Master of Science with a Major in Athletic Training

Program Description and Goals

Accreditation

For specific information on program accreditation, refer to the Accreditations and Compliance section.

Program Requirements

Graduation Requirements of the Athletic Training Program Include:

• Completion of 60 designated semester hours of study
• Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher with no course grades below a C
• Successfully complete necessary clinical skills related to practice as an entry level athletic trainer. 
• All coursework must be completed within 4 years

Method of Delivery

In-person; Dahlonega

Time to Completion

60 hours

Admission Procedures

Applicants may be admitted early or during regular admission cycles.

Early Admission

Requirements

Requirements for early admission include:

• Baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog ) with at least an overall grade point average of 3.2 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures. 

Required Supplemental Documents 

• Letter of intent detailing why you wish to gain admission to the MSAT program at UNG 
• Current resume 
• 2 letters of recommendation. One recommendation must be from a currently BOC-certified and state-licensed, registered, or certified athletic trainer 
• Proof of 50 (minimum) observation hours under a currently BOC-certified and state-licensed, registered, or certified athletic trainer using this form (PDF) or equivalent 
• If accepted, the following documents must be received prior to the first day of the initial semester. Students who have not submitted all of the following prior to the first day of the semester will not be allowed to attend. 
  • Proof of CPR (Basic Life Saving via American Heart Association or the American Red Cross)
  • Background check 
  • UNG physical form filled out by a physician 
  • UNG and AT immunization forms 
  • Technical Standards form signed by a physician 
• Completion of all pre-requisite courses with a minimum grade of C. 
• The program may use an interview (in person, virtually, or through an auditory-only format).

Regular Admission

Requirements

• Baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog ) with at least an overall grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures. 
• MSAT applicants apply through Athletic Training Centralized Application Service (ATCAS) which allows applicants to use a single, web-based application and one set of materials to apply to multiple programs.
• ATCAS application portal opens in July for admission to the following summer semester.
• ATCAS is a service of the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).
• Application fee is paid to ATCAS.
• University of North Georgia does not require a separate application fee.
• Applicant’s responsibility is to follow ATCAS and program-specific instructions.

Supplemental Documents 

• Letter of intent detailing why you wish to gain admission to the MSAT program at UNG 
• Current resume 
• 2 letters of recommendation. One recommendation must be from a certified athletic trainer 
• Proof of 50 (minimum) observation hours under a certified athletic trainer using this form (PDF) or equivalent 
• If accepted, the following documents must be received prior to the first day of the initial semester. Students who have not submitted all of the following prior to the first day of the semester will not be allowed to attend. 
  • Proof of CPR (Basic Life Saving via the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross)
  • Background check 
  • UNG physical form filled out by a physician 
  • UNG and AT immunization forms 
  • Technical Standards form signed by a physician 
• Completion of all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C. Students may be able to complete remaining prerequisite courses during the first semester of the program (the first summer semester) provided these have been completed by the end of that semester with approval of the program faculty. If a student cannot complete prerequisite requirements over the summer semester, they will not be able to continue in the program.
• The program may use an interview (in person, virtually, or through an auditory-only format).

Prerequisites

Required

• General Biology Equivalent
• General Chemistry Equivalent
• General Physics Equivalent
• Anatomy & Physiology I & II
• General Psychology + 1 Additional Psychology course (Growth & Development and/or Abnormal Psychology preferred)
• Nutrition
• Structural Kinesiology or Biomechanics
• Statistics

Recommended

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Exercise Physiology
• Medical Terminology
• Research Methods

International Applicants

An international student is someone who has not been granted or does not have U.S. citizenship or permanent U.S. residency. In order for these students to study in the United States, they must obtain an F-1 visa.

International students are not admissible for the summer term. This program only admits new students in the summer term and therefore, does not permit F-1 visa student admission.

Non-Degree Admission

The MSAT program does not permit non-degree students.

Transient Student Admission

The MSAT program does not permit transient students.

Appeal of Graduate Admission

An applicant whose admission is denied may appeal the decision, regardless of the basis for denial. To submit an appeal, email a signed letter of appeal as a PDF attachment to the Office of Graduate Admissions at grads@ung.edu.

Your letter must present substantial evidence supporting the basis of your appeal. The information provided should go beyond what was previously submitted in your application and clearly demonstrate your potential for success in graduate-level study.

Graduate programs at the University of North Georgia grant appeals for provisional admission status only. If admitted under provisional status, your academic record will be reviewed post enrollment to determine eligibility for regular status. Timelines and requirements vary by program. While enrolled provisionally, you may register only for the maximum number of credit hours permitted for provisional students in your program and must maintain the GPA required by your program each term to continue enrollment. Students admitted under provisional status are not eligible for federal financial aid. Additional program-specific restrictions can be applied.

If your appeal is approved, the Graduate Admissions Office will notify you of your admission status. 

Academic and Professional Integrity

Code of Conduct

The Athletic Training Program adheres to the academic and professional integrity policies in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog.

Retention Standards

The following requirements must be met for a student to remain in the Athletic Training Program (ATP) at UNG

1. Compliance with the rules and regulations prescribed for all graduate students at UNG. 
2. Compliance with the ATP rules and regulations in the Athletic Training Student Handbook.
3. Adherence to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Code of Ethics
4. Adherence to the expectations found in the Program Standards of the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
5. Maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) level CPR certification (American Red Cross or American Heart Association)
6. Maintenance of a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
7. Earning course grade of “C” or better in all coursework

Probation

The student who does not comply with the rules and regulations prescribed for all students at UNG, does not comply with the ATP rules and regulations put forth in the handbook, does not adhere to student dispositions, does not adhere to the NATA’s Code of Ethics, and/or does not adhere to the expectations found in the Program Standards of the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) will be placed on probation.

These situations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and each student will be placed on a Professional Development Plan (PDP) dependent on the violation. Depending on the case, the student may be given a warning and placed on probation for the remainder of his/her time in the program. If another infraction occurs, he/she will be dismissed from the program and unable to reapply for admission. In severe cases, the student may be dismissed from the program after his/her first offense.

Dismissal

A student who fails to complete all courses with a grade of “C” (70%) or better will be dismissed from the program. These dismissed students may decide to reapply to the program (please see details below regarding readmission). Students can make multiples grades of a “C” provided that the student cumulative GPA remains the required 3.0.

Students wishing to appeal their dismissal can find details in the Graduate Catalog.

Academic Information and Policies

Incomplete Grades

The Athletic Training Program adheres to the uniform grading system in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog. If an incomplete is not completed during the following semester, the grade will automatically be updated to an “F” and dismissed from the program.

Readmission

A student seeking to reapply must submit a new application to Graduate Admissions and a letter written to the Athletic Training Program (ATP) Admissions Committee presenting a rationale for readmission as well as meeting the requirements for admission to the program. The student will be readmitted only upon approval of the Dean and the ATP Admissions Committee. Admission to the ATP is competitive, meeting the minimal requirements does not guarantee readmission to the ATP program. If readmitted, the student will have the same grade requirements for progress. A second dismissal will result in a permanent dismissal/non-reentry to the ATP program.