Skip to main content

About our Program

MSAT Program Description and Vision

All students entering Rowan University are required to complete a 3 year Pre-Athletic Training Curriculum followed by the 2 calendar year Professional Athletic Training Program. Students that successfully complete all components of the Professional Preparation Athletic Training Program (graduate) will receive a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training Studies and a Master of Science in Athletic Training.

In the spring of 2023, the Rowan University Athletic Training Program will be accepting students that have obtained a Bachelor's degree directly into the two-year MSAT program.

  • Students who have obtained a Bachelor's degree and have met all program admission pre-requisites (See Admission Requirements) will be considered for acceptance.
    • Prospective students who have earned a Bachelor's degree and have obtained all the program admission requirements should go to: https://global.rowan.edu/programs/ms-in-athletic-training.html to apply to the two-year program.
  • All undergraduate freshmen and transfer students who do not hold a Bachelor's degree should visit our FAQ page for more information.
  • Native Rowan University freshman and transfer students who have not earned a Bachelor's degree will apply to the pre-Athletic Training Program using the Rowan App.
  1. Native undergraduate students accepted to the athletic traininng program will pay undergraduate tuition for a total of four years even though the fourth year is all graduate classes. The fifth year tuition will be at the graduate rate as the student will be classified as a graduate student because they will earn a Bachelor's in Athletic Training Studies after their fourth year. This is an advantage because many other athletic training programs require students to pay two calendar years of graduate tuition. This does not apply to students that have obtained a Bachelor's degree from an institution other than Rowan University.
  2. The MSAT has four total clinical experience classes, with two being completely immersive. This means students will spend the majority, or all, of a semester in the clinical setting without attending face-to-face classes. 
  3. The Pre-Athletic Training curriculum is specifically designed to prepare the student for success within the Professional Athletic Training Program. These Pre-Athletic Training curriculum’s major courses will introduce foundational knowledge that will be pertinent for the AT Program. 

The athletic training program’s vision is to be one of the best producers of extremely competent athletic trainers that will provide high quality healthcare to their patients, as well as, enhance the athletic training profession into the future.

The Athletic Training Program is committed to providing a challenging and dynamic learning environment that is dedicated to excellence in education, research and providing high quality healthcare. The program promotes a student-centered approach that prepares them to succeed in a diverse and inter-professional healthcare environment. As a result, we are dedicated to educating students at a level of competency and professionalism that prepares them to provide quality health care for all patients served by the athletic training profession.

These are the values that the AT program has established over time and are believed to be the core characteristics of a highly competent athletic trainer:

  1. Excellence
    Definition - Excellence is practicing athletic training consistently uses evidence-based practice, theory and clinical experience to enhance patient outcomes, while reflecting on limitations, challenging mediocrity, and continuing the pursuit of developing new knowledge and techniques to advance clinical practice and the athletic training profession.
  2. Compassionate/Caring Healthcare
    Definition - Compassionate is the ability to appreciate or recognize a patient’s distress; together with a desire to alleviate it. Caring is the ability to show concern, understanding, and respect for the individual needs and values of patients.
  3. Integrity
    Definition - Integrity is the firm adherence to incorruptible moral values that drive ethical practice and professional standards.
  4. Collaborative Engagement
    Definition - Collaborative Engagement is an efficient, effective, and cooperative process between interdependent professionals in making healthcare decisions that develops collective action plans to address patient care needs
  5. Social Responsibility
    Definition - Social Responsibility is the obligation to promote a mutual trust between the athletic training profession and the larger population to advocate for the health, wellness and access to athletic training healthcare for the common good of all society.
  6. Altruism
    Definition - Altruism is the unselfish regard or devotion to placing the patient’s needs above the athletic trainer’s self interest
  7. Professional Responsibility
    Definition - Professional Responsibility is the obligation to meeting one’s obligations to provide the most contemporary and effective healthcare to the individual patient, to serve and advance the athletic training profession, and to positively influence and be an advocate for the healthcare needs for individuals within the communities athletic trainers serve.
  8. Accountability
    Definition - Accountability is the athletic trainer’s obligation to accept responsibility for their actions as they relate to positively affecting patient outcomes, the athletic training profession and the healthcare needs within the communities the athletic trainer serves.
  1. To challenge program administrators the think, plan and manage an athletic training program that ranks as one of the best among the region, state and national levels.
  2. To support student success by utilizing a multitude of pedagogical techniques to reinforce the Core Competencies in athletic training education.
  3. To challenge students to respect social responsibility when practicing athletic training and through all facets of life
  4. To challenge students to become involved within the athletic training profession as fully engaged members and leaders.
  5. To challenge students to think and make critical and responsible personal and professional judgments.
  1. To prepare students to successfully pass the BOC, INC Exam on their first attempt
  2. To have employers indicate that the program is preparing students better than other programs within the region, state and national levels.
  3. To prepare students to practice social responsibility in their practice and respect diversity.
  4. To prepare students to take on active and leadership roles within the athletic training profession
  5. To prepare student to continually develop their contemporary expertise within their clinical practice.

The faculty and staff are devoted to maintaining the standard of academic and clinical excellence long associated with the ATP program. All educators, both academic and clinical, are dedicated to exceeding the standards established by CAATE so that students become a competent and well-rounded Athletic Trainer. Furthermore, the ATP program is committed to maintaining the objectives and philosophies in line with those established by the Department of Health and Exercise Science, the College of Education, and Rowan University. The faculty and staff are therefore fully dedicated:

  1. to strive to be fair and consistent in the administration of the policies, procedures, and regulations which govern the ATP.
  2. to establishing admissions criteria which are consistent with the program's mission and goals.
  3. to establishing retention criteria which are consistent with the program's mission and goals.
  4. to monitoring student progress in the program using retention criteria, academic evaluations, and clinical evaluations as a means to provide an opportunity for students to develop as professionals and individuals.
  5. to orienting students to the NATA Code of Ethics so they can develop the appropriate standards of practice expected of Athletic Trainers.
  6. to providing students with direct supervision and guidance in order to facilitate the application of theory into the clinical practice of Athletic Training.
  7. to fostering and encouraging the development of professional relationships and leadership skills necessary for the practice of Athletic Training.
  8. to providing an environment for the development of each student's potential both professionally and personally.
  9. to achieve student success on the Board of Certification examination and job placements that exceeds national normative data.

The Athletic Training Program will require some additional costs above the standard tuition, fees and books. These costs may include but are not limited to:

  1. Professional Memberships
    Students will be conditionally accepted into the Professional Phase at the conclusion of the application process. All students MUST become NATA student members by May 1 of their application year to be fully accepted into the Professional Phase of the Program. Students must also maintain this membership during their progress through the Athletic Training Program. Cost will depend on NATA membership fees. Please see NATA.org for membership applications.
  2. Travel
    Students can expect to be given a clinical assignment that will require them to travel to an off-campus affiliated clinical to obtain their clinical education under the direct supervision of an Athletic Trainer. All fees associated with this travel (ie, gas, food, etc) are the responsibility of the student. Students can expect to be given an off-campus for a total of 1-2 semesters. All attempts will be made so that students are not given off-campus clinical assignments on consecutive semesters during Residency in Athletic Training I and II courses.
  3. Professional Polo Shirts
    Students will be given one polo shirt when entering the professional phase. All additional professional clothing purchases are the responsibility of the student.
  4. Professional Equipment (Optional)
    Students may choose to acquire a side kit for on-field needs. If the student chooses to purchase a side-kit, the student is responsible for the costs to supply equipment (ie, scissors, airways, resuscitation masks, etc). Supplies (ie, gauze pads, ace wraps, band aids, etc) will be provided by the assigned clinical site.
  5. Professional Conferences
    Attending professional conferences is highly encouraged by the Athletic Training Program. A partial reimbursement program has been established through the Athletic Training Club. The student must be an active member of the club in order to receive any reimbursements for going to professional conferences. The left over balance for the conference is the responsibility of the student.
  6. Background Checks and Fingerprinting
    Several off-campus site (e.g., high schools) require criminal background and/or fingerprinting in order to complete the clinical experience at the affiliated site. Students are responsible for these costs.
  7. ATrack Subscription
    Students accepted into the Athletic Training program must subscribe to the ATrack software.  Directions will be provided to those students accepted into the Athletic Training Program.
  8. Clinical Sites
    Some clinical sites for Fellowship in Athletic Training I and II may require the student travel a significant distance. All living expenses (ie, housing, food, transportation costs, etc.) will be the responsibility of the student. The program administrators will assist with administrative arrangments, but not financially.

CAATE Accreditation

logo for the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training EducationThe Rowan-Virtua MS in Athletic Training is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Program data aggregated by the CAATE as it applies to Rowan-Virtua graduation rates, retention rates, BOC first time pass rates, accreditation history, and student placement data is available on the CAATE site.

Board of Certification Exam Results 

The Board of Certification, Inc. Exam is the gate keeper to being able to practice in the athletic training profession. A student must graduate from or be in the last semester of a CAATE accredited program before they are able to sit for this exam. The RUATP has had a high first time pass rate on the BOC, Inc exam. The Rowan-Virtua Athletic Training Program (ATP) is consistently above the national average for the first time pass rate. Those students who did not pass on their first attempt were successful on their second attempt. Since 2006, no student has had to take the BOC, Inc. Exam for a third time. Below is an illustration of BOC, Inc. Exam first time pass rates for students graduating between the years 2010-2022.

First time BOC passrates