The mission of the MS in Athletic Training program is to:

1. provide interdisciplinary approaches to medicine through designed clinical educational experiences for students in a variety of settings and interactions with different health care professionals.
2. teach students to access, interpret, and integrate relevant research into their clinical decision making through didactic and clinical education that focuses on evidence-based medicine.
3. enhance professional development of students through community engagement and recognize the role of the athletic trainer as a healthcare provider within the larger context of a changing healthcare system.

The MS in AT Program is an intensive 2-year graduate degree consisting of 66 credit hours of coursework. The program includes a 6-hour cadaver anatomy class, 3 course lecture series on Evaluation & Therapeutic Intervention of Lower, Upper and Head, Neck and Spine, Advanced Clinical Skills Class, as well as a final semester long clinical immersion that can be done anywhere in the world. The AT program at USC was re-accredited by CAATE in May of 2019 for 10 years.

The Clinical Education component of the AT program includes 5 clinical courses where students are assigned to a USC Preceptor and gain valuable clinical experiences through USC men’s & women’s athletics, USC campus recreation, local high schools, sports medicine clinics, youth sports, physical therapy clinics, hospitals, physician offices, and small colleges. Our program at USC is committed to providing students with clinical opportunities in diverse settings across athletic training.  This will include educational opportunities with clients/patients of different sexes, different socioeconomic statuses, throughout lifespan (pediatric/adult), varying level of athletic ability and those who participate in non-sport activities (military/performing arts). For the last clinical class, students will complete a semester long clinical immersion at a clinical site that meets their profession goals and can be done anywhere in the world!!! The Clinical Education Coordinator (CEC) at the University of South Carolina AT program (Amy Hand) oversees the clinical education experiences of all athletic training students.

Students who graduate from this program will be eligible to sit for the BOC Examination and practice as an athletic trainer.  Graduates of the University of South Carolina AT program currently work in a variety of settings, including; NFL, MLB, NBA, professional soccer, NASCAR, cirque du soleil, collegiate athletics, high school athletics, US Military, secondary schools in China and Europe, orthopedic offices, hospitals, performing arts, and industrial settings.

 The curriculum  identifies which courses need to be taken during each semester over your 2-year program of study.

Applicants for the MS in Athletic Training must apply through the Athletic Training Centralized Application Service (ATCAS):

• Admission Requirements

The Advanced Athletic Training Program at the University of South Carolina (USC AT Program) is dedicated to preparing athletic trainers for advanced clinical practice, research and scholarship in order to advance the quality of patient care, optimize patient outcomes, and improve patient’s health-related quality of life.

The Advanced Athletic Training Program is committed to distinguishing itself as a state and national leader in its efforts to address the needs of its students, the athletic training profession, and community. The pursuit of excellence in both the academic and clinical education setting is our program’s approach for providing graduate students with the knowledge and skills required to enhance their athletic training skills and to successfully contribute to the profession of athletic training. The graduate athletic training program at the University of South Carolina will also provide a coordinated balance of education and clinical exposure.

The program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Exercise Science, School of Medicine, and Athletics Department of the University of South Carolina. The two-year program is designed to offer advanced studies and clinical experiences in athletic training to BOC certified athletic trainers, while also providing health care to patients and student-athletes in the state of South Carolina. Graduate assistantships with stipends, out-of-state tuition waivers, and tuition credits are available for qualified students.

The USC AT Program provides students with the theoretical knowledge and understanding of the allied health profession of athletic training as well as current procedures and techniques in sport injury management. Students gain this knowledge through required coursework and clinical experiences as they prepare to make successful contributions to the athletic training profession. The program combines formal classroom instruction and clinical experiences to enhance a certified athletic trainer’s clinical skills.

Students who graduate from the program and will be qualified to be employed as an athletic trainer in a variety of allied health settings, including secondary schools, two- and four-year colleges and universities, professional athletic teams, sports medicine clinics, or in industrial preventative medicine clinics.

All USC Graduate Assistants are required to be certified through the Board of Certification to be enrolled in the Graduate Advanced AT Program. The graduate athletic training student’s professional preparation is directed toward the development of advanced clinical knowledge. USC’s athletic training program requires all graduate students have completed an entry level bachelors or master’s degree in athletic training.

Application: A completed application with all requested information and supporting documents supplied.

Application Fees: A nonrefundable application fee of $50 is required of all first-time applicants to the Graduate School and for applicants reapplying after a three-year period of non-enrollment. A Change of Status fee of $15 is charged when requesting a change in program or degree intent with submission of a Change of Status (COS) form.

Transcripts: Official transcripts showing all college-level course work attempted and the award of the baccalaureate or higher degree by an accredited college or university. Official transcripts verifying all previous college-level course work are required for the University’s records. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly from the institution to The Graduate School or delivered in a sealed envelope bearing a registrar’s stamp. Please send transcripts to:

The Graduate School
1705 College Street
Close-Hipp Suite 552
Columbia, SC 29208

Letters of Recommendation: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit at least three letters of recommendation through the electronic application process. Please consider carefully the waiver of right to view letters of recommendation because this decision cannot be altered after submission.

Test Scores: Most programs require an admissions test such as the GRE, GMAT or MAT. Please consult the of the Graduate Studies Bulletin appropriate program for the test requirements for admission. Applications for the GRE and the GMAT can be obtained from the Educational Testing Service, Box 955, Princeton, NJ 08540 or by visiting the website www.ets.org. Applicants from western states should contact the Educational Testing Service, 1947 Center Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 or visit the website. Note: GRE, GMAT, and MAT test scores are valid for five years.

International Applicants: International applicants whose native language is not English are also required to submit a satisfactory score on the TOEFL or the IELTS Intl. Academic Course Type 2 exam. The minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL is 80 Internet-based or 570 paper-based. The minimum acceptable overall band score on the IELTS Intl. Academic Course Type 2 exam is 6.5. Programs may set higher score requirements. See International Students and Credentials for more information. Note: TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years.