Athletic Training, M.A.T.

Overview

The Master of Athletic Training program consists of 55 credit hours which are inclusive of the latest research, knowledge, and techniques, as well as all required NATA Athletic Training Education Competencies in the following areas:

• Evidence-based practice,
• Prevention and health promotion,
• Clinical examination and diagnosis,
• Acute care of injury and illness,
• Therapeutic interventions,
• Psychosocial strategies and referral,
• Healthcare administration, and
• Professional development and responsibility.

The program is designed to provide structured didactic (classroom) and supervised practice experiences to prepare a student for an entry-level position in athletic training. Didactic courses are sequenced and integrated to maximize student learning.  The purpose of supervised practice courses is to provide a structured clinical experience in which to prepare for professional practice and engage in professional socialization.

Throughout the Master of Athletic Training program, supervised practice courses provide direct patient care opportunities for a variety of injuries and patient populations including contact (high risk) and non-contact sports, male and female patients, upper extremity and lower extremity injuries, sport and non-sport settings, and general medical conditions.

Clinical Experience

Students gain clinical experience in the following settings:

• Collegiate:
  • The University of Tulsa, an NCAA Division I university that competes in the American Athletic Conference, and
  • Oral Roberts University, an NCAA Division I university that competes in the Summit League;
• Various local high schools including Union, Owasso, Cascia Hall, and Broken Arrow;
• Eastern Oklahoma Orthopedic Center, a local sports medicine clinic;
• American Airlines maintenance facility, an industrial setting,
• General medical, through rotations with sports medicine fellows and through the on-site health clinic; and
• Other special events as available. 

In all clinical rotations, students are supervised by BOC certified and Oklahoma licensed athletic trainers. Most students work one on one with their preceptor in the clinical setting.

Athletic training students also gain experience with emergency situations and general medical conditions through clinical simulation scenarios which utilize METIMan, a high fidelity human patient simulator, in our simulation center.

Admission

Formal acceptance into the athletic training program will be granted based on criteria listed below.  The program is a competitive program. Therefore, only students who meet all the criteria below will be admitted. For students who do not meet the all the requirements at the time of application, consideration may be given for probation or provisional admission at the discretion of the Athletic Training Program Director and Graduate School. 

Eligibility Criteria

• Admission into The University of Tulsa Graduate School,
• Completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution,
• Undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale,
• Submission of General Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores,
• Completion of 50 hours of observation with a licensed athletic trainer,
• Three letters of recommendation, including at least one from an athletic trainer verifying observation experience and one from a former or current professor, and
• Satisfactory completion of the following prerequisite coursework or equivalent coursework (35 credits) with a letter grade of C or better:

Application Reviews

Students interested in early acceptance must submit all electronic application materials prior to October 15th. For regular admission, students should submit electronic application materials prior to February 1^st to be given first consideration for acceptance into the program. Program matriculation begins in the summer academic term only.

The Director of Athletic Training Professional Programs and the Coordinator of Athletic Training Clinical Education will review all submitted materials. This information, in conjunction with recommendations, provides the objective information necessary to identify qualified applicants. Qualified applicants are also subject to interview by committee. The number of applicants accepted will reflect an appropriate student-faculty ratio and the availability of appropriate clinical resources. Applicants will be notified of acceptance status within 45 days of completed application and the submission of all required documentation. 

Health and Safety Requirements

Following admission and prior to beginning supervised practice experiences, Master of Athletic Training students must adhere to the following health and safety requirements.  

Physical Exam and Medical History. Students must submit documentation of a recent physical examination by a physician of the student’s choice. This must be completed prior to beginning observation experiences during the prospective semester.

Written Technical Standards. The written technical standards verify that the student is capable of meeting minimum standards relating to physical, mental, and emotional health with or without accommodations. The student must read and sign this form. Students who require accommodation to meet the technical standards must submit appropriate documentation to the Center for Student Academic Support and obtain verification so that the program can provide reasonable accommodation. This form must be completed prior to beginning coursework in the Master of Athletic Training program.

Health Requirements. Prior to beginning supervised professional practice experiences and annually thereafter, students must complete online training in blood-borne pathogens, HIPAA, the Right to Know (OSHA communication standard), and TB prevention. Prior to beginning supervised professional practice experiences and annually thereafter, students are required to present proof of the following immunizations and screenings to the Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitative Sciences : TB test (using CDC guidelines for two step method or chest X-ray), measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (Tdap), hepatitis B, varicella and flu. These may be done at the Alexander Health Center on campus for a fee or at a private physician’s office. For some immunizations, a declination waiver may be signed in lieu of immunization records.

Criminal Background Check. Students are required to submit to a criminal background check upon formal admission to the program as required by the contract with off-campus clinical agencies. This will allow proper placement of students for supervised professional practice rotations.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Students must provide documentation of American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers certification upon completion of ATRG 4116/6116 and must maintain continuous certification throughout the remainder of the program.

Liability Insurance. Liability insurance is required for all students who have been formally accepted into the athletic training program. Liability insurance policy premium fees are automatically billed to the student’s account through the Office of the Bursar.

Apprentice Licensure Status. Students are required to obtain apprentice athletic trainer status through the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision upon formal admission to the program.

Transportation and Uniforms. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to off-campus clinical sites and are required to buy their own uniforms in accordance with the program dress code. (Some uniforms will be provided by the Department of Athletics.) See the Athletic Training Student Handbook for dress code requirements.

All documentation for Health/Safety Requirements is accessible through the program website at www.utulsa.edu/athletic-training.

Course Sequence