M.Ed. in Special Education
The University of North Florida (UNF) in Jacksonville offers a Master of Education (M.E...
M.S. in Athletic Training
Jacksonville, Florida
INTAKE: May
Program Overview
The M.S. in Athletic Training at UNF is a professional graduate program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Its primary aim is to prepare students for successful completion of the Board of Certification (BOC) examination, which is required for professional practice as a Certified Athletic Trainer. The program emphasizes both didactic knowledge and extensive clinical education, ensuring students gain hands-on experience in preventing, evaluating, treating, and rehabilitating injuries and medical conditions among physically active individuals and patients. It is a 55-credit hour program with a prescribed course sequence designed to build foundational and advanced skills.
Curriculum: The 55-credit hour curriculum for the M.S. in Athletic Training at UNF is structured to cover the five domains of athletic training as outlined by the Board of Certification: risk reduction, wellness, and health literacy; assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis; critical incident management; therapeutic intervention; and healthcare administration and professional responsibility. Core courses typically include advanced orthopedic assessment and diagnosis, therapeutic interventions, emergency management of athletic trauma, general medical conditions, and clinical integration experiences. The curriculum blends classroom lectures with hands-on laboratory components and extensive supervised clinical rotations, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings under the direct supervision of Certified Athletic Trainers and other healthcare providers.
Research Focus: The M.S. in Athletic Training at UNF places a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice (EBP). While it is a professional degree rather than a traditional research-focused academic master's, students are trained to critically appraise scientific literature, integrate the best available research evidence with clinical expertise, and consider patient values and circumstances in their clinical decision-making. The curriculum likely includes coursework on research procedures and analytical methods relevant to athletic training, enabling students to understand and apply current research findings. This focus ensures graduates are prepared to contribute to advancing healthcare knowledge and to provide the most effective, up-to-date patient care.
Industry Engagement: The M.S. in Athletic Training at UNF boasts significant and diverse industry engagement, primarily through its extensive clinical education experiences. Students gain valuable hands-on clinical experience in a variety of settings, which often include high schools, universities (including UNF Athletics), sports medicine clinics, hospitals, and potentially professional sports organizations. These clinical rotations are supervised by Certified Athletic Trainers and other healthcare professionals, providing invaluable mentorship and networking opportunities. UNF's location in Jacksonville, with its active sports community and healthcare facilities, offers a rich environment for these practical engagements, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for entry-level athletic training positions across a broad spectrum of clinical settings.
Global Perspective: While the M.S. in Athletic Training at UNF primarily focuses on preparing students for practice within the U.S. healthcare system and Board of Certification standards, it implicitly incorporates a global perspective through its emphasis on culturally competent care and interdisciplinary collaboration. Athletic trainers are increasingly working with diverse patient populations, including international athletes, and collaborating with a global healthcare team. The program's mission to prepare "competent, caring allied health care professionals" suggests an approach that values diversity and inclusivity. Furthermore, the principles of evidence-based practice, injury prevention, and rehabilitation are universally applicable in sports and healthcare across different countries and cultures, preparing graduates to adapt their skills in an interconnected global sports and health landscape.
Location
Jacksonville, Florida
Score
IELTS 6.5
Tuition Fee
USD 18803
Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Application Fee: $31
Academic Qualifications: Applicants for postgraduate programs typically require a minimum academic achievement of 70% or above in their bachelor's degree.
English Language Proficiency:
- IELTS: Overall band score of 6.5 or 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.
- TOEFL: Overall score of 79 or higher.
- DET (Duolingo English Test): Minimum score of 110.
The University of North Florida (UNF) offers a variety of scholarships specifically designed to support international students in achieving their academic goals while easing the financial burden of studying in the United States. These scholarships recognize outstanding academic achievements, leadership potential, and community involvement.
Merit-Based Scholarships: UNF provides merit scholarships to international students based on their academic performance, standardized test scores, and extracurricular accomplishments. These scholarships can significantly reduce tuition costs and are awarded automatically to eligible applicants during the admissions process.
International Student Scholarships: Special scholarships are reserved exclusively for international students. Examples include the International Freshman Scholarship and the International Transfer Scholarship, which reward high-achieving students with financial aid packages that may cover partial to full tuition fees.
Need-Based Financial Aid: While limited for international students, some need-based financial aid options may be available through private organizations or partnerships coordinated by UNF’s financial aid office. International students are encouraged to explore external scholarship databases for additional funding opportunities.
Departmental Scholarships: Certain academic departments and colleges at UNF offer scholarships targeted to students enrolled in specific fields of study. International students can apply for these scholarships based on their major, research interests, or academic achievements within their discipline.
A Master of Science (M.S.) in Athletic Training from the University of North Florida (UNF) is a comprehensive, CAATE-accredited program that directly prepares graduates for the Board of Certification (BOC) Examination, which is essential for becoming a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC). This 55-credit hour program, housed within the Brooks College of Health, provides a robust blend of interdisciplinary coursework and extensive clinical education.
Collegiate Athletic Trainer: Works with college and university sports teams, providing immediate care for injuries, developing prevention programs, overseeing rehabilitation, and collaborating with coaches, physicians, and strength and conditioning staff.
High School Athletic Trainer: Provides comprehensive athletic healthcare services to high school student-athletes, including injury prevention, emergency care, clinical evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation. They also play a vital role in educating athletes, parents, and coaches.
Clinical/Outpatient Athletic Trainer: Works in sports medicine clinics, physical therapy clinics, or hospitals, providing direct patient care, assisting physicians, and leading rehabilitation programs for a diverse patient population, not limited to athletes.
Professional Sports Athletic Trainer: Works directly with professional sports teams (e.g., NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS), traveling with the team, managing injuries, implementing performance enhancement programs, and ensuring athlete well-being at the elite level.
Industrial/Occupational Athletic Trainer: Employed by corporations or industrial settings, these ATCs focus on workplace health and safety, injury prevention for employees (e.g., factory workers, emergency responders), ergonomic assessments, and return-to-work rehabilitation programs.
Performing Arts Athletic Trainer: Specializes in the unique needs of performers such as dancers, musicians, and actors. They address injuries related to repetitive motion and performance demands, developing injury prevention strategies and rehabilitation programs for the performing arts community.
Military Athletic Trainer: Works at military installations to maintain the physical readiness and overall health of service members. This involves injury prevention, immediate care, rehabilitation, and implementing wellness and conditioning programs for military personnel.
Physician Extender/Athletic Trainer in Physician Practice: Works directly under the supervision of a physician (e.g., orthopedic surgeon, family medicine doctor with sports medicine interest) in a clinic setting. They assist with patient assessments, provide patient education, administer treatments, and manage rehabilitation plans.
Rehabilitation Specialist (Sports Focus): Collaborates with physical therapists or occupational therapists in rehabilitation facilities to design and implement specialized exercise and recovery programs for individuals recovering from sports-related injuries or surgeries.
Athletic Training Educator/Clinical Instructor: With further experience and potentially additional academic qualifications, graduates can pursue roles in athletic training education programs, teaching future athletic trainers or serving as clinical instructors supervising students during their practical experiences.
