THE MISSION
The mission of The University of Alabama’s Master of Science in Athletic Training Program (AT Program) is to prepare students for the Board of Certification (BOC) Examination and successful careers in athletic training. To this end, we will provide quality graduate coursework with innovative and hands-on learning experiences in didactic, laboratory, and clinical education that emphasizes evidence-based practice, interprofessional collaboration in health care and equitable patient-centered care.
THE VISION
The University of Alabama (UA) AT Program will be known as a top AT program in the country for all students who seek exceptional educational opportunities. The UA AT program will be a student-centered program committed to providing supreme learning experiences and superior healthcare that emphasizes the growth of students as athletic trainers and members of society.
In alignment with our mission and vision statements, the AT Program at The University of Alabama is committed to ensuring equal opportunity and a sense of belonging in everything we do. Our academic, clinical and research environments welcome and respect people across all spheres. We are respectful to the rights and interests of all individuals associated with the AT Program, and we will not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex and gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other sociodemographic composition. We are collectively dedicated to the promotion of equity, excellence and diversity in all forms.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Accreditation
The University of Alabama has been approved to offer a Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT). The University of Alabama Athletic Training Program is currently accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), 2001 K Street NW, Third Floor North, Washington, DC 20006 USA. Students who successfully complete the Master of Science in Athletic Training program will be eligible to take the Board of Certification Examination. Certification as an athletic trainer through the Board of Certification is required to practice as an athletic trainer. Candidates sitting for the BOC Examination must graduate from a CAATE-accredited professional AT program. CAATE-accredited professional AT programs provide the student with the appropriate formal classroom instruction and clinical experience necessary to succeed as an entry-level allied health professional. For a detailed list of AT Programs accredited by CAATE, visit the CAATE website, https://caate.net.
Core Beliefs
Core beliefs define the principles that guide how are educational program is developed and delivered. The core beliefs for our program have been designed with input from core faculty, adjunct faculty, preceptors, current students, alumni, and department, college, and university administrators. We believe:
- ATs are healthcare professionals that practice to the top of their training.
- ATs practice patient-centered, culturally-competent care.
- Education and clinical practice should be based on current evidence and best practices.
- AT services and education should be equitable and accessible.
- AT is public health.
- Health care is best delivered through collaborative interprofessional teams.
- ATs are committed to professional engagement and advocacy.
Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes are professional behaviors of students that would indicate that we are achieving our mission and adhering to our core beliefs. The learning outcomes for our program have been designed with input from core faculty, adjunct faculty, preceptors, current students, alumni, and department, college, and university administrators. Upon graduation from the UA MSAT program students will:
- Have the knowledge and skill to carry out the domains of practice of athletic training to provide quality care for a wide variety of patient conditions and systems .
- Practice patient-centered care, using the needs, concerns, and preferences of the patient along with social determinants of health to guide clinical decision-making.
- Provide services in a manner that uses up-to-date evidence to inform practice.
- Practice in collaboration with other healthcare providers.
- Promote and model behaviors fundamental to healthcare.
- Join us as advocates and leaders in our profession.
CAATE Program Information and Outcomes
Our first cohort of MSAT students graduated in May 2024. We had an 82% first-time pass rate and 100% overall pass rate in this cohort. Click here for additional information on AT Program outcomes. Please visit the CAATE website for additional information on national BOC pass rates.
History
In 1987, funding for the preliminary development of an AT Program at The University of Alabama was obtained through grants from The University of Alabama, AMI West Alabama Hospital, and DCH Regional Medical Center. Athletic Training is currently recognized as a major leading to the Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training degree within the College of Human Environmental Sciences, Department of Health Science. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association Professional Education Committee approved the AT Program in July 1991 and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs accredited the program in 1996 and 2001. In April 2018, the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) awarded the AT Program 10 years of continuing accreditation. In June 2020, The University of Alabama Board of Trustees Approved the Master of Science in Athletic Training Program. The CAATE approved a substantive change to our professional education program in 2022 and our first cohort of Masters sutdents began in Fall 2022.