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 CAATE 2020 Athletic Training Education Competencies.

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.

The Master of Athletic Training Handbook  provides information about program policies and procedures. The overall intent of this handbook is to ensure a quality educational experience for every student, and to ensure safe and efficient clinical education opportunities. This handbook, in conjunction with the University Bulletin and Graduate School handbook, should be used as a guide throughout progression through the Master of Athletic Training program. Any alterations to the handbook will be made available to all students, faculty, staff, and preceptors.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate professional and ethical behaviors. 
• Integrate evidence-based medicine into existing standards of care. 
• Utilize critical thinking to make accurate and expedient clinical decisions. 
• Employ appropriate interventions for injuries and illnesses.

Supervised Practice Clinical Experiences

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;
  • Rogers State University, an NCAA Division II University that competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association;
• Various local high schools including Union, Owasso, Bishop Kelley, Bixby, Jenks, Tulsa Public Schools, Holland Hall, Cascia Hall, and Broken Arrow;
• FC Tulsa, a professional soccer club;
• Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma, a local sports medicine clinic;
• Primary Care, through a variety of opportunities though the Tulsa Fire Department and physician practices;
• Interprofessional practice; and
• Other special events as available. 

In all clinical rotations, students are supervised by BOC certified and state-alicensed athletic trainers. All students work one-on-one with their preceptor in the clinical setting.

Athletic training students also gain experience with emergency situations and primary care conditions through clinical simulation scenarios which utilize METIMan, a high fidelity human patient simulator, and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE).

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. 

Requirements for admission to the Graduate School, including English language proficiency, may be found in the Admission  section of this Bulletin.

In addition, applicants to the graduate program in athletic training must meet the following requirements:

• Undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale,
• Completion of 50 hours of observation with a licensed athletic trainer,
• Two 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 higher:

Application Reviews

Students interested in early acceptance and given first consideration for acceptance into the program 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 Master of Athletic Training faculty will review all submitted materials. This information, in conjunction with recommendations, provides the objective information necessary to identify qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will also complete an interview by a committee of faculty. 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.  

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 preceptor of 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. The form will be uploaded and stored in the student’s CastleBranch account.

Health Requirements. Prior to beginning supervised professional practice experiences and annually thereafter, students must complete online training in blood-borne pathogens, HIPAA, and the Right to Know (OSHA communication standard). 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, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (Tdap), hepatitis B, varicella, COVID, and flu. These may be done at the Hurricane 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. These records will be uploaded and stored in the student’s CastleBranch account.

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. These records will be uploaded and stored in the student’s CastleBranch account. This will allow proper placement of students for supervised professional practice rotations.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Students must provide documentation of CPR certification upon completion of  ATRG 5116 and must maintain continuous certification throughout the remainder of the program. This can be completed through the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Emergency Care, and Safety Institute. These are uploaded and stored on the students CastleBranch account.

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. Students may purchase a supplemental policy if they choose.

Transportation and Uniforms. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to off-campus clinical sites. Uniforms are provided by the Department of Athletics. See the Athletic Training Student Handbook for dress code requirements.

Course Sequence