IWU-Marion's Master of Science in Athletic Training program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

The Master of Science in Athletic Training program at Indiana Wesleyan University is committed to developing students as critical thinkers and competent practitioners. Develop your skills in excellent facilities, study with renowned faculty, and gain hands-on experience. Know that you are in good hands with a regionally accredited Christian college in the Midwest. Students who complete IWU's MSAT program will be well-prepared for certification to practice in the field.

Graduates will feel confident to successfully practice as entry-level professionals in settings related to Athletic Training and sports medicine. The opportunities in this field are diverse and promising. Certified Athletic Trainers work with physicians to clinically evaluate and diagnose injuries, prescribe rehabilitation, and implement preventative measures.

Are you ready to serve others and directly improve lives immediately?

The Athletic Training program at IWU-Marion is committed to providing a quality clinical education with a foundation stemming from a passion to see the world changed for Jesus Christ.

Upcoming Changes to Programs

Based on new requirements by the Strategic Alliance and the CAATE, the bachelor's Athletic Training program will transition to a professional master’s degree program beginning July 2022. 

The Athletic Training program is no longer accepting students into the undergraduate degree program. We will be teaching out the undergraduate curriculum and will begin the master’s degree program in the fall of 2022.

We encourage future undergraduate students who wish to become athletic trainers to explore our Exercise Science program. This program is a great way to prepare for a Master's of Athletic Training.

Program Information

MSAT PROGRAM HANDBOOK

Indiana Wesleyan University's Athletic Training Program provides traditional athletic training services in support of the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional needs of all University athletes. Our program is committed to world-changing and servanthood, a high standard of care, and Christian development.  

Undergraduate Program Outcome Data

Boc pass rate table

Student BOC Pass Rate

BOC Pass Rate Table

Student BOC Pass Rate

Student Graduation and Employment Rate

Student Graduation Rate: Graduation rate (taken from United States Department of Education): Measures the progress of students who began their studies as full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking students by showing the percentage of these students who complete their degree or certificate within a 150% of "normal time" for completing the program in which they are enrolled. Graduation rate is calculated as the sum of students with a Graduated status divided by the total number of students in the cohort (excluding students with the status of leave of absence (medical) or deceased).

Student Employment Rate

Graduate Employment / Placement Rate: Percentage of students within 6-months of graduation that have obtained positions in the following categories: employed as an athletic trainer, employed as other, and not employed. The employment rate is calculated as the sum of students employed as an Athletic Trainer or employed as an Athletic Trainer and in a degree or residency program then divided by the total number of students who have graduated (excluding students not employed, due to military service and deceased).

Student Retention Rate

Program Retention Rate (4-Year Professional Undergraduate Program): Student retention rate is determined by the number of students who returned to the program for each subsequent year divided by the total number of students in the cohort [excluding students with the status of leave of absence (medical) or deceased.]

Application Procedure

This master's degree is designed to prepare the student for a career in the field of athletic training. The program can be completed in 6 semesters of study (summer 1, fall 1, spring 1, summer 2, fall 2, spring 2). IWU's athletic training program (ATP) started in 1988 and is committed to programming excellence. This is a competitive program and application alone does not guarantee admittance. Decisions for program acceptance or denial will be made by the athletic training faculty after the application process is completed and students will be notified by e-mail.

Application: A carefully completed application for admission should be submitted to the Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) MSAT program. Admission to the Masters of Science Athletic Training degree program is based on qualifications and space availability. This is a competitive program and application alone does not guarantee admittance. Admission is awarded without regard to sex, race, color, age, religion, national origin, or handicap.

Masters of Science Athletic Training Degree Program Admissions Requirements:

Applicants are required to meet the following criteria for consideration for admission:

1. Applicants to the Professional Masters of Science Athletic Training (MAT) degree program must have a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum grade point average (GPA) is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
2. Application Form to be filled out on ATCAS
3. A criminal history background check will be conducted at the applicant’s expense. Clinical sites may have additional requirements, e.g., immunizations, a second background check, and/or drug screen at the student’s expense. Admission to and/or progression in the program may depend on your compliance and/or the results of these checks.
4. References: References should use the designated form to submit three letters of reference. At least one of the references must be from a healthcare provider and one must be a previous faculty member who can speak to your capacity to do graduate-level work.
5. Observation Hours: Using the enclosed form, students will provide proof of 50 hours of observation with an ATC.
6. Prerequisite Courses:

• Anatomy with lab 4 credits
• Physiology with lab 4 credits
• Nutrition 3 credits
• General Psychology 3 credits
• Kinesiology 3 credits
• Biomechanics 3 credits
• Exercise Physiology 3 credits
• General Statistics 3 credits
• Biology with lab 4 credits                                       
• Chemistry with lab 4 credits
• Physics with lab 4 credits

Students are required to have a grade of "B" or better in these pre-requisite courses as a foundation class for success in professional-level graduate work in the MSAT program.

7. Curriculum Vitae: Other aspects of an applicant’s record, such as educational achievement, professional experience, and clarity of career goals should be reflected in a curriculum vitae in determining admissibility. Generally, admissions decisions are based on an overall assessment of the adequacy of an applicant’s preparation and desire for the successful completion of a graduate course of study in Athletic Training.
8. Deadline for Application: We have a decision deadline of December 1 for all application materials including the interview with the faculty. Those applying after December 1 will be considered on a seat available basis. Decisions regarding the acceptability of applicants for the Masters of Science Athletic Training program will be made by the admissions committee after evaluation of all pertinent application materials. Applications cannot be accurately reviewed until all application materials are received and requirements have been met. New applications are required for those who defer a year or miss the cutoff date for admissions.
9. Technical Standards: The Master of Science Athletic Training program is a rigorous and intense program that places specific physical requirements and demands on each student enrolled in our program. The primary objective is to prepare graduates to enter various employment settings and to render care to a wide range of individuals engaged in physical activity. The MSAT technical standards establish the qualities necessary for students admitted to this program to achieve the knowledge, skills, and competencies of a professional certified athletic trainer. All athletic training students applying to the MSAT must meet the technical standards and expectations in order to gain acceptance into our program. In the event an athletic training student is unable to fulfill these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, the student will not be admitted into the program.

Athletic Training Student Health Policy

ATP Handbook  |  Communicable Disease Policy  |  BBP Exposure Control Plan

Athletic training students must have the appropriate health forms and records on file with the athletic training program director to be considered for admittance to the Athletic Training Program. In addition, athletic training students will be required to have the following tests and vaccinations by the start of their first semester in the major (or in the process to receive the vaccinations - HBV);

1. Tuberculin Skin Test. If the TB test is positive, a chest x-ray must be done. A yearly TB test is required and written results are given to the athletic training program director to be added to that student's file. The athletic training student may have this test done at the IWU Health Center.
2. Hepatitis B Vaccination. Athletic training students are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated with the Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV). A sum of three injections in a six-month period is required for this vaccination. Each injection will vary in cost depending on where you obtain the vaccination. A waiver must be signed and in the athletic training student's permanent file if he/she chooses not to obtain the vaccination.
3. Physical Examination. Athletic training students will have a physical examination conducted by the team physician. If a student-athlete is applying to the ATP, their pre-participation physical is acceptable for this requirement.

Clinical Education Experiences

The overall functioning of the clinical education component of the athletic training program is accomplished by moving the student through a supervised three-step progression. This progression starts with skill acquisition and progresses to skill application. These two critically important steps are best measured through successful course completion and clinical evaluations of athletic training students rated average or above. The final step is skill integration where the student truly begins to demonstrate mastery of clinical skills. At this level, the students’ emerging clinical practice has become more consistent and predictable and is evaluated consistently as good or excellent. This progression allows the athletic training student to gain both technical knowledge and critical thinking skills in a structured and supervised environment. Clinical preceptors play a critical role in supervising the developing skills of athletic training students and evaluating the student’s acquisition, application, and integration of those skills. Skill integration is imperative to be a successful clinician and practitioner. This progression also allows for progressive "learning over time" in the classroom and clinical settings, which prepares the student to enter the athletic training profession as a competent professional that can practice autonomously.

Clinical Rotations and Exposure Assignments

The clinical rotations and exposure assignments provide opportunities for students to gain clinical education experiences associated with a variety of different populations including genders, varying levels of risk, protective equipment, and medical experiences. These settings address the continuum of health care that will prepare the student to function in a variety of settings and meet the domains of practice delineated for a certified athletic trainer.

It should be noted by athletic training students who are practicing in the athletic training profession that the career path will usually require a certified athletic trainer to work uncommon hours within a workweek. The nature of sports schedules usually mandates evening and weekend hours. It is not the intention, nor should it be the practice, to make time demands on the athletic training student that approach those of the certified athletic trainer. Students are not to replace certified and licensed staff nor fulfill their responsibilities as an employee of the institution

During their last semester in the program, athletic training students will have an off-campus immersive clinical experience. Clinical education experience will be the focus of the semester, with AT Courses happening online. Each student will have the opportunity to make recommendations of potential sites of Preceptors to the Clinical Education Coordinator. Recommendations made early provide the greatest chance for the necessary documentation to be collected by the program.

When assigned to an off-campus clinical education experience, the student should be prepared to fulfill requirements for that site (e.g. background check, immunizations, orientation) as well as plan for temporary relocation and/or transportation to that clinical site. If a student believes that a clinical experience site poses a risk to their health and/or safety, they may cease participation at such site. If a suitable clinical site cannot be obtained as a replacement, progression through the remaining clinical experiences may be delayed and this may also potentially delay graduation.

Courses

COURSE SEQUENCES

One of the best ways to discover a degree program is to check out the course descriptions. Preview the course descriptions for Athletic Training at Indiana Wesleyan University using the course catalog.