Master of Science in Athletic Training

Bridgewater College (BC) is committed to providing opportunities for students to complete their undergraduate and graduate degrees in five years. Students wishing to complete the Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program and their undergraduate degree in five years must enroll at BC as an undergraduate student and major in health and exercise science. It is important that you contact Dr. Chase Hale in the fall semester of your first year to review your academic plan.

• Submit the Athletic Training Student Application through ATCAS (application fees are paid directly to ATCAS).
• Successful academic performance resulting in a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7.
• Official transcript(s) of all college coursework (submit to ATCAS).
• Complete 50 observation hours under the supervision of a certified/licensed athletic trainer. Evidence of observation hours completion should be submitted to ATCAS in the form of an hour’s log signed by the supervising athletic trainer, or a letter of confirmation written by the supervising athletic trainer.
• Application personal statement should address your professional goals and desire for pursuing athletic training as a career (submit to ATCAS).
• Three letters of recommendation (submit to ATCAS). The makeup of the recommendations should be: one from a certified/licensed athletic trainer; one from a college faculty member; and one from another individual (e.g., work supervisor, academic advisor, athletic coach, etc.).
• Interview with the MSAT Admissions Committee (if selected for the interview process).
• Completion of the following prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or higher (students may be enrolled in prerequisite courses at the time of application):
  • 8 Credits in Anatomy/Physiology with Lab
  • 4 Credits in General or Inorganic Chemistry with Lab
  • 3 Credits in English Composition (not literature)
  • 3 Credits in Nutrition
  • 3 Credits in Exercise Physiology
  • 3 Credits in Statistics or Research Methods
  • 4 Credits in Physics with Lab
  • 3 Credits in General Psychology

General Admissions Policies

The MSAT program only accepts full-time students. Applicants will be admitted to the program on a rolling basis until the cohort is full (18 students per year). Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible to allow sufficient time for application completion and admissions consideration. Review of submitted applications will begin on August 1, 2022. Students interested in priority admissions consideration must submit a completed application by November 1, 2022 and will be notified of admission status by December 15, 2022. After November 1, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as space allows until May 1, 2023. No applications will be considered after May 1, 2023.

The Bridgewater College MSAT program focuses on preparing the athletic trainer of the future.

As a graduate, you will:

• Benefit from the BC liberal arts tradition, with objectives including positive discourse, civic responsibility, impact of global healthcare, ethics and communications
• Develop clinical decision-making skills based on review of research and various in-depth clinical placements
• Understand the role of the athletic trainer in the healthcare team by focusing on inter-professional education
• Achieve remarkable outcomes in credentialing examinations and job placement

MSAT YEAR ONE

SUMMER 1 (9 Credits)
AT-501: Anatomy for Healthcare Professionals I (3)
AT-502: Anatomy for Healthcare Professionals II (3)
AT-510: Athletic Training Foundations (1)
AT-511: Athletic Training Applications I (1)
AT-550: Clinical Experience I (1)

FALL (16 Credits)
AT-520: Patient Examination & Care I (3.5)
AT-530: Therapeutic Interventions I (3.5)
AT-540: Professional Knowledge Assessment I (1)
AT-551: Clinical Experience II (2)
AT-556: Management Concepts in Healthcare (3)
AT-567: Health & Exercise Psychology (3)

SPRING (12 Credits)
AT-560: Athletic Training Seminar I (3)
AT-521: Patient Examination & Care II (3.5)
AT-531: Therapeutic Interventions II (3.5)
AT-541: Professional Knowledge Assessment II (1)
AT-552: Clinical Experience III (1)

MSAT YEAR TWO

SUMMER II (8 Credits)
AT-601: Emergency Care (3)
AT-610: Athletic Training Applications II (1)
AT-620: General Medical Conditions (2)
AT-640: Professional Knowledge Assessment III (1)
AT-650: Clinical Experience IV (1)

FALL (9 Credits)
AT-630: Health Promotion (3)
AT-641: Professional Knowledge Assessment IV (1)
AT-651: Clinical Immersion I (5)

SPRING (9 Credits)
AT-642: Professional Knowledge Assessment V (1)
AT-652: Clinical Immersion II (5)
AT-660: Athletic Training Seminar II (3)

Apply today by filling out our online application.

The MSAT program requires completion of 63 credit hours from the following classes for degree completion:

AT-501: Anatomy for Healthcare Professionals I (3)
AT-502: Anatomy for Healthcare Professionals II (3)
AT-510: Athletic Training Foundations (1)
AT-511: Athletic Training Applications I (1)
AT-520: Patient Examination & Care I (3.5)
AT-521: Patient Examination & Care II (3.5)
AT-530: Therapeutic Interventions I (3.5)
AT-531: Therapeutic Interventions II (3.5)
AT-540: Professional Knowledge Assessment I (1)
AT-541: Professional Knowledge Assessment II (1)
AT-550: Clinical Experience I (1)
AT-551: Clinical Experience II (2)
AT-552: Clinical Experience III (1)
AT-556: Management Concepts in Healthcare (3)
AT-560: Athletic Training Seminar I (3)
AT-567: Health & Exercise Psychology (3)
AT-601: Emergency Care (3)
AT-610: Athletic Training Applications II (1)
AT-620: General Medical Conditions (2)
AT-630: Health Promotion (3)
AT-640: Professional Knowledge Assessment III (1)
AT-641: Professional Knowledge Assessment IV (1)
AT-642: Professional Knowledge Assessment V (1)
AT-650: Clinical Experience IV (1)
AT-651: Clinical Immersion I (5)
AT-652: Clinical Immersion II (5)
AT-660: Athletic Training Seminar II (3)

Additionally, institutional requirements for degree completion must be completed as follows:

• Complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at the graduate level. Individual graduate programs may require more credit hours for completion.  See specific details in each program section.
• Complete all course requirements for the specific graduate program.
• Earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 in courses required for the graduate program.
• Complete a minimum of 90% of all credit hours from graduate courses in residence at Bridgewater College.  Some programs may require that all graduate courses are taken in residence at Bridgewater College.  See specific details in each program section.  Students may not transfer credits into the program in the final semester or term of the program.
• Complete a capstone experience (or combination of experiences).  The nature of this experience will be left to the discretion of the individual graduate program. Experiences may include some combination of (a) comprehensive written or oral examination, (b) thesis or research paper, (c) portfolio, (d) creative work, and/or (e) clinical immersion experience.
• Filing of an application for graduation and the final plan of study with registrars’ office by the end of the first week of classes in the term/semester prior to which the degree will be granted.
• Payment of all accounts owed the College. Transcripts of students owing money to the College will be held until the account is cleared.
• All the above requirements must be met by the deadlines stated in the academic calendar. Some graduate programs may have additional requirements not listed above but explained in materials supplied by the program.
• It is the responsibility of the student to enroll in the appropriate courses to meet the degree requirements.

Graduate Student Admission Information

Download the MSAT Student Handbook (.pdf)

Program Tuition & Fees

• Bridgewater College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award degrees at the baccalaureate and master’s level. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Bridgewater College.
• Bridgewater College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) located at 6850 Austin Center Blvd., Suite 100, Austin, TX 78731-3184. Our next comprehensive review will be during 2028-2029.

Program Information and Outcomes on CAATE.net

Federal regulations from the United States Department of Education require Bridgewater College to disclose whether its educational programs meet the conditions for state credentialing (e.g., certification or licensure). The Master of Science in Athletic Training prepares students to be eligible to take the Board of Certification, Inc. (BOC) examination. Successfully passing the BOC examination results in eligibility for credentialing (licensure) as an athletic trainer in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Only California has no athletic training regulation. In addition to becoming certified by the BOC, there are character, criminal background assessments, and other qualifications required in every U.S. jurisdiction. Graduates are encouraged to determine the requirements for any U.S. state/district in which they plan to practice by contacting the appropriate board e.g., health, medicine. These boards can be identified by searching the individual state and/or the BOC, Inc. webpage at https://www.bocatc.org/state-regulation.