Athletic Training

pROGRAM oVERVIEW

Athletic trainers are health care professionals who work under the direction of physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients.  Athletic Training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and management of emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities.  

Students who want to become certified athletic trainers must earn a degree from an accredited athletic training program and pass a national exam administered by the Board of Certification.  Accredited programs include formal instruction in areas such as injury/illness prevention, first aid and emergency care, assessment of injury/illness, human anatomy and physiology, therapeutic exercise, modalities, and nutrition.  Classroom learning is enhanced through clinical education experiences. 

Certified athletic trainers work with more than just athletes – they can be found just about anywhere that people are physically active.

WHY ATHLETIC TRAINING?

• New position growth is expected to increase by 19% nationally and 24% in Pennsylvania by 2022
• As people become more aware of sports-related injuries at a young age, demand for athletic trainers is expected to increase
• A variety of work environment options...educational services, ambulatory healthcare services, hospitals, fitness and recreational sports centers, and spectator sports

WHY OUR PROGRAM?

• Interdisciplinary faculty that include a pharmacist, physical therapist, and exercise physiologists
• Curricular design includes two semesters of cadaver dissection and musculoskeletal evaluation and treatment as well as courses in pharmacology and exercise prescription and nutrition
• Experienced athletic training faculty who are committed to athletic training education and student learning.
• Clinical experiences that culminate into a final semester internship that aligns with the student’s career and professional goals

This program is expected to result in a Pennsylvania certification. Please see our State Authorization webpage for further instructions if you are planning to hold licensure in another state.

M.S. ATHLETIC TRAINING

Commonwealth University - Lock Haven’s Master of Science in Athletic Training program will prepare you for an athletic training career in various employment settings. The program is designed to develop both your academic and clinical reasoning skills through classroom and clinical experiences. After graduating from the program you will be eligible for athletic training certification by the Board of Certification (BOC) and subsequent appropriate state credentialing.

Topics covered include:

• Functional Anatomy with cadaver dissection
• Evaluation Techniques
• Current Issues in Athletic Training

DOWNLOAD M.S. ATHLETIC TRAINING CHECKSHEET

HEALTH SCIENCE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Exercise Science/M.S. Athletic Training 3+2 Track

Admission to the accelerated "3+2" program is by invitation only. To be considered you must submit an Commonwealth University application designating the major Health Science/Exercise Science track and be accepted by November 1st.

Applicants are carefully screened to ensure they have the track record (e.g. high class rank and SAT scores) to succeed in this very concentrated, rigorous and demanding academic and professional program.

If accepted, a compressed schedule of undergraduate classes will enable you to transition into the graduate program at the end of your third year.

Once accepted into the "3+2" program, you must maintain/complete the following criteria in order to ensure a guaranteed seat into the graduate program:

• Grade Point Average (GPA): 3.0 or above
• 75 hours of Athletic Training observation
• Successful interview

DOWNLOAD EXERCISE SCIENCE 3+2 CHECKSHEET

HEALTH SCIENCE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Application Process and Deadlines

• Create an account in ATCAS and follow the directions to complete the application.  All of your supporting materials are submitted through ATCAS.

Submit an official transcript for all university coursework to ATCAS. 

Transcripts should be mailed to: 
ATCAS
P.O. Box 9132
Watertown, MA 02471

Admission Criteria

To complete the application process, students must submit:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Overall cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher verified via official college transcript(s)
• Completion of the following prerequisites with a grade of “C” or better
  • Anatomy & Physiology 1 with lab
  • Anatomy & Physiology 2 with lab
  • Biomechanics or Kinesiology
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Nutrition
  • General Psychology
  • Statistics
  • Biology 
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
• Contact information for 2 professional references
• Statement of Professional Goals (750 words or less)
• Documentation of 75 observation hours in athletic training
• Successful completion of an interview

Exceptions to the admission requirements, including prerequisite course requirements, will be made on an individual basis. Applicants with healthcare or research experience, observation hours in excess of the minimum required for admission, additional science course preparation, and Lock Haven University undergraduate students are given priority in the admission process.

Technical standards for completion of the MS-AT program can be found here.

The Department of Health and Exercise Science provides a multidisciplinary, human-focused education designed to offer meaningful, application-based, and experiential learning opportunities so graduates possess the knowledge and skills to advance the health of individuals and populations in a complex and changing global society. The Bachelor of Science in Health Science Pre-Athletic Training program is designed to prepare students for entry into graduate athletic training programs.