Master of Science of Athletic Training
The Master of Science of Athletic Training program at the University of the Incarnate Word promotes the education of entry-level athletic trainers and the development and improvement of the athletic training profession. An athletic trainer is a qualified allied health care professional educated and experienced in the management of the healthcare problems associated with exercise and sports participation. In cooperation with physicians and other healthcare professionals, the athletic trainer functions as a member of the athletic healthcare team in secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional sports programs, sports medicine clinics, industrial settings, the armed forces, and other healthcare settings. Completion of this program will allow students to sit for the Board of Certification examination in athletic training. Successful completion of coursework does not guarantee success on the Board of Certification examination.
The Master of Science of Athletic Training program requires 55 credit hours for graduation and is taken over two years, including summers. To fulfill the requirements for this degree program, the student must complete 47 credit hours of didactic coursework and 8 credit hours of clinical coursework.
Academic Instruction Plan
The Athletic Training program was designed to fulfill the specific needs required by accreditation agencies, but also produces effective athletic trainers for schools and a variety of other settings. The program utilizes the current Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education standards.
Clinical Instruction Plan
The Athletic Training program requires each student to complete observations and clinical field experiences spread out over four semesters. The clinical experience component is designed to provide the student with a variety of settings for observation and directed practice of the educational standards and skills learned in the athletic training curriculum. Throughout the clinical component of the program, students are expected to observe the certified athletic trainer and be allowed to practice skills in which they have been determined proficient by the athletic training faculty in the didactic portion of the program. The program is designed for the student to be led through their clinical experiences in order to develop a strong foundational knowledge and then to build on that foundation. The clinical preceptor is a key for providing the student with hands-on experience and sharing practical information about the athletic training profession. The student should consider the clinical experience courses as lab time to practice the skills developed in the didactic classes.
The program utilizes clinical settings to expose students to a variety of patient populations throughout the lifespan, of different sexes, with different socioeconomic statuses, of varying activity levels and athletic ability, and who participate in non-sport activities. Field experiences take place in a variety of clinical sites, to include military clinics, high school and collegiate athletics, health services, and non-traditional settings. Experiences during the immersive clinical practice semester may take place outside the San Antonio area and should be in a setting the student would like to pursue in their early professional life.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the Athletic Training program must submit a completed application form through the Athletic Training Centralized Application System (ATCAS). Candidates are encouraged to submit applications by Feb. 1 of each year, with a final acceptance deadline of June 1 of each year. Admitted students begin classes in the summer semester.
A complete application includes the following:
— All college transcripts with minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.
— All prerequisite coursework completed with a GPA of 2.75 or higher:
— Biology: 3 hours
— Chemistry: 3 hours
— Physics: 3 hours
— Psychology: 3 hours
— Anatomy & Physiology: 8 hours
— Statistics (either math-based or psychology-based)
— Biomechanics/Pathomechanics
— Exercise Physiology
Preferred coursework:
— Medical Terminology
— Research Methods
— Epidemiology
— Public Health
— Nutrition (6 hours), Introductory and Sports
— A well-written letter of intent as to their desire to be an athletic trainer, how UIW fits into this plan, and why UIW’s athletic training program was chosen. The applicant’s 5- and 10-year plans should also be included.
— Professional resume outlining any previous experiences with athletic training or other healthcare fields (e.g. professional organizations, clinical/internship experiences, work-study, employment). *Note: Applicants who hold an athletic training license in the state of Texas will not be allowed to count practice hours toward clinical expectations and will be held to the same practice standards as all other entry-level students.
— Two letters of recommendation (one from a faculty member and one from an athletic trainer from shadowing).
— Completion of at least 50 hours of observation under an athletic trainer.
— Acknowledgment of program Technical Standards.
— Completion of favorable criminal background screening.
— Completion of Health and Immunization Packet (includes health history form, immunizations form, and physical examination form completed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant).
— Interview with the Professional Practice Committee.
— $250 seat deposit required upon acceptance.
Transfer Students
Students who are considering applying and who wish to transfer credit from an athletic training program at another college or university should contact the Program Director for eligibility.