Master of Athletic Training, MAT
David Stuckey, MS, LAT, ATC
Director of Athletic Training Education
ATHLETIC TRAINING PROGRAM VISION STATEMENT
The Hardin‐Simmons University Athletic Training Program prepares future athletic training professionals to positively impact the patients they serve and the public perception of athletic training as a health care profession and its role in the global health care community.
PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
1. To provide students desiring to attend a Christian university with an opportunity to earn a master’s degree in athletic training which will prepare them to provide the broadest range of athletic training services, including injury prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, through both classroom and clinical experiences.
2. To provide athletic training students with entry‐level (or above) knowledge, skills, values and abilities to successfully complete all requirements for state licensure and BOC certification.
3. To effectively prepare students to research, critically appraise and appropriately utilize evidence in their clinical problem‐solving and decision‐making.
4. To effectively prepare students to enter the athletic training profession in their chosen setting, so they may enhance the provision of health care through prevention, diagnosis and intervention with emergency, acute and chronic medical conditions.
5. To provide opportunities for personal and professional growth for students to develop themselves as lifelong learners and patient advocates.
6. To continue to meet and/or exceed CAATE standards.
Accreditation:
Hardin-Simmons University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The program has been placed on Probation as of February 11, 2020, by the CAATE, 6850 Austin Center Blvd., Suite 100, Austin, TX 78731-3101
General Program Information:
Upon successful completion of this degree program, students become eligible for athletic training licensure through the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation and certification by the Board of Certification, Inc. (BOC). The program reserves the right to modify graduation requirements at any time to maintain compliance with CAATE standards.
Availability for clinical experiences is required; many of these occur during evenings, weekends and scheduled breaks outside the regular University calendar. Any transportation and/or living expenses related to clinical experiences is the responsibility of the student. Known additional costs are listed on the program website. Other program-related policies and procedures, including professional behavior standards and progress benchmarks, are located in the AT Program Student Handbook, available from the Director of Athletic Training Education. Prospective students with a previous criminal history should check their eligibility for licensure and/or certification with the appropriate agency.
Retention:
Once admitted into the MAT program, students must continue to demonstrate successful completion of academic courses and other continuing program benchmarks. Student compliance with these benchmarks is assessed constantly through the program. These benchmarks include maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students’ earning a grade of C in any course, will be put on probation. Any course with a grade below a C must be repeated during the probationary period. Students not progressing successfully may be placed on probation or dismissed from the program, based on the deficiency. Specific information concerning probation/dismissal policies is available in the MAT Program Handbook.
Professionalism/Behavior:
MAT students, due to being in a professional program, are held to different standards of professional behavior. AT programs are responsible for ensuring that AT students have opportunities to learn and practice the standards expected of them. This process considers AT student’s fitness to practice in relation to their behavior(s) and in relation to their health when appropriate. Poor health can affect a student’s fitness to practice either directly or by being a cause of misconduct.
Students are cautioned that actions outside the AT Program and/or off-campus may impact their AT Program status. Examples of such actions include but are not limited to other campus disciplinary action, criminal offenses, substance abuse, and academic dishonesty. The program will accept and act on information regarding fitness to practice concerns from anyone inside or outside the program.
Fitness to professionally practice concerns fall under the Foundational Behaviors of Professional Practice section of the 2010 NATA Educational Competencies as well, under the headings of legal practice, ethical practice and professionalism and the Athletic Training Licensure Statute and Rules. Because of this, students should be aware of their responsibilities as outlined in the HSU Student Handbook and the Graduate Bulletin.
Fitness to Practice concerns cast doubt on the student’s decision-making, personal ethics & ability to act/practice professionally. Behaviors that breach University-level standards will be dealt with at that level first, then under the Fitness to Practice policy. The program reserves the right to suspend or otherwise restrict student participation based on the type of offense during this process. More information regarding the program’s Fitness to Practice policy is available in the MAT Student Handbook.
Admission information:
The admission process for the MAT program is competitive; it is possible qualified students may not be admitted. Students may be admitted to the MAT program after earning an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university (with a minimum 2.75 overall GPA) and completing the required prerequisite courses prior to starting the MAT program.
HSU students may be offered early admittance, with the possibility of earning both bachelor’s degree and MAT in 5 years. This requires the student to complete all courses required in the Foundational Curriculum, plus all listed prerequisite courses with a 3.0 overall GPA. These prerequisites include additional courses, besides those required for students applying with their undergraduate degrees. HSU undergraduate students may be offered guaranteed admission based upon criteria listed in the Freshman Admit Criteria Policy, available from the Director of Athletic Training Education.
The MAT program uses a rolling admissions process; interviews and decisions are made while still accepting applications. Applications are submitted through the Athletic Training Centralized Application Service (http://atcas.liaisoncas.org/) and all are required to be verified before considered complete. Preference will be given to applications submitted before February 1. Students may apply before completing all prerequisites, but they must be completed prior to starting the program.
Admissions decisions are made by the MAT Program Director and Core Faculty. These faculty and other stakeholders will conduct interviews. If the faculty believes a student shows promise but has a GPA deficiency, admission may be made on a conditional basis. Questions regarding the specific prerequisite requirements and/or the admissions process should be directed to the MAT program director.
Some clinical sites may require a criminal background check. Prospective students should also be aware of credentialing agency requirements regarding a candidate’s previous criminal history. Students with a previous criminal history should direct questions regarding eligibility for athletic training licensure and/or certification to the MAT program director who will assist the student with contacting the appropriate agency.
Transfer credit:
The curricular design of this program does not generally allow course credit from other programs/institutions. MAT students are required to complete all MAT requirements at HSU to earn their degree.
General Prerequisite Requirements:
• Letter grades required; no pass/fail or credit/no credit grades accepted
• Online courses must be approved by the Director of Athletic Training Education
• No more than three science courses from community college and/or dual-credit.
Dual-credit prerequisite courses may lower your admission status
• Prerequisite and overall GPA are considered as factors in admission decisions
• Completion of prerequisites does not guarantee admission to the MAT program.
Required Prerequisite Courses (with undergraduate degree):
• Human Anatomy & Physiology (8 credits): Two courses with laboratory;
Human A & P I & II
• Chemistry (4 credits): Two courses with laboratory
• Physics (4 credits): One course with laboratory
• Kinesiology/Biomechanics (3 credits)
• Exercise Physiology (3 credits)
• Nutrition (3 credits)
• Psychology (6 credits – 3 must be upper-level)
• Statistics (3 upper-level credits)
HSU 3-2 Prerequisites:
• HSU Foundational Curriculum complete prior to entering MAT program
• Introduction to Athletic Training (ATTR 1100)
• Strength & Flexibility (KINE 1117)
• Sport First Aid (KINE 2303)
• Nutrition (KINE 3302)
• Kinesiology (KINE 3313)
• Exercise Physiology (KINE 3314)
• Instruction of Strength Training (KINE 3360)
• Statistics (KINE 4304)
• Outdoor Education (KINE 2300)
• Aquatic activity course
• Human Anatomy & Physiology (BIOL 2402/BIOL 2403)
• Essentials of OR General Chemistry (CHEM 1401/CHEM 1402 OR CHEM 1410/CHEM 1411)
• General Physics (PHYS 1410)
• Introduction to Public Health (PBHL 2301)
• Introduction to Epidemiology (PBHL 3310)
Additional Requirements:
• Completed ATCAS application, including all transcripts and letters of recommendation
• Pre-entrance medical history, vaccination record and review of program technical standards
• Some clinical sites may require a criminal background check and/or drug testing (at student expense)
• Minimum 50 observation hours in athletic training setting (with undergraduate degree)
• Minimum 100 observation hours in athletic training setting (for 3-2 program)
• Minimum 2.75 overall GPA (with undergraduate degree)
• Minimum 3.0 overall GPA (for HSU 3-2 students)
Courses
Note: By action of the Graduate Council and graduate faculty, all students must have a minimum of 50% of their curriculum in 6000 level courses.
Curriculum
Year 1
Summer:
| ATTR 6301 | Clinically-Oriented Anatomy | 3 |
| ATTR 6303 | Fundamentals of Patient Assessment | 3 |
| ATTR 6201 | Management of Emergency & Acute Conditions | 2 |
| ATTR 6302 | Fundamentals of Therapeutic Intervention | 3 |
| ATTR 6202 | Application of Protective Equipment and | 2 |
| ATTR 6100 | Introduction to Professional Practice | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Fall:
Spring:
Year 2
Summer:
| ATTR 6203 | Clinical Documentation & Billing | 2 |
| ATTR 6415 | Diagnosis & Management V | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Fall:
Spring:
Total Credit Hours: 70
Total Clinical Hours: 21