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 67 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 Director of  Clinical Education at the University of South Carolina AT program (Dr. Amy Fraley) 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 Post-Professional Athletic Training Certificates of Graduate Study at the University of South Carolina is dedicated to preparing athletic trainers for advanced clinical practice in order to advance the quality of patient care, optimize patient outcomes, and improve patient’s health-related quality of life. There are two certificates of graduate study options: Behavioral Health in Athletic Training or Critical Incident Management and Primary Care in Athletic Training 
• The Post-Professional 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 the community. The pursuit of excellence in both the academic and clinical education setting is our program’s approach to providing certified athletic trainers with the knowledge and skills required to enhance athletic training and make meaningful contributions to the profession of athletic training.

• The one-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. However, non-graduate assistant routes are available for this online post-professional program.
• 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 behavioral health, primary care, and critical incident 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 emphasizes evidence-based practices, practical decision-making, and the development of comprehensive care plans. Individuals who complete the certificate will enhance their leadership skills and be poised to secure advanced practice positions.
• All USC graduate assistants are required to be a Board of Certification certified athletic trainer. The post-professional athletic training program requires all graduate students to have completed an entry-level route to certification (either a bachelor's or master’s degree in athletic training)

• Apply directly to the Graduate School by selecting the certificate of graduate study route. Applicants must have:
• Bachelor’s or higher degree in athletic training from a CAATE-accredited program
• Board of Certification (BOC) certification as an athletic trainer
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Proficiency in English
• Sufficient computer literacy and access to a personal computer with high-speed Internet
• Graduate Assistantship applications are separate. Please see the attached information on how to apply to an assistantship