The Master of Science in Athletic Training program at Sacred Heart University is a 51-credit hour program that prepares students for careers as certified athletic trainers. The program includes coursework in areas like injury prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation, as well as clinical experiences in various settings like high schools, clinics, and colleges. Graduates will be eligible to sit for the BOC exam to become certified athletic trainers and pursue employment in settings such as hospitals, schools, clinics, and professional sports organizations. The program is the only one of its kind in Connecticut and adheres to new mandates requiring entry into the athletic training profession to be at the master's level.

1. PROGRAM DETAILS
The M.S. in Athletic Training consists of five
semesters for full-time students. Coursework in the
athletic training programs includes injury and illness
prevention, clinical evaluation, immediate and
emergency care, treatment and rehabilitation of
injuries and organizational and professional health and
wellness.
The major components of the curriculum are:
• Core/foundational courses
• A project requirement
The program prepares students for advanced-degree
programs such as a Ph.D., Ed.D., D.Sc. or residency
programs in Athletic Training.
CAREER OUTLOOK
Certified Athletic Trainers are employed in:
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Master of Science (M.S.) in Athletic Training at
Sacred Heart University (SHU) is the only master’s
degree program of its kind offered in the state of
Connecticut. The Commission on Accreditation of
Athletic Training Education (CAATE) has mandated
that the entry-level degree to enter into the Athletic
Training profession will move from a Bachelor’s to a
Master’s degree by 2022. The program consists of
traditional coursework, problem-based learning
practicums and clinical experiences that provide
students with not only the knowledge base necessary
to work as an athletic trainer, but also the ability to
pursue other allied health professions. It also provides
opportunity to enhance the students’ knowledge
through practical experience and application.
The professional coursework, both didactic and
clinical, provides students with knowledge and skills
specific to athletic training and enables students to
be eligible to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC)
examination to become a Certified Athletic
Trainer, and then be eligible to apply for licensure
in all states. Students are exposed to a variety of
clinical settings and will have the opportunity to work
on-campus with SHU varsity athletes and off-campus
at the high school, clinical and collegiate level. The
Program Director and Academic Clinical Coordinator
are responsible for clinical assignments. Students are
responsible for providing transportation to
off-campus sites. The clinical education program
requires students to amass a minimum number of
clinical hours per semester, as outlined in the syllabi.
Master of Science in Athletic Training
COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS
Sacred Heart University
Office of Graduate Admissions
5151 Park Avenue | Fairfield, CT 06825
www.sacredheart.edu/graduate
Visit www.sacredheart.edu/gradcounselor,
or call 203-365-7619 to find the dedicated
admissions representative in charge of your
program.
Medical Schools Other
Hospitals
Clinics
Orthopedic, Family,
Pediatric and Sports
Medicine practices
Public, private and
preparatory middle and
high schools
Private elementary
schools
Colleges and
universities
Professional sports
Military
Performing arts

2. CURRICULUM
The program requires students to complete a
minimum of 51 semester credit hours of coursework
with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Required Coursework
Course Credits
AT 500: Emergency Care in Athletic Training 6
AT 510: Research Design and Statistics in
Athletic Training
3
AT 532: Evidence Based Practicum I 2
AT 554: Advanced Lower Extremity Injury
Management
6
AT 576: Clinical Decision Making for
Neurological Pathologies I
2
AT 533: Evidence Based Practicum II 3
AT 555: Advanced Upper Extremity Injury
Management
6
AT 577: Clinical Decision Making for
Neurological Pathologies II
2
AT 634: Evidence Based Practicum III 3
AT 656: Clinical Decision Making in Athletic
Training
3
AT 622: AT Seminar: Leadership &
Professional Development
3
AT 698: Masters Capstone Preparation 3
AT 635: Evidence Based Practicum IV 3
AT 657: General Medicine Topics in Athletic
Training
3
AT 699: Masters Capstone Completion 3
Total Credits 51
Prerequisite Coursework
No individual prerequisite course below a grade of a “C.”
Course Credits Course Credits
A&P I with lab 4 Pathology &
Pharmacology
3
A&P II with lab 4 Nutrition 3
General Biology
with lab
4
Statistics 3
Physics with lab 4
General
Psychology
3
Anatomical
Kinesiology
4
Health
Psychology
3
Exercise Physiology 4
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
This program is designed for the student who has a strong
background in the Athletic Training field and success in prerequisite
coursework. Applicants will need:
** Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a
minimum 3.0 overall GPA
** Nonrefundable application fee
** Official transcripts from all institutions attended
** Two academic or professional letters of recommendation
** One-to-two page essay stating your interest in the field of athletic
training/why you want to be an athletic trainer
** 10-to-15 hours of observation under direct supervision of a NATA-
BOC certified athletic trainer documented on SHU form found
online
** SHU undergraduate applicants will need to apply online:
http://apply.sacredheart.edu
** External applicants will need to apply online via ATCAS portal:
http://caate.net/apply-now/
The deadline for completed application and materials to be received
is December 15th. If applying through ATCAS, please allow four-to-six
weeks for our office to receive your verified application.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
A limited number of research and staff assistantships are available
to full-time graduate students on a competitive basis. Student
loans, deferred payment plans and a variety of other programs are
available through the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
Master of Science in Athletic Training
Sacred Heart University
Office of Graduate Admissions
5151 Park Avenue | Fairfield, CT 06825
www.sacredheart.edu/graduate
Visit www.sacredheart.edu/gradcounselor,
or call 203-365-7619 to find the dedicated
admissions representative in charge of your
program.
SHU FAST FACTS
** The Princeton Review includes SHU among the Best 379 Colleges,
while U.S. News & World Report ranks SHU among the best
regional universities in the North in its “America’s Best Colleges”
publication.
** SHU is the second-largest Catholic university in New England.
** The University comprises five distinct colleges: College of Arts &
Sciences, which includes the new School of Communication and
Media Arts; College of Health Professions; Isabelle Farrington College
of Education; the College of Nursing; and the AACSB-accredited
Jack Welch College of Business, committed to educating students in
the leadership tradition and legacy of Jack Welch.