Master of Science of Athletic Training
The Master of Science in 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 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 in Athletic Training program requires 48 credit hours for graduation and is taken over two years, including summers. To fulfill the requirements for this degree program, the student must complete 38 credit hours of didactic coursework, 6 credit hours of clinical coursework, and 4 hours of enrichment 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 students to complete observation and clinical field experiences across four semesters. These experiences provide exposure to diverse settings where students can observe certified athletic trainers, practice skills they have demonstrated proficiency in, and apply concepts learned in the classroom. Clinical education is structured to help students build a strong foundation of knowledge and progressively expand their skills, with preceptors playing a central role in guiding hands-on learning and professional development. Students should view clinical courses as essential lab time to refine and apply their skills.
To ensure breadth of experience, students engage with varied patient populations across the lifespan, with differences in sex, socioeconomic status, activity level, and athletic ability, including non-sport activities. Clinical sites include high schools, colleges, military clinics, health services, and non-traditional settings. During the immersive clinical semester, students may complete placements outside of San Antonio, ideally in areas aligned with their early career interests.
Professional Admissions - Sports Physical Therapy Residency
Resident employees within the UIW School of Rehabilitation Sciences have the opportunity to enroll in the MS in Athletic Training education program. Employee discounts on graduate study, a prior learning assessment examination, and review of professional transcripts can be used to streamline an integration of the two programs. Students in this pathway commit to one year as a full-time MSAT student in the year after the Sports Physical Therapy Residency completes. Successful completion of course requirements will fully support the candidate in accessing admission to the athletic training Board of Certification examination.
The Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program
The accelerated Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Sciences to Athletic Training Master of Science is a 5-year dual degree program supporting students interested in acquiring their national certification as an athletic trainer. Students completing the 5-year ABM program are awarded both the bachelor's and master's degrees simultaneously. This Bachelor's to Master's pathway takes the foundationally supportive Healthcare Sciences program and blends it into the 2-year Master of Science of Athletic Training program, resulting in students well-prepared to pass their national boards and serve within their communities. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to work in varied healthcare settings including with sports teams at all levels, military support, and occupational medicine.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the Athletic Training program must submit a completed application form through the Athletic Training Centralized Application System (ATCAS). Application information and deadlines can be found on the program website: Master of Science in Athletic Training.
Admitted students begin classes in the summer semester.
A complete application includes the following:
— All college transcripts with a recommended minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
— All prerequisite coursework completed with a C or higher and a recommended prerequisite GPA of 2.9 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): 3 hours
— Biomechanics/Pathomechanics: 3 hours
— Exercise Physiology: 3 hours
— Nutrition: 3 hours
Preferred coursework:
— Medical Terminology
— Research Methods
— Epidemiology
— Public Health
— Sports Nutrition
— 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.
— Interview with the Admissions Committee.
— Signed Technical Standards
Upon acceptance, the applicant must complete the following before beginning:
— 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).
— $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.
Master of Science of Athletic Training Degree Plan
The Master of Science in Athletic Training program requires 48 credit hours for graduation and is taken over two years, including summers. To fulfill the requirements for this degree program, the student must complete 38 credit hours of didactic coursework, 6 credit hours of clinical coursework, and 4 hours of enrichment coursework.
Didactic Coursework—1st Year
| ATHP 5312 | Foundations of Athletic Training | 3 |
| ATHP 5213 | Foundations of Athletic Training Applications | 2 |
| ATHP 5324 | Emergency Care | 3 |
| ATHP 5336 | Interventions I | 3 |
| ATHP 5333 | Orthopedic Conditions and Anatomy of the Lower Extremity and Lumbar Spine | 3 |
| ATHP 5243 | Evaluation of the Lower Extremity and Lumbar Spine | 2 |
| ATHP 5323 | Orthopedic Conditions and Anatomy of the Upper Extremity, Cervicothoracic Spine, and Head | 3 |
| ATHP 5233 | Evaluation of the Upper Extremity, Cervicothoracic Spine, and Head | 2 |
| ATHP 5337 | Interventions II | 3 |
| ATHP 5262 | Psychosocial Interventions in Athletic Training | 2 |
| ATHP 5130 | Exam Preparation I | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 27 |
Didactic Coursework—2nd Year
| ATHP 6235 | Patient Case Management I | 2 |
| ATHP 6244 | General Medical Conditions I | 2 |
| ATHP 6354 | General Medical Conditions II | 3 |
| ATHP 6255 | Patient Case Management II | 2 |
| ATHP 6252 | Administrative Aspects in Athletic Training | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 11 |
Enrichment Coursework
Clinical Coursework
| ATHP 5121 | Clinical Practice in Athletic Training I | 1 |
| ATHP 5131 | Clinical Practice in Athletic Training II | 1 |
| ATHP 6151 | Clinical Practice in Athletic Training III | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 8 |