Master of Science in Athletic Training
- Mission Statement
Mission
The mission of the Weber State University Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program is to prepare students to be proficient, autonomous, and research-based clinicians by fostering strong personal connections within an inclusive, growth-minded environment.Vision
The Weber State University MSAT program will be an internationally-recognized leader in athletic training education, preparing forward-thinking graduates who make impactful contributions to healthcare in their communities while advancing the profession.Overarching Goals
The MSAT curriculum is designed to:- Prepare the student to meet the curricular content necessary to be eligible to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) examination.
- Students will interact with and be equipped to treat a diverse patient population with a variety of health care conditions as a valued member of the health care team.
- Students will be prepared to transition to practice.
- Provide a research experience for the students to produce graduates that can both conduct research as well as be educated comsumers of published research.
- Provide an individualized clinical plan for each student based on:
- the student's personal and professional interests
- providing the students with a variety of experiences and preceptors
- the accreditation clinical education standards
- Every student will have the opportunity to earn advanced certifications within/while in the program.
- Students will have opportunities to learn skills above and beyond the required curricular content. e.g. Suturing, IVs, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue mobilization, force plates, EMG, isokinetic dynamometer, BodPod/in-body.
- Prepare students to seek entrance into doctoral programs such as athletic training, sports psychology, kinesiology, and exercise physiology.
- Student Learning Outcomes
- Graduate Certificate (Not Applicable)
- Associate Degree (Not Applicable)
- Master Degree
Students who graduate from the Master of Science in Athletic Training Program will be able to demonstrate competencies in each of the following content areas as identified by the Board of Certification Practice Analysis, 7th Edition. At the end of their study at WSU, students in this program will be proficient in:
- Promoting health lifestyle behaviors with effective education and communication to enhance wellness and minimize the risk of injury and illness. (Injury and Illness Prevention and Wellness Promotion)
- Implementing systematic, evidence-based examinations and assessments to formulate valid clinical diagnoses and determine patients’ plan of care. (Examination, Assessment, and Diagnosis)
- Integrating best practices in immediate and emergency care for optimal outcomes. (Immediate and Emergency Care)
- Rehabilitating and reconditioning injuries, illnesses and general medical conditions with the goal of achieving optimal activity level based on core concepts (i.e., knowledge and skillsets fundamental to all aspects of therapeutic interventions)
- Using the applications of therapeutic exercise, modality devices and manual techniques. (Therapeutic Intervention)
- Integrating best practices in policy construction and implementation, documentation and basic business practices to promote optimal patient care and employee well-being. (Healthcare Administration and Professional Responsibility)
- Graduate Certificate (Not Applicable)
- Curriculum Grid
- Program and Contact Information
The WSU Master of Science in Athletic Training degree is designed to enable students with a bachelor's degree in an area other than athletic training to obtain eligibility for the Board of Certification (BOC) examination. This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Graduates of the MSAT are eligible for the Board of Certification (BOC) examination.
The program provides students with knowledge and skills in the prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries and general medical conditions. The Master of Science in Athletic Training program (MSAT) is specifically designed to prepare students for a career in health care as a certified athletic trainer. Athletic trainers are currently employed in colleges and universities, public and private high schools, corporations, rehabilitation clinics, professional sports, the military, factories, and hospitals (www.nata.org - National Athletic Trainers' Association).Contact Information:
Matthew Donahue
3992 Central Campus Drive, Dept 3504
Ogden, UT 84408-2805
Swenson Bldg. Rm 307E
(801) 626-7389
Master of Science in Athletic Training Website - Assessment Plan
The WSU Master of Science in Athletic Training Education Program (MSAT) uses several assessment tools to evaluate the quality of individual courses and instructors, the quality of the clinical experiences and clinical affiliations, the performance of each student following each clinical rotation, and the satisfaction with the education provided by our recent graduates and alumni. We also track our students' pass rate on the Board of Certification (BOC) examination, their job/graduate school placement rate, and the graduation rate.
Evaluation of courses/teaching:
- ATN Course evaluation (for courses taught in the Department of ATN) – This is completed by each student towards the end of each academic course. Peer evaluations are conducted on all full-time faculty by other faculty in the department. All full-time faculty must assemble a teaching portfolio for their second and fifth year tenure reviews as well as during the promotion process. All of these documents are maintained by the Department Chair.
Data analysis and discussion:
- Once a year, the Program Director and the Clinical Education Coordinator run the statistics on each of these assessment tools to identify trends. The AT faculty meet to review the data and trends to see where we can make improvements to the MSAT. With these trends in mind, we develop and implement strategies to address areas of concern. We also look to see if previous changes have had the intended impact.
Overall program evaluation:
- Approximately one year following graduation, we send each graduate the Graduate Athletic Training Alumni Survey to complete We track our graduate placement data, indicating where our graduates were placed in jobs or graduate school. We report our students' pass rate on the BOC certification examination, including the three year aggregate data for first-time pass rates and overall pass rates. We track our graduation/attrition rate.
Maintained electronically by the Clinical Education Coordinator:
The following forms are completed by each student at the end of each clinical rotation- Athletic Training Preceptor Evaluation
- Athletic Training Clinical Facility Evaluation
The Clinical Education Coordinator visits and evaluates each clinical site at least once per year.
Evaluation of clinical education experiences:
- When students are approximately halfway through each clinical rotation, they are required to meet with their Preceptor to discuss their performance to that point. Students are asked to discuss strengths as well as weaknesses and recommendations for improvement. These mid-rotation conversations are then documented by the student, signed by the Preceptor, and submitted with their clinical course packet. Final Clinical Rotation Evaluation (Preceptor's evaluation of the student) - completed by each student's Preceptor at the end of each clinical rotation.
Evaluation of learning outcomes:
- Each year, an annual outcomes report is submitted to Office for Institutional Effectiveness documenting our learning outcomes and student performance.
- In each graduate practicum course (MSAT 6501, 6502, 6503, 6504), students:
- Must score a minimum of 80% on all oral/practical and written examinations.
- Must satisfactorily complete every unit in their respective clinical course packet.
- Other outcomes in this report include BOC pass rates and successful completion of key projects and exams in the MSAT program (see below)
- MSAT 6500 – Written Final Exam (comprehensive)
- MSAT 6431 – Oral/Practical Final Exam (comprehensive)
- MSAT 6600 – Written Final Exam(comprehensive), AT Facility Project
- Every 5-7 years, an internal program review is conducted including a self-study, site visit, response reports, and a presentation to the Graduate Council.
- Assessment Report Submissions
- Program Review
This information is part of the cyclical program review process. Details such as mission statements, learning outcomes, etc., are updated as part of the biennial assessment reporting process, an integral component of program review.