Failure to meet these standards and guidelines may result in the loss of your clinical spot and require reapplication to this degree program.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Athletic trainers tend to have a passion for both science and helping people heal. If you think athletic training is the career for you, GCU has prepared answers to your most frequently asked questions about the degree program with the intent of helping you reach your career goals.

Given differences in course loads and scheduling preferences, each student may have a different experience. It’s ideal to speak with a university counselor to get personalized guidance regarding how long it might take to earn your degree. Fill out the form on this page to request a consultation with a university counselor at GCU.

Every athletic training degree has specific eligibility requirements such as a required GPA or course-specific grade requirements. One prerequisite for this degree program is an undergraduate degree in a related major. A bachelor’s degree curriculum may also provide the opportunity to build out-of-classroom experiences and pursue related volunteer opportunities.

The athletic training field is poised for growth in the foreseeable future. According to the BLS, the estimated job growth rate for athletic trainers from 2023 to 2033 is 13%, much faster than average.4 Additionally, athletic trainers can now pursue employment across a wider range of settings. Aside from sports organizations, athletic trainers may apply to jobs in occupational care, performing arts and many other settings.5 

While these both have a focus on athletic health, they work differently within the industry. Sports medicine is a medical discipline that focuses on treating athletes with sport-related injuries. Meanwhile, athletic trainers help create plans to rehabilitate athletes, prevent sport-related injuries and often work on-the-spot to assist athletes during sporting events.

Physical therapists and athletic trainers require different schooling and credentials. However, you may be able to apply for physical therapy school with an undergraduate athletic training degree, provided that it meets the physical therapy school’s admission requirements. Alternatively, you might consider earning a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with an Emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy degree. You will need to earn your doctoral degree in physical therapy to practice as a physical therapist.6

Begin Your Athletic Training Journey

Pursue your passion for sports and health science. 

1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). Athletic Trainers: Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Aug. 27, 2024.

2 National Athletic Trainers’ Association. (n.d.). What Is Athletic Training? NATA. Retrieved Aug. 27, 2024.

3 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). How To Become an Athletic Trainer. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Aug. 27, 2024. 

4 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Athletic Trainers, retrieved Oct. 29,  2024.

5 Sitzler, B. (2023, March 21). The State of Employment for Athletic Trainers. National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Retrieved Aug. 28, 2024.

6 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). How To Become a Physical Therapist. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Aug. 28, 2024.
 

Course List

Major:
65 credits
Degree Requirements:
65 credits

Core Courses

Course Description

This course provides students with an introduction to the foundations of professional athletic training practice. Students learn about the various health professions that comprise the sports medicine team and the appropriate communication strategies in patient care. These concepts are rooted in rules, regulations, and profession documents that comprise the athletic trainer’s scope of practice and standards of care. Students also learn about injury and illness prevention strategies such as health and wellness, nutrition, athletic taping and bracing, and sports regulations (NCAA, NAIA, etc.). Lastly, students learn about the Core Competencies: patient-centered care, interprofessional education (IPE), evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and health care informatics. Prerequisite: Formal acceptance into the MS – Athletic Training program. Co-Requisite: ATP-500L.

Course Description

This lab complements and supports the principles taught in the lecture course. This course encompasses: the principles of health and wellness, injury and illness prevention basics, nutrition planning, taping, bracing and padding for the extremities and spine, communication strategies in sports medicine, and sports-specific equipment fitting. Prerequisite: Formal acceptance into the MS – Athletic Training program. Co-Requisite: ATP-500.

Course Description

This course provides foundational knowledge in general evaluation skills for an athletic trainer. This course also provides knowledge, skills, and assessment techniques for general medical conditions and associated pathologies of the physically active, as well as information applicable to athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers of all levels. The systems instructed in this course are: Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Abdominal, Genitourinary, Gynecologic, Reproductive, Neurology and Concussions, Ears, Eyes, Nose, Throat, Infectious Disease, Systemic Conditions, Dermatology, and an Introduction to Psychosocial Conditions.

Course Description

This course includes the study of the proper techniques for managing patients with acute or emergent conditions. Students learn to perform a primary and secondary survey, as well as triage medical emergencies. Skills and knowledge instructed in this course include establishing and maintaining an airway, maintaining neutral spine alignment with an athlete wearing protective equipment, wound management, immobilization, management of shock, anaphylaxis, mental health emergencies, transfer techniques including spine boarding, core body temperature, and caring for athletes with systemic conditions. All this content is founded in the development of an Emergency Action Plan. Prerequisite: Formal acceptance into the MS – Athletic Training program. Co-Requisite: ATP-515L.

Course Description

This lab complements and supports the principles taught in the lecture course. This course encompasses: establishing and maintaining an airway, maintaining neutral spine alignment with an athlete wearing protective equipment, wound management, immobilization, management of shock, anaphylaxis, mental health emergencies, transfer techniques including spine boarding, core body temperature, and caring for athletes with systemic conditions. Prerequisite: Formal acceptance into the MS – Athletic Training program. Co-Requisite: ATP-515.

Course Description

This course provides students with the specific knowledge and practical skills required to perform proper orthopedic evaluations. Students learn to palpate body and soft tissue structures, and perform active, passive, and resistive range of motion testing, neurological testing, and special ligament tests for the major synovial joints in the body. The body regions that are taught in this course include: Foot/Toes, Ankle/Lower Leg, Knee, and Pelvis/Thigh. Students also learn appropriate documentation strategies for orthopedic evaluations. The evaluation process is rooted in the use of evidence-based practice and students learn the basics in the application of this concept while making clinical decisions. Prerequisite: Formal acceptance into the MS – Athletic Training program. Co-Requisite: ATP-511L.

Course Description

This lab complements and supports the principles taught in the lecture course. This course encompasses evaluation of the Foot/Toes, Ankle/Lower Leg, Knee/Thigh, and Hip/Pelvis. Students will use an electronic medical records (EMR) system. Prerequisite: Formal acceptance into the MS – Athletic Training program. Co-Requisite: ATP-511.

Course Description

This course is a study of various therapeutic modalities that aid in the healing process of injuries. Students learn the theories of pain relief and management, the phases of the healing process, and the viscoelastic properties of tissue. These concepts are woven into each of the electrophysical agents taught in this course such as manual therapies, electrical stimulation, cryotherapy, thermotherapy, ultrasound, diathermy, LASER, and other contemporary modalities. The course also covers treatment planning, goal setting, and the appropriate prescription of therapeutic agents. Prerequisite: ATP-500. Co-Requisite: ATP-520L.

Course Description

This lab complements and supports the principles taught in the lecture course. This course encompasses: manual therapies, electrical stimulation, cryotherapy, thermotherapy, ultrasound, diathermy, LASER, and other contemporary modalities. Prerequisite: ATP-500. Co-Requisite: ATP-520.

Course Description

This course introduces the student to statistics and research design in medicine. Students learn how to identify clinical and research problems. The main purpose of the Research Methods and Design and Statistics for Athletic Trainers course is to introduce students to quantitative and qualitative methods for conducting meaningful inquiry and research. Students gain an overview of research formulation, specifically: design, methodology, format, data management, data analysis, and data presentation. The course helps students develop the ability to use this knowledge to become more effective sports medicine researchers. This course also teaches students about: injury and illness surveillance systems and public data sources, incidence and prevalence rates, screening data, and patterns and trends in epidemiology. This course is an introduction to basic public health concepts and will be scaffolded upon later in the program.

Course Description

This course provides a clinical setting in which athletic training students clinically apply and demonstrate proficiency in athletic training skills. Students are assigned to a preceptor who provides supervision daily through constant visual and auditory interaction, providing feedback to students on their progression. The mode of delivery is student-to-student demonstration and a clinical exam testing students' proficiency at a clinical site (high school, college, or professional) on real patients. The emphasis of this clinical is on developing critical thinking skills, reasonable clinical decision making and clinical competency in emergency response, general medical evaluations, injury prevention strategies, lower extremity evaluations, and therapeutic modalities. Clinical hours: 135.

Course Description

This course builds on the knowledge and skills from ATP-511. This course provides students with the specific knowledge and practical skills required to perform proper orthopedic evaluations. Students learn to palpate body and soft tissue structures, and perform active, passive, and resistive range of motion testing, neurological testing, and special ligament tests for the major synovial joints in the body. The body regions that are taught in this course include: Fingers, Hand, Wrist, Forearm, Elbow, Upper Arm, Shoulder, and Spine. Students also learn appropriate documentation strategies for orthopedic evaluations. The evaluation process is rooted in the use of evidence-based practice and students learn the basics in the application of this concept while making clinical decisions. Prerequisite: ATP-511. Co-Requisite: ATP-512L.

Course Description

This lab complements and supports the principles taught in the lecture course. This course encompasses evaluation of the Fingers, Hand, Wrist, Forearm, Elbow, Upper Arm, Shoulder, and Spine. Students will use an electronic medical records (EMR) system. Prerequisite: ATP-511. Co-Requisite: ATP-512.

Course Description

This course covers the specific and applied use of manual therapies and therapeutic exercises. Students are introduced to the principles of rehabilitation, including, exercise prescription, injury prevention programs, clinical evaluation, collecting and analyzing patient-rated outcome measures to make clinical decisions, and developing a plan of care, to include objective return to play criteria. Students in this course are prepared to work with members of the sports medicine team, through interprofessional collaboration, to optimize patient-centered care, function, and return to play. This course has a foundation in the ICF model to guide patient care to address all contextual and personal factors in the rehabilitation process. Prerequisite: ATP-520. Co-Requisite: ATP-521L.

Course Description

This lab complements and supports the principles taught in the lecture course. This course encompasses the principles of rehabilitation, including exercise prescription, injury prevention programs, clinical evaluation, collecting and analyzing patient-rated outcome measures to make clinical decisions, and developing a plan of care that includes objective return-to-play criteria. Prerequisite: ATP-520. Co-Requisite: ATP-521.

Course Description

This course prepares students for NASM’s corrective exercise specialist credential. Students learn about human movement patterns, foundations in kinesiology, sports biomechanics, static and dynamic postural assessments, assessments for movement, strength, and range of motion, foundations in corrective exercise, and corrective exercise interventions.

Course Description

This course provides a clinical setting in which athletic training students clinically apply and demonstrate proficiency in athletic training skills. Students are assigned to a preceptor who provides supervision daily through constant visual and auditory interaction, providing feedback to students on their progression. The mode of delivery is student-to-student demonstration and a clinical exam testing students' proficiency at a clinical site (high school, college, or professional) on real patients. The emphasis of this clinical is on developing critical thinking skills, reasonable clinical decision making and clinical competency in upper extremity evaluations, orthopedic rehabilitation, and a review of skills from the previous clinical class. Clinical hours: 135.

Course Description

This course establishes a framework for health care administration and management, tasks and techniques required in athletic training, health care programs, the health care industry, and interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics. Students assess their personal and professional readiness for management and leadership and acquire skills necessary for effective administration and leadership within the industry. This knowledge and skills include: documentation in EHR/EMRs, leadership concepts, management (human resources, payor systems, budget, grant funding or other income sources), organizational concepts, facility design, scope of practice and legal aspects in sports medicine. This course also builds on the foundations in public health and includes topics such as advocacy groups, group interventions, public education on specific pathologies, population health, regional identification of health-related problems, and other advanced public health concepts. This course contains a culminating project that proposes a solution to an identified public health problem.

Course Description

This course examines current theories and practices of pharmacology as related to athletic training and sports medicine. Students learn about the drugs used to treat musculoskeletal injuries, respiratory conditions, cardiovascular system, GI disorders, metabolic disorders, and infectious diseases. This course also covers the FDA approval process, supplements and banned substances in international sport. The course also examines how to appropriately create a plan of care for a patient utilizing therapeutic modalities, rehabilitation, and pharmacologic interventions.

Course Description

This clinical allows students to experience the totality of care rendered by an athletic trainer. Students are assigned to a preceptor who provides supervision daily through constant visual and auditory interaction, providing feedback to students on their progression. The mode of delivery is student-to-student demonstration and a clinical exam testing students' proficiency at a clinical site (high school, college, or professional) on real patients. Clinical hours: 180.

Course Description

In this course, learners propose their capstone project. This includes: Problem Statements, a PICO question, Methodology, Review of Relevant Literature, CITI Training, Formal Proposal, and IRB Submission (if applicable). This course culminates into the second research class in preparation for data collection, publications, professional abstract submission, and final capstone presentations.

Course Description

This course provides content in the recognition and management of mental health conditions, motivation of the athlete, and self-care strategies for the athletic trainer. This includes skills and knowledge in communication strategies, motivational techniques, appropriate referral strategies, intervention planning and mental health first response. Focus on the development and application of interpersonal communication strategies, motivational techniques, and referral strategies commonly used for psychosocial interventions in athletic training.

Course Description

This course provides a clinical setting in which athletic training students clinically apply and demonstrate proficiency in athletic training skills. Students are assigned to a preceptor who provides supervision daily through constant visual and auditory interaction, providing feedback to students on their progression. The mode of delivery is student-to-student demonstration and a clinical exam testing students' proficiency at a clinical site (high school, college, or professional) on real patients. The emphasis of this clinical is on developing critical thinking skills, reasonable clinical decision making, clinical competency, and integration of knowledge and skills from all domains of athletic training. Clinical hours: 270.

Course Description

In this course, students complete and present their capstone project. This includes: IRB Approval (if applicable), Data Collection, Data Analysis, Completion of Final Project, Dissemination of Results, and Future Research/Directions. This course prepares students to be clinical scholars and disseminate research that is practice-based and relevant to current practice.

Course Description

This course prepares students to sit for the Athletic Training Board of Certification (BOC) exam. Students examine professional regulations and certification requirements and use practice exam questions to prepare for the certification exam. Students also develop a timeline for preparation for the BOC examination.

Course Description

This course provides a clinical setting in which athletic training students clinically apply and demonstrate proficiency in athletic training skills. Students are assigned to a preceptor who provides supervision daily through constant visual and auditory interaction, providing feedback to students on their progression. The mode of delivery is student-to-student demonstration and a clinical exam testing students' proficiency at a clinical site (high school, college, or professional) on real patients. The emphasis of this clinical is on developing critical thinking skills, reasonable clinical decision making, clinical competency, and integration of knowledge and skills from all domains of athletic training. Clinical hours: 180.

  • GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
  • Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
  • Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change

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