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MS in ATHLETIC TRAINING
A Comprehensive Guide to Pursuing a Master's in Athletic Training
If you have a passion for sports and care about keeping people active and safe, a Master’s in Athletic Training could be your next big move. It’s an exciting field that’s gaining more attention as people realize how important it is to look after our athletes—whether they’re weekend warriors or going for gold.
A master’s degree in athletic training can open new doors for you. It's not just about getting a better job or making more money (though those are nice perks!). It's about digging deeper into what you love, learning the best ways to prevent and care for injuries, and making a critical difference in people’s lives. Plus, the world needs even more highly-trained athletic trainers.
Whether you dream of standing on the sidelines for a major team, helping in your community, or even setting up your own practice, everything you need to know about stepping up your game with a Master’s in Athletic Training starts right here. Let’s dive in and explore how this degree can be your path to an interesting, fulfilling career that makes a difference.
Table of Contents
1
What is an Athletic Trainer?
2
Employment Trends and Salary Expectations in Athletic Training
3
Researching Athletic Training Graduate Programs: What Makes Neumann’s Unique
4
Start Your Athletic Training Career at Neumann
5
Frequently Asked Questions
6
Take the Next Step - Connect with Us
Certified athletic trainers are skilled healthcare professionals that work with physicians. Athletic training is a role focused on preventing, examining, diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating emergent, acute, or chronic injuries and medical conditions in physically active people.
A Master of Science in Athletic Training is a professional degree that provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to become certified trainers. And the academic curriculum and clinical training follows the medical model. (Note that trainers must graduate from a CAATE-accredited program.)
Athletic training is a field that’s expanding rapidly. Because of an aging population and growing awareness of the seriousness of sports-related injuries, the industry is expected to grow by 16 percent by 2029.
The salary that you can expect to earn as a certified athletic trainer may vary by state. If you’re a local, you may be surprised to learn that Pennsylvania employs more athletic trainers than almost any other state in the United States! In Pennsylvania, skilled professionals earn a median annual salary of $50,000.
Philadelphia athletic trainers earn between $65,000 - $85,000 per year.
In New York, athletic trainers can earn over $70,000 per year.
Top earners in Washington D.C. have the potential to earn over $100K annually.
What Can You Do With a Master's in Athletic Training?
Certified athletic trainers work everywhere from hospital emergency departments and sports medicine clinics to secondary schools, industrial settings, and professional sports teams. Regardless of the setting, athletic trainers practice according to their education and state practice act.
For example, trainers have become increasingly valuable in the U.S. military, where they play a valuable role in ensuring the health and safety of active-duty soldiers. You’ll also find trainers working in public safety where they work with firefighters and police officers to prevent injuries.
Trainers work with a range of patients and can assume a variety of positions in some of these traditional and emerging clinical settings:
High Schools
Colleges
Universities
Professional Sports Teams
Hospitals
Rehabilitation Clinics
Physicians' Offices
Corporate and Industrial Institutions
Law Enforcement and Military
Performing Arts
If you’re looking to earn an MS in Athletic Training, Neumann University offers a program that could be a fit for you. The 43-credit degree can be completed in 2.5 years, and is accredited by CAATE.net
The didactic portion of the program is taught by experienced faculty in a hybrid format, so there are both online and face-to-face (in our state-of-the-art Health Science Center) learning opportunities.
Here are some other ways our program is unique:
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The Athletic Training program offers a low student-to-faculty ratio that provides individualized learning in both the classroom and clinical settings.
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There are four clinical (practicum) experiences that complement what you learn in the classroom, providing an opportunity for applied learning under the supervision of a certified athletic trainer. Students will also participate in at least one “immersive clinical experience” during the last year in the program.
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Thanks to Neumann’s location in the greater Philadelphia region, you’ll have access to a variety of unique clinical opportunities. This allows you to gain experience with both traditional (including professional sports), and non-traditional clinical athletic training experiences. Students also have the opportunity to participate in sports medicine research under the guidance of our faculty.
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Coursework and clinical experiences will prepare you to take the Board of Certification (BOC) Exam
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You’ll have access to Neumann’s Career and Personal Development Office, which offers networking resources, our Career Portal, and Interview Prep.
Coursework Highlights
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Advanced Functional Anatomy
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Orthopedic Evaluation
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Therapeutic Exercise
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Pharmacology
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Sports Medicine Research
Clinical Experience Examples
GAIN EXPERIENCE
Clinics/Physicians
Unique Clinicals
High Schools
College/University
Clinics/Physicians
- ATI-PT- Newark
- Drexel Medicine
- Kinetic PT
- Optimum PT
- Rothman Institute
Unique Clinicals
- Disney/ESPN Wide World of Sports
- Philadelphia Union II
- Philadelphia Flyers
- U.S. Coast Guard
- The Energy Lab
High Schools
- Archmere Academy
- Interboro HS
- Strath Haven HS
- Sun Valley HS
- Westtown School
College/University
- Drexel University
- LaSalle University
- Neumann University
- St. Joseph’s University
- Villanova University
Students interested in applying to the MS in Athletic Training will need to complete specific courses. Please refer to the Graduate Catalog for details.
To apply to the program, you’ll need the following:
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Apply through ATCAS at www.neumann.edu/apply
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Official transcripts from all institutions attended
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Three (3) References - 2 professional or academic and 1 athletic trainer
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20 hours of healthcare observation under the supervision of a licensed healthcare provider.
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Completion of all pre-requisites
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English Proficiency Score (TOEFL/IELTS) required if English is not your native language
**If you have questions about the application or pre-requisite requirements, please contact Curt Krouse at krousec@neumann.edu.
All official transcripts and documentation should be sent directly to neumann@neumann.edu or mailed to Neumann University Admissions, 1 Neumann Drive, Aston, PA 19014. Additional materials may be sent electronically to neumann@neumann.edu or may be uploaded to the student’s application portal.
Come join us to see if Neumann University can help you further your professional goals!
5
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the program prerequisites?
Candidates for admission to the Athletic Training major must satisfy the following requirements:
Bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.
Complete the following pre-requisite courses with a minimum grade of “C”:- Anatomy and Physiology (8 credits)
- Biology (4 credits)
- Chemistry (4 credits)
- Physics (4 credits)
- Exercise Physiology (3 credits)
- Nutrition (3 credits)
- Psychology (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
What if I don’t have all of the prerequisites?
There are specific prerequisites that are required for admission into the program. If you have any questions, please contact the program director Hubert Lee at leeh@neumann.edu.
Where do Athletic Trainers work?
- Secondary Schools
- Colleges and Universities Professional
- Sports
- Sports Medicine Clinics Hospitals
- Physician Offices
- The Military
- Industrial and Commercial Settings Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
What does the hybrid course format consist of?
The courses in the Athletic Training Program offer both online and classroom components. This means that some of the course content will be covered via online instruction, with on-campus meetings typically occurring once a week.
How many semesters is the program?
The program is completed in five semesters (beginning with a summer session in the first year) over two years. For a review of the suggested two-year curriculum, see the course catalog.
What does the clinical experience consist of?
To complete the Athletic Training Program at Neumann University, students must complete four semesters of clinical education with a minimum of 1,000 contact hours. There are various settings for clinical placement that includesecondary schools, colleges, universities, professional sports, and clinics. Students are responsible for any costs associated with the clinical sites, which may include, gas, tolls, parking, and/or public transportation. To view a list of our clinical sites click HERE.
Is there housing available for graduate students?
There is no housing available for graduate students with the exception of select graduate assistantships. Specific questions regarding graduate assistantships can be answered by Human Resources or Bettsy McKlaine. Contact information along with other FAQs related to graduate assistantships at Neumann is available HERE.
Can I transfer into the program from another school?
For information regarding transferring into the program, please contact the program director, Hubert Lee at leeh@neumann.edu.. The courses taken will have to be reviewed to determine eligibility for transfer to the program.
Is there financial aid available?
For information regarding assistance with tuition, please click HERE.
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Connect with Us
Your Next Steps
At Neumann University, we value the ambitious, focused, and compassionate professionals who make up our community. Driven by a culture of inclusivity and innovation, we are committed to preparing you to reach your full potential.
You have the valuable opportunity to enroll in a flexible, affordable MS in Athletic Training and pursue a master's degree that will serve as a launching pad for your dream career — get started today.
Connect with us at Neumann University!
At Neumann University, we’re guiding future leaders who will create change at the forefront of this compelling field. Our passion for affordable, high-quality education and committed support influences your academic journey, turning your potential into a thriving, meaningful career.
