Full Description

The Master of Science degree in Athletic Training prepares graduates for the athletic training profession. The program emphasizes both ethics and research across the curriculum to integrate theory to practice, and is designed to facilitate inter-professional practice as athletic trainers engage actively with professionals across the health care disciplines.

The Athletic Training major is a two-calendar year program with summer academic work. The curriculum focuses on building clinical and didactic knowledge and skills anchored in evidence-based practice, while developing strong research skills by developing not only critical analysis skills, but also investigative research skills. Students are exposed to and actively engage with state-of-the-art equipment in professional health care facilities and are mentored by highly recognized professionals. The program fosters inter-professional collaboration to promote professional development for the students who will be practicing and researching in inter-disciplinary teams. Students have the ability to critically evaluate and complete scientific research at the end of their academic program, in addition to preparing for the Board of Certification national credentialing examination.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

Kent State University participates in the Athletic Training Centralized Application System (ATCAS) through the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. Applicants to Kent State's program must apply via ATCAS.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Completion of prerequisite courses with minimum C grade ¹
• Official transcript(s)
• Goal statement
• Two letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:²
  • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 65 PTE score
  • Minimum 120 DET score

¹

Applicants are expected to have substantial preparation in the sciences, usually including coursework in biology, basic athletic training, biomechanics, anatomy and physiology (including exercise physiology), chemistry, research, physics, nutrition and general psychology. Prerequisites are evaluated for course content to ensure appropriate applicability for the program. Due to the program’s highly prescriptive requirements, students cannot transfer in coursework directly into the Athletic Training major.

²

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Summer Term
  • Rolling admissions

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Successfully challenge the Board of Certification (BOC) national credentialing exam.
2. Demonstrate understanding of and competency in the domains of athletic training as defined by the BOC Practice Analysis and Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). 2020 Standards for Accreditation of Professional Athletic Training Programs, Master's Degree Programs.
3. Demonstrate competency in evaluating and completing scientific research and evidence-based practice.
4. Demonstrate competency in engaging in a variety of clinical practice settings related to athletic training with engagement in an inter-professional environment.
5. Apply the principles of the research process in athletic training.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Graduation Requirements

• No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Commission on the Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)

Full Description

Applications to the B.S. Athletic Training are not being accepted at this time.

Students interested in athletic training can pursue the B.S. degree in Sports Medicine, which will allow them to complete all prerequisites to enter the M.S. degree in Athletic Training.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training focuses on injury/illness prevention and wellness protection, immediate and emergency care, treatment and rehabilitation, clinical evaluation and diagnosis and organization and professional health and well-being.

The major consists of pre-professional and professional phases. During the pre-professional phase, students complete 80 observation hours in the athletic training room, where they are exposed to the academic and clinical requirements of athletic training. Students then apply for formal acceptance into the professional phase, where they spend three years applying academic knowledge and clinical application of athletic training skills in a variety of clinical settings, such as intercollegiate athletics, high schools, sports medicine clinics, orthopedic offices and other health care settings.

Upon graduation, students qualify to sit for the national Board of Certification examination. Athletic Training is a suitable option for students who wish to pursue a dual credential of physical therapy/athletic training.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Admission Requirements

Applications to the B.S. Athletic Training are not being accepted at this time.

Applications to the B.S. Athletic Training are not being accepted at this time.

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Apply the principles of the research process in athletic training by engaging in faculty and graduate research.
2. Apply the knowledge and skills gained through the clinical and didactic educational experiences to a variety of health care clinicians in diverse settings including equipment intensive, upper extremity intensive, lower extremity intensive and general medical exposures.
3. Engage health care professionals and apply the knowledge gained, through their education in both the classroom and clinical settings.
4. Engage in program improvement as part of a continuous quality improvement initiative by evaluating the effectiveness of the program through multiple evaluation resources.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

See progression requirements for information on registering for ATTR 15092.

²

Students who have successfully completed either BSCI 11010/BSCI 11020 or BSCI 21010/BSCI 21020 or EXSC 25057/EXSC 25058 with a minimum C grade may use those courses in place of ATTR 25057 or ATTR 25058.

Progression Requirements

Advancement into the professional phase of the athletic training program is selective and is limited. Limited admission will ensure that an appropriate student to preceptor ratio (approximately 8:1) is maintained.

Advancement to the professional program is controlled through the first practicum course (ATTR 15092). In order to be eligible for ATTR 15092, students must:

• Earn a minimum C grade in ATTR 15001, ATTR 15011 ATTR 25036 and ATTR 25057
• Make a formal application to the professional phase of the program
• Provide three professional letters of reference
• Complete 120 hours of directed observation experiences under the direct supervision of an athletic trainer
• Secure first aid and CPR certification
• Successfully complete an oral and written exam administered through ATTR 15011
• Secure staff evaluations and complete a self-administered evaluation
• Complete an interview with the professional athletic training staff

After these requirements have been fulfilled, students may be selected for advancement into the professional phase of the program based upon their competitive rank using their GPA (15 percent), evaluation scores (40 percent), interview scores (20 percent) and ATTR 15011 written (10 percent) and oral (15 percent) practical exam scores.

Students selected into the program will have a cumulative score of minimally 70 percent to be considered eligible for admission. Those selected may enroll in ATTR 15092 during the following semester.

Students who have transferred to Kent State University must complete a directed observation period at Kent State prior to advancement into the professional phase of the program. Prompt commencement of the directed observation period is necessary as it will take a minimum of six semesters at Kent State to complete the clinical courses and experiences in the professional phase.

All Athletic Training Students who are admitted into the professional phase of the program will be required to obtain a Bureau of Criminal Investigation Identification (BCII) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background checks prior to beginning their clinical rotations for the fall semester of each year.

Students who are not selected for the professional phase of this program at the completion of spring 2020 will not be permitted to apply/reapply and will work with the program coordinator to identify alternate academic programs to pursue.

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum C grade is required in all ATTR coursework.

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Applications to the B.S. Athletic Training are not being accepted at this time.

Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)