The MSAT is currently taking applications for our next cohort! Classes begin May 2024.
If you have any questions, please contact the program director, Dr. Rachele Vogelpohl at vogelpohlra@nku.edu.
Master of Science in Athletic Training Tuition Rate:
Kentucky Resident: $520 per credit hour
General Metro and Non-Resident: $620 per credit hour
Athletic Trainers are healthcare professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients. Athletic training encompasses the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions.
Athletic training education uses a competency-based approach in both the classroom and clinical settings. Using a medical-based education model, athletic training students are educated to provide comprehensive patient care in five domains of clinical practice: prevention; clinical evaluation and diagnosis; immediate and emergency care; treatment and rehabilitation; and organization and professional health and well-being. The educational requirements for CAATE-accredited athletic training education programs include acquisition of knowledge, skills and clinical abilities along with a broad scope of foundational behaviors of professional practice. Students complete an extensive clinical learning requirement that is embodied in the clinical integration proficiencies (professional, practice oriented outcomes) as identified in the Athletic Training Education Competencies.
Students must receive formal instruction in the following specific subject matter areas identified in the Competencies:
Admission to the MSAT program will begin in January with rolling admission through the spring semester, as space permits.
The Stand-Alone, 2 Year Option is for students who have earned a bachelor's degree and are interested in pursuing the MSAT. The pre-requisites for this program include:
To apply to the MSAT go to the Graduate Admissions page or click on the "APPLY NOW" button at the top of this page.
The Expedited Option is reserved for students who are currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science program at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) or the Health and Exercise Science: 3+2 Master of Athletic Training Bachelor of Science program at Mount St. Joseph University. Students are able to apply the MSAT during their junior year. The list of admission requirements include:
Psychology
Biology
Anatomy and Physiology I
Anatomy and Physiology II
General Chemistry
General Physics
Biomechanics
Exercise Physiology
Statistics
Strength and Conditioning
To apply to the MSAT go to the Graduate Admissions page or click on the "APPLY NOW" button at the top of this page.
Additional Program Requirements for both the Stand Alone Option and the Expedited Option.
Below is a list of items that are required by all students prior to the start of the first summer classes.
Two vaccinations for Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) OR a positive antibody titer
Two vaccinations for Varicella (Chicken Pox) OR a positive antibody titer OR medically documented history of disease
Three vaccinations for Hepatitis B OR a positive antibody titer
A one step Tuberculosis (TB) skin test (one step) completed in the past 12 months OR if positive results, submit BOTH of the following: clear chest x-ray AND physician clearance documented on letterhead following positive results
Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis (Tdap) administered within the last ten years
COVID-19 vaccine (two doses of Pfizer and Moderna or one dose of Johnson & Johnson) (Medical Exemption may be accepted)
Provide the coverage letter for your current Professional Liability Insurance.
Coverage limits must be a minimum of $1,000,000 per incident, and $3,000,000 aggregate
Coverage letter MUST include effective start and end date.
The MSAT uses the company PreCheck to facilitate student purchase of these items. Students are required to purchase the Background Check and the Immunization Tracking packages through PreCheck as well as upload all other required information to the secure PreCheck site. Students do not have to purchase the Drug Screen at the time of application to the program.
Click on the button below for more information on purchasing these items through PreCheck:
While enrolled in the MSAT, students will complete five Clinical Education/Practicum courses. During these courses, students are placed at an affiliated clinical site, where they complete the required clinical education hours and skills with their assigned preceptor.
The program has a wide variety of clinical sites in the community where students can be assigned. The clinical site assignments are made after the student and the program's Coordinator of Clinical Education discuss the options available and wants/needs of the student. The student is directly involved in determining their clinical site assignments each semester.
Below is the list of current affiliated clinical education sites:
Professional Organizations
College and University
High School
Hospital, Physician and Rehabilitation Clinic
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the profession of Athletic Training will experience a 19% growth between 2018-2028, which is “much faster than average” rating.
Athletic trainers treat a range of patients and can work in a variety of settings. Some of these setting include:
| Year 1 | |||||
| Summer | Fall | Spring | |||
| Course | Credits | Coures | Credits | Course | Credits |
| ATP 510/L Application of Intro AT | 2 | ATP 533/L Lower Extremity Exam | 3 | ATP 625/L Therapeutic Modalities for AT | 4 |
| ATP 520/L Foundations of AT | 3 | ATP 543/L Upper Extremity Exam | 3 | ATP 640/L Therapeutic Exercise for AT | 4 |
| ATP 545 Research Methods and Design in AT | 3 | ATP 602 AT Clinical Practicum II | 2 | ATP 603 AT Clinical Practicum III | 2 |
| ATP 601 AT Clinical Practicum I | 1 | Total | 8 | Total | 10 |
| Total | 9 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||
| Summer | Fall | Spring | |||
| Course | Credits | Coures | Credits | Course | Credits |
| ATP 620 General Medical for AT | 3 | ATP 630 Psychosocial Aspects of Injury and Illness | 3 | ATP 693 AT Research Seminar | 3 |
| ATP 635 Head and Spine Exam | 3 | ATP 604 AT Clinical Practicum IV | 6 | ATP 665 AT Capstone and Current Issues | 3 |
| ATP 655 Administration for AT Health Care | 3 | Total | 9 | ATP 605 AT Clinical Practicum V | 3 |
| Total | 9 | Total | 9 | ||
Below is the sample curriculum for the Expedited (5 year Bachelors and Masters Option).
This sample plan could vary, so check with your NKU advisor or contact the Program Director, Rachele Vogelpohl (vogelpohlra@nku.edu).
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| KIN 200 Concepts of Lifetime Fitness | 2 | BIO 208 Human Anatomy and Physiology I w/Lab | 4 | ||
| General Education: Oral | 3 | KIN 280 Basic Rec and Care of Ath Injuries | 3 | ||
| PSY 100 Intro to Psychology | 3 | STA 205 Statistics (General Ed) | 3 | ||
| KIN 125 Intro to Physical Ed, Fitness and Sports | 3 | KIN 260 Intro to Strength and Conditioning | 3 | ||
| BIO 126 Human Nutrition (General Ed) | 3 | General Education: Individual and Society | 3 | ||
| Total | 14 | Total | 16 | ||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| BIO 209 Human Anatomy and Physiology II/Lab | 4 | KIN 340/L Exercise Physiology with Lab | 4 | ||
| General Education: Culture and Creativity | 3 | CHE 115 Physiological Chem (General Ed) | 4 | ||
| KIN 313 Computer Apps for Health and KIN | 2 | KIN 295 Anatomical Kinesiology | 3 | ||
| ENG 101 English (General Ed) | 3 | ENG 102 English II (General Ed) | 3 | ||
| General Education: Global Viewpoints | 3 | Total | 14 | ||
| Total | 15 | ||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| KIN 349 Exercise Prescription | 3 | General Education: Culture and Creativity | 3 | ||
| PHY 110 Intro to Physics with Lab | 4 | KIN 380 Clinical Exercise Physiology | 3 | ||
| KIN 360 Statistics and Measurement | 3 | BIO 123 Human Ecology | 3 | ||
| KIN 370 Biomechanics | 3 | KIN 450 Organization and Administration | 3 | ||
| General Education: Individual and Society | 3 | KIN 325/L Motor Learning and Development/Lab | 4 | ||
| Total | 16 | Total |
16 | ||
| Summer | Credits | ||||
| ATP 510L Application of Intro AT Skills | 2 | ||||
| ATP 520/L Foundations of AT with Lab | 3 | ||||
| ATP 545 Research Methods and Design in AT | 3 | ||||
| ATP 601 AT Clinical Practicum I | 1 | ||||
| Total | 9 | ||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| KIN 483 Advanced Strength and Conditioning | 3 | KIN 481 Nutrition and Sport for Ex Sci | 3 | ||
| KIN 497 Exercise Science Senior Synthesis | 3 | ATP 625/L Therapeutic Modalities for AT with Lab | 4 | ||
| ATP 533/L Lower Extremity Examination with Lab | 3 | ATP 640/L Therapeutic Exercise for AT with Lab | 4 | ||
| ATP 534/L Upper Extremity Examination with Lab | 3 | ATP 603 AT Clinical Practicum III | 2 | ||
| ATP 602 AT Clinical Practicum II | 2 | Total | 13 | ||
| Total | 14 | ||||
| Summer | Credits | ||||
| ATP 620 General Medical for AT | 3 | ||||
| ATO 635 Head and Spine Injury Examination | 3 | ||||
| ATP 655 Administration of Athletic Health Care | 3 | ||||
| Total | 9 | ||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| ATP 604 AT Clinical Practicum IV | 6 | ATP 693 AT Research Seminar | 3 | ||
| ATP 630 Psychosocial Aspects of Injury and Illness | 3 | ATP 665 AT Capstone and Current Issues | 3 | ||
| Total | 9 | ATP 605 AT Clinical Practicum V | 3 | ||
| Total | 9 |
The athletic degree program of study contains 54 hours of coursework and concurrent clinical education. The intent of the athletic training program is to prepare students for a career, as a BOC Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC).
Athletic trainers are vital members of the healthcare team for:
Rachele E. Vogelpohl, PhD, ATC
Athletic Training Program Director
859-572-5623
vogelpohlra@nku.edu
NKU's Athletic Training Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), 6850 Austin Center Blvd., Suite 100, Austin, TX 78731-3101.
Students in the Athletic Training program have access to a state of the art simulation center at NKU. Throughout the curriculum, students are able to experience simulations that will prepare them for real life situations in a controlled and safe learning environment. Students also participate in interprofessional experiences throughout the program that teaches them to work together with other professionals in a collaborative health care team.
