Online Master of Athletic Training

HSU’s Master of Athletic Training program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Graduates of the program are eligible to take the Board of Certification, Inc. examination; passing the BOC examination makes graduates eligible for an athletic training practice credential in the 49 states that regulate athletic training.

CAATE Program Information and Outcomes

This option (3 year undergraduate/2 year graduate) is available for HSU undergraduate students. Students pursuing this option complete most of the Exercise Science degree requirements, plus other specific prerequisite courses, as well as completing all Foundational Curriculum requirements prior to entry in the MAT program. Students will make application through the Athletic Training Centralized Application Service (https://atcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login) their third (junior) year. If accepted into the MAT program, graduate courses will be substituted for upper-division course work in the undergraduate major of Exercise Science. Students not accepted through the Early Admission process, may complete their Exercise Science (or other) degree and reapply to be admitted after graduation.

Foundational Curriculum Requirements:
Oral Communication (3 credit hours; 1 course)
COMM 1301
Written Communication (6 credit hours; 2 courses)
ENGL 1301/ENGL 1302/ENGL 3300
Humanities (18 credit hours)
History and/or Philosophy (6 credit hours; 2 courses)
Sophomore Literature (3 credit hours; 1 course)
ENGL 2300
Fine Arts – Art, Music or Theater (3 credit hours)
Biblical/Christian Studies (6 credit hours; 2 courses)
BIBL 1301/BIBL 1302/RELI 2345
Social Sciences – completed within program requirements
Natural Sciences – completed within program requirements
Mathematics – completed within program requirements
Physical Wellness – completed within program requirements

3-2 admission has these additional course/program requirements (minimum grade required):

ATTR 1099          Intro to Athletic Training (B)
KINE 110X          Aquatic course
KINE 1130           Strength & Flexibility (C)
KINE 1170           Wellness for Life
KINE 1301           Technology in Kinesiology, Health & Recreation
KINE 2303           Sport First Aid (B)
KINE 3302           Essential Elements of Nutrition (C)
KINE 3313           Kinesiology (C)
KINE 3314           Physiology of Exercise (C)
FSSC 3360           Instruction of Strength & Conditioning(C)
KINE 4304           Statistical Methods
MATH 1310        College Algebra
PSYC 1301          Introduction to Psychology (C)
PSYC                    Psychology upper-level course (C)

Recommended (1 course):

• PSYC 3302 Cognition, Learning & Motivation
• PSYC 3303 Abnormal Psychology
• PSYC 3316 Sport & Exercise Psychology
• PSYC 3318 Health Psychology
• PSYC 3342 Multicultural Studies
• PSYC 4312 Addiction & Recovery
• PSYC 4321 Psychological Counseling
• PSYC 4357 Recreational Therapy

Minimum 60 chapel credits

3.0 overall HSU undergraduate GPA preferred

To be qualified for a guaranteed interview and automatic admission to the DPT Program, students must meet all requirements for the PT program. Students are required to have a minimum overall cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 and a minimum Master of Athletic Training GPA (at the end of the second summer semester) of 3.5. If the cumulative GPA in the MAT falls below a 3.3 in subsequent MAT semesters, the DPT program may withdraw the automatic admission offer. The HSU-PT Admissions Committee reviews all completed applications to determine admission, placement on the alternate list, or rejection of the candidate based on the available information. AT students must obtain a minimum of 40 hours of observation directly under a physical therapist who can write a letter of recommendation for the student, in addition to 50 Athletic Training clinical hours.   Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores must be at a minimal level of 148 for the verbal and qualitative sections and a 4.0 for writing. Official exam scores from the GRE must be submitted for documentation. Prospective students are urged to take the test no later than August of the year prior to application submission. The students must complete a personal interview with the PT Admissions team and receive an “admit” score.  Additionally, the student must be able to pass a national background check and meet the minimal required abilities as detailed annually on the HSU DPT Program web site: https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/graduate-programs/doctorate-physical-therapy/

Applicants must have documented service to others in one or more of the following settings: at the college, in their community, state or with national organizations and events. Service may entail participation with service organizations, missionary organizations, or their place of worship, as examples. It may occur during public service events, medical outreach events or medical missionary events and should be outside the realm of employment requirements. The service must benefit others more than the student themselves.

Admissions Application for HSU DPT

• Athletic Training to Doctor of Physical Therapy students interested in pursuing an interview and automatic admit into HSU DPT must:
• Submit an application through the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) in the fall prior to starting the DPT program and provide all necessary documents for the application process.
• Designate HSU DPT Program as a program of choice.
• Submit three letters of recommendation to include at least one recommendation from a practicing Physical Therapist, one from a practicing licensed Athletic Trainer (other than an HSU-AT faculty member), and one from an HSU-AT faculty member. The letters of recommendation will be uploaded to PTCAS with the student’s application. Letters of recommendation are due before an interview is granted.

Interview

AT to DPT student applicants meeting the criteria for admission will be granted an interview and shall travel to Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas at their own expense for the interview.

Post Interview

The HSU DPT Admissions Committee reviews all applications including the interview evaluations, personal statements, letters of recommendation and academic records and makes recommendations to admit, defer, or reject the candidate based on the available information. HSU DPT seeks candidates that will advance the mission and vision of the DPT Program and HSU. Admission is based on a wide variety of factors, not merely GPA or GRE scores. If the student is to be offered matriculation, the student will be notified directly by the HSU DPT Office of Admissions.

What is the difference between licensure & certification?

Legally, a state AT practice act, typically licensure, dictates what an AT can & cannot do while practicing working in that state. Passing the BOC exam & becoming BOC-certified provides you the opportunity to obtain licensure in the 49 states (California does not) that regulate athletic training.

Can I take the BOC exam?

Students who graduate from the program prior to accreditation WILL NOT be eligible to sit for the credentialing examination for athletic trainers and will not be eligible for licensure in most states. The earliest accreditation can be received is Spring, 2024. While we expect accreditation will be granted, it is not guaranteed. However, the program’s history of successful accreditation & reaccreditation actions should be considered. The first cohort is scheduled to graduate in May, 2024.

What does the program cost?

See the Athletic Training Program-Related Costs tab below.

What are the on-campus intensive sessions?

These 6-day, on-campus interactive sessions are full of demonstrations, immediate feedback for hands-on skills, and scenarios that build on the knowledge you learned in your previous classes and introduce the basic skills of your next course. These sessions are crucial to student advancement within the program. They will be a great time to clarify information, interact with other up-and-coming professionals, and integrate/practice essential professional skills.

These are scheduled for:

• January 5-11, 2025

Tentative On-Campus Lab Schedule for students entering 2024:

• August 11-17, 2024
• October 13-19, 2024
• December 8-15, 2024
• March 2-8, 2025
• May 11-17, 2025
• January 4-10, 2026

Attendance at these sessions is mandatory. You cannot progress through the program without attending them in sequence. There are no excused absences for these sessions; missing a session for any reason may delay your graduation. Concerns about this should be addressed with the Director of Athletic Training Education.

Estimated Time First year:

• Class time requirements when you are taking 2 4-credit courses (8 credits + 2 credits clinical course is typical) in a session, can be reasonably expected to be a minimum of 32 hours (more likely 35-40) per week completing course requirements. You should consider the amount of time that will be required for program requirements when committing to other obligations, such as work, etc.
• Fall clinical experience for 60-80 hours; typically 6-10 weeks with 6-8 hours per week
• Spring clinical experience for 60-80 hours; typically 6-10 weeks with 6-8 hours per week

Estimated Time Second year:

• Fall only – Two online courses (1-3 credit/1-1 credit); approximately 16 hours/week
• Fall & Spring clinical experiences for 15 weeks per semester with a minimum of 30 hours a week (depending on caseload & work hours of clinical preceptor).

o              The absolute minimum requirement is 300 hours/semester; however, the actual clinical time requirement is determined by the characteristics of the clinical site, the preceptor & clinical education coordinator. An agreement will be signed by the student, preceptor & clinical education coordinator detailing specific requirements of the clinical experience.

• CAATE mandates a minimum of one immersive clinical experience (defined as: “A practice-intensive experience that allows the student to experience the totality of care provided by athletic trainers. Students must participate in the day-to-day and week-to-week role of an athletic trainer for a period of time identified by the program (but minimally one continuous four-week period).” (CAATE Standard 16); however, HSU’s MAT program considers all clinical experiences as potentially immersive & students should be prepared to attend clinical experiences on a full-time basis.

o            There are clinical experiences where an immersive experience meeting the CAATE definition of “totality of care” & “day-to-day and week-to-week role” will require more than 40 hours/week. To reiterate, the actual clinical time requirement is determined by the characteristics of the clinical site, the preceptor & clinical education coordinator.

• These will be divided by various clinical sites

Is a criminal background check required?

The program does not require a criminal background check. However, clinical sites may require background checks and/or drug testing. 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 AT licensure and/or certification to the Director of AT Education.

Where can I stay for the on-campus intensive sessions?

Comfort Suites University (2.3 miles)
1902 E Overland Trail, Abilene, TX 79601
www.choicehotels.com
325-480-8486

Hampton Inn & Suites Abilene I-20 (1.8 miles)
3526 W Lake Rd, Abilene, TX 79601
www.hilton.com
325-673-4400

LaQuinta Inn
3501 West Lake Rd., Abilene, TX 79601
https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/laquinta/abilene-texas/la-quinta-inn-abilene/overview
325-676-1676

Do I have to live in Abilene?

No. The State of Texas was approved by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) to join the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) under the administration of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. HSU is a current member of the SARA agreement in the State of Texas. This is an agreement between member states, territories and districts of the United States of America allowing students to enroll in online programs in other states, territories & districts. As of July 2019, 49 states (all but California), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have joined SARA.

What type of computer, internet connection, etc. do I need?

You will need a reliable computer with consistent, high-speed internet access. These will be crucial to completing course assignments. Basic requirements include:

• Processor: 1 GHz or faster processor
• RAM: Computer memory is directly affected by how many programs are running at any given time. Running multiple applications at once slows a computer’s performance. Therefore, we recommend students have at least 4 GB (8+ is better) of RAM installed.
• Sound: A working sound card and speakers will be required. Some web classes also require a headset & microphone.
• Web camera
• Internet Connection: High-speed internet connection, such as DSL or a cable modem. Your internet connection is critical for viewing videos and other supplemental content in Canvas.
• Monitor: A monitor with a minimum 800 x 600 resolution is required. It is recommended that students have a monitor with at 1024 x 768 or more.

More information on technology requirements may be found in the MAT Program Handbook. It is highly recommended you do assignments on a computer & not a smartphone.

Can I work during while I take classes?

Yes, we recognize many students will attempt to hold regular employment during the first year of the program. Employment during the second year is strongly discouraged, due to the immersive, near-full-time nature of the clinical experience requirements. Regardless of whether employed or not, students are responsible for meeting ALL program requirements & due dates. Under no circumstances will a student be excused from on-campus intensive sessions, due to employment or other conflicts.

What are clinical experiences & where can I do them?

The CAATE defines athletic training clinical experiences as:

Direct client/patient care guided by a preceptor who is an athletic trainer or physician. Athletic training clinical experiences are used to verify students’ abilities to meet the curricular content standards. When direct client/patient care opportunities are not available, simulation may be used for this verification.

This standard must be met through the selection of high-quality experiences.

Clinical experiences are hands-on time working alongside certified athletic trainers and physicians. These experiences allow the real-life application of classroom knowledge throughout the program. The first year is more focused on gaining an academic basis with minimal clinical requirements, while the student is immersed into several clinical settings the second year.

Clinical sites must have a certified athletic trainer or physician overseeing the athletic training student. The Clinical Coordinator will work with each student to identify clinical sites that meet program and accreditation guidelines along with student goals and preferred location(s).

Estimated Time First year:  

• Class time requirements when you are taking 2 4-credit courses (8 credits + 2 credits clinical course is typical) in a session, can be reasonably expected to be a minimum of 32 hours per week completing course requirements. You should consider the amount of time that will be required for program requirements when committing to other obligations, such as work, athletics, etc.
• Fall clinical experience for 6 weeks with 10-15 hours per week
• Spring clinical experience for 6 weeks with 10-15 hours per week

Estimated Time Second year:

• Fall & Spring immersive experiences for 15 weeks per semester with a minimum of 30 hours a week (depending on work hours of clinical preceptor).
• The absolute minimum requirement is 300 hours/semester; however, the actual clinical time requirement is determined by the characteristics of the clinical site, the preceptor & clinical education coordinator. An agreement will be signed by the student, preceptor & clinical education coordinator detailing specific requirements of the clinical experience.
• These can be divided by various clinical sites

Clinical site/experience requirements:

• A student must have experiences at minimum of 3 separate clinical sites during the second year.
• Sites must be carefully selected to provide experiences that must include:
  • A variety of patient populations (i.e., sports, genders, age, etc.)
  • A variety of health conditions typically seen in athletic training practice
  • Adequate number of patient/client interactions
  • A clinical experience is required from each of these 3 categories:
    • Middle/High school sports
    • College/University/Professional sports
    • Emerging (non-sport) settings such as:
      • Military
      • Occupational health
      • Performing arts
      • Physician office
      • Hospital/Emergency room
    • Living & transportation expenses are the student’s responsibility

Examples of previous students’ clinical experiences in Texas:

• Hardin-Simmons University
• Abilene Christian University
• Abilene Sports Medicine & Orthopedics
• Abilene High School
• Abilene Cooper High School
• University of Incarnate Word- Athletics & Vision center
• San Antonio Fire department
• Trinity University
• Comal School district (San Antonio, TX)
• Shannon Sports Medicine (San Angelo, TX)
• Brenham High School
• The Woodlands High School
• University of North Texas
• University of Dallas
• Children’s Health
• McKinney ISD
• Southlake Carroll High School

In other states:

• Fairfax County Police Department (Virginia)
• University of Arizona (Arizona)
• University of South Alabama (Alabama)
• Duval Schools (Florida)
• Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute (Florida)
• University of Louisiana at Monroe (Louisiana)
• Athletico Physical Therapy (Illinois)

These experiences cannot be observation only. The goal is to help students smoothly transition from textbook knowledge to confident, professional clinicians.

More details about clinical education requirements can be found in the MAT Program Handbook.

How much time will I need to study?

Using the Carnegie Unit as a commonly accepted standard, Hardin-Simmons University defines a credit hour, recorded by the university as a semester hour, in terms of instructional time and associated class preparation. Each credit hour reflects one hour of instructional time per week for a total of 15 instructional hours per semester. Graduate students are expected to spend a minimum of 3 hours in class preparation for each credit hour. Thus, students are expected to spend a minimum of approximately 4 hours engaged in learning per week per semester for each credit hour.

Using the examples above, when you are taking 2 4-credit courses in a session, you can expect to need a minimum of 32 hours per week completing course requirements. You should consider the amount of time that will be required for program requirements when committing to other obligations, such as work, athletics, etc.

Is an undergraduate degree required?

Yes, an undergraduate degree is required to enter the MAT program. However, there are two options for completing this requirement. You can complete your undergraduate degree prior to entering the program or HSU students can take the 3-2 route where you will graduate with both an undergraduate and graduate degree in 5 years. More information on the 3-2 option can be found in the 3-2 tab below.

If you have completed or are close to completing your undergraduate degree, completing that degree is likely your best option. If you are starting your undergraduate education or are early in your undergraduate degree, the 3-2 option may allow you to complete requirements for both your undergraduate and MAT degree sooner.

Are observations required?

Yes, 50 observation hours with a certified/licensed athletic trainer are required. You can see our MAT observation log. For 3-2 students, 100 observation hours are required.

Do I have access to student services if I’m not in Abilene?

Yes. Contact information is provided below:

How is admission determined?

Admission decisions are made by the Program Director & Core Faculty. These faculty & other stakeholders will conduct interviews (in-person or web conference). In the evaluation of applications, substantial weight is normally given to the undergraduate academic record and, when required, standardized test scores. Each application, however, is evaluated individually using a ranking form and careful consideration is given to applicants who present other evidence of graduate potential. Applicants who have recently completed undergraduate work, for example, may expect that their academic record will serve as the principal indicator of graduate potential. Alternatively, applicants who have had time to establish a record of effective professional experience beyond their undergraduate experience may expect that to be given significant consideration as well. If the faculty believe a student shows promise, but has a GPA or other deficiency, admission may be made on a conditional basis.

For more information, please see the MAT Student Handbook.

How do I apply?

Online MAT Applications

The tuition for the program is $595 per credit hour for the 77 hour program; total tuition cost $45,815.

General fees depend on the number of credit hours in a session:

• ≥12 hours/semester:  $1,080 (Fall/Spring Year 1; Fall Year 2)
• 9-11 hours/semester:  $820 (Spring Year 2)
• 5-8 hours/semester:  $580 (Summer Year 1; Summer Year 2)
• 1-4 hours/semester:  $390

A one-time program fee of $1,200 is charged the first summer of the program. This fee is used to pay for:

• Several online education services
• NATA student membership
• Typhon program management subscription
• Examsoft online testing program

Total program cost:  $52,625

Clinical Experience costs:

• Any transportation/living expenses related to clinical education are the student’s responsibility
• Additional preceptor-related fees may be required for clinical experiences in the second year.
• Clothing – $150 per year (approximate)
• Shoulder pack/diagnostic tools – $100 (approximate)
• NATA membership dues – $90 (per year)
• BOC Exam – $450 (one-time fee – per test)
• Texas Department of Health Licensure Exam (optional) – $285 (one-time fees – per test)
• Symposium Fees (optional) – $300+ (per symposium attended)