Athletic Training
Develop your skills in athletic training, and see what rigorous preparation can do for your AT career. Through the Bridgewater College Master of Athletic Training (MSAT) program, you’ll delve deeply into the profession, gaining real-world experience on campus and at a variety of clinical sites. You’ll graduate from the program as a confident and proficient healthcare professional.
Overview of the Athletic Training Program
As an MSAT graduate, you will:
- Be prepared to lead an ethical and purposeful career and life.
- Develop clinical decision-making skills based on current research and various in-depth clinical placements.
- Understand the role of the athletic trainer as a member of an interprofessional healthcare team.
- Achieve remarkable outcomes in athletic training credentialing and job placement.
- Become a confident and proficient athletic trainer.
- Benefit from the BC liberal arts tradition and embracing the MSAT program core principles of excellence, caring, adaptability and impact.
Learn by doing.
The last two semesters of the Bridgewater College MSAT program are devoted to clinical immersion.
You’ll work with real patients and practice health care everyday at places like college athletic programs, high school athletic programs, physical rehabilitation centers or medical clinics. You’ll have close working relationships with your professors and clinical educators as you work with patients from the beginning of your journey to becoming an athletic trainer.
Clinical Sites
| Alabama | Birmingham Southern College |
| Florida | Edward Waters University University of Central Florida |
| Maryland | University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) |
| Michigan | University of Michigan |
| New Mexico | University of New Mexico |
| New York | Syracuse University |
| North Carolina | Duke University Queen’s University of Charlotte |
| South Carolina | Coastal Carolina University College of Charleston |
| Tennessee | University of Tennessee Tennessee Wesleyan University |
| Virginia | Christopher Newport University College of William & Mary Ferrum College James Madison University Mary Baldwin University Old Dominion University University of Richmond Virginia Military Institute Virginia Tech |
| Alabama | Champion Sports Medicine |
| Delaware | Forever Fit Foundation Premier PT & Sports Performance |
| North Carolina | Epic Physical Therapy |
| Virginia | Harrisonburg ENT Associates Lakewood Pediatrics Forever Fit Foundation McCain Whole Health Care Premier PT & Sports Performance Sentara RMH The Center for Hand and Physical Therapy Valley Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine |
| Delaware | Appoquinimink High School Indian River School District |
| Maryland | St. Johns College High School |
| North Carolina | Clayton High School |
| South Carolina | Myrtle Beach High School Wando High School |
| Virginia | Broadway High School Buffalo Gap High School East Rockingham High School Fairfax County Public Schools Fishburne Military School Harrisonburg High School Mountain View High School Spotswood High School Staunton High School Turner Ashby High School Warren County High School |
Advantages to our Program
- 92% first-time athletic training board exam (BOC) pass rate for the class of 2023 and 2024
- 100% job placement rate within 3 months of graduation for the class of 2023
- Learn from certified athletic trainers on staff at the Bridgewater College campus that covers NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports teams
- Prepares you for athletic training careers at a variety of practice settings including (but not limited to) colleges, high schools, professional sports, physical rehabilitation centers, medical offices and industrial sites.
- Fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
- In-person, full time, 2 year program
- Easy application process with applicants admitted on a rolling basis until the cohort is full (18 students per year)
In-person
Bridgewater’s MSAT program is in person because hands-on experience is essential. Students learn by doing, working side by side with certified athletic trainers, engaging in real clinical settings and building the skills needed for success in the field.
At a Glance
• Start date: June 2026
• 63 credit hours
• 23 month program
*3+2 program available
• $640 per credit hour
(2025-2026 tuition and fees)
Curriculum and Courses
Develop your skills in athletic training through rigorous courses.
- Anatomy for Healthcare Professionals
- Athletic Training Foundations
- Patient Examination & Care
- Professional Knowledge & Assessments
- Clinical Experiences
- Psychology of Sport Performance and Injury
- Emergency Care
- General Medical Conditions
- Health Promotion
- Clinical Immersions
View All Master’s in Athletic Training Courses That You’ll Take >>
Accreditation
The MSAT program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) and the first school in Virginia to successfully secure CAATE accreditation at the master’s level via the substantive change process.
- Bridgewater College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award degrees at the baccalaureate and master’s level. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Bridgewater College.
- Bridgewater College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) located at 6850 Austin Center Blvd., Suite 100, Austin, TX 78731-3184. Our next comprehensive review will be during 2028-2029.
Athletic Training Facilities
You’ll study and work in facilities designed to give you hands-on experiences with patients. Athletic training program facilities are equipped with classrooms, a laboratory and an athletic training clinic with a variety of modern equipment and technologies. Bridgewater College is a proud participant in the NCAA Division III Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Bridgewater has teams in 23 different sports offering a variety of clinical experiences.
Accelerated Program
3+2 Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees in 5 Years
Bridgewater College is committed to providing opportunities for students to complete their undergraduate and graduate degrees in five years. Students wishing to complete the Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program and their undergraduate degree in five years must enroll at BC as an undergraduate student and major in health and exercise science. It is important that you contact Dr. Chase Hale in the fall semester of your first year to review your academic plan.
Affordability
The Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) at Bridgewater College is a practical and affordable pathway to a career in sports medicine and injury care. The 63-credit, two-year program is designed for immersive, hands-on learning in a full-time, in-person format. At $640 per credit hour, MSAT offers strong value for aspiring athletic trainers. While institutional aid isn’t available, many students finance their degree through federal loans, external scholarships, or employer tuition assistance.
Tuition Breakdown
Per Credit Hour: $640
Total Tuition (Year 1): $25,980
Total Tuition (Year 2): $18,600
ATCAS Workshop
Careers Outcomes in Athletic Training
The employment outlook for athletic trainers is excellent—higher than the national average at 17 percent job growth over the next 10 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Master of Science in Athletic Training program director Dr. Chase Hale says the occupation is thriving partly because it’s becoming clear how important it is to have an athletic trainer in middle and high school settings.
Five career paths for athletic training graduates – If you’re looking for a fulfilling career helping people and treating ailments of athletes and those who are physically active, there are five avenues you could explore for a career in athletic training—including some markets and alternative jobs that are expanding quickly.
Where to find a job as an athletic trainer (and how to get one) – Athletic training offers diverse career paths in high schools, colleges, clinics, the military, and performing arts. Graduates of Bridgewater College’s Master of Science in Athletic Training are equipped to work in sports medicine, orthopedic clinics, industrial settings, and emergency services—launching fulfilling careers in a growing healthcare field.
FAQs
- Submit the Athletic Training Student Application through ATCAS (application fees are paid directly to ATCAS).
- Successful academic performance resulting in a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7.
- Official transcript(s) of all college coursework (submit to ATCAS).
- Complete 50 observation hours under the supervision of a certified/licensed athletic trainer. Evidence of observation hours completion should be submitted to ATCAS in the form of an hour’s log signed by the supervising athletic trainer, or a letter of confirmation written by the supervising athletic trainer.
- Application personal statement should address your professional goals and desire for pursuing athletic training as a career (submit to ATCAS).
- Two letters of recommendation (submit to ATCAS). The makeup of the recommendations should be: one from a certified/licensed athletic trainer and one from a college faculty member.
- Interview with the MSAT Admissions Committee (if selected for the interview process).
- Completion of the following prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or higher (students may be enrolled in prerequisite courses at the time of application):
- 8 Credits in Anatomy/Physiology with Lab
- 4 Credits in General or Inorganic Chemistry with Lab
- 3 Credits in English Composition (not literature)
- 3 Credits in Nutrition
- 3 Credits in Exercise Physiology
- 3 Credits in Statistics or Research Methods
- 4 Credits in Physics with Lab
- 3 Credits in General Psychology
The MSAT program only accepts full-time students. Applicants will be admitted to the program on a rolling basis until the cohort is full (18 students per year). Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible to allow sufficient time for application completion and admissions consideration. Review of submitted applications will begin on September 1, 2024. Students interested in priority admissions consideration must submit a completed application by November 1, 2024 and will be notified of admission status by December 15, 2024. After November 1, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as space allows until May 1, 2025.
MSAT YEAR ONE
SUMMER 1 (9 Credits)
AT-501: Anatomy for Healthcare Professionals I (3)
AT-502: Anatomy for Healthcare Professionals II (3)
AT-510: Athletic Training Foundations (1)
AT-511: Athletic Training Applications I (1)
AT-550: Clinical Experience I (1)
FALL (16 Credits)
AT-520: Patient Examination & Care I (3.5)
AT-530: Therapeutic Interventions I (3.5)
AT-540: Professional Knowledge Assessment I (1)
AT-551: Clinical Experience II (2)
AT-556: Management Concepts in Healthcare (3)
AT-567: Psychology of Sport Performance & Injury (3)
SPRING (12 Credits)
AT-560: Athletic Training Seminar I (3)
AT-521: Patient Examination & Care II (3.5)
AT-531: Therapeutic Interventions II (3.5)
AT-541: Professional Knowledge Assessment II (1)
AT-552: Clinical Experience III (1)
MSAT YEAR TWO
SUMMER II (8 Credits)
AT-601: Emergency Care (3)
AT-610: Athletic Training Applications II (1)
AT-620: General Medical Conditions (2)
AT-640: Professional Knowledge Assessment III (1)
AT-650: Clinical Experience IV (1)
FALL (9 Credits)
AT-630: Health Promotion (3)
AT-641: Professional Knowledge Assessment IV (1)
AT-651: Clinical Immersion I (5)
SPRING (9 Credits)
AT-642: Professional Knowledge Assessment V (1)
AT-652: Clinical Immersion II (5)
AT-660: Athletic Training Seminar II (3)
Federal regulations from the United States Department of Education require Bridgewater College to disclose whether its educational programs meet the conditions for state credentialing (e.g., certification or licensure). The Master of Science in Athletic Training prepares students to be eligible to take the Board of Certification, Inc. (BOC) examination. Successfully passing the BOC examination results in eligibility for credentialing (licensure) as an athletic trainer in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Only California has no athletic training regulation. In addition to becoming certified by the BOC, there are character, criminal background assessments, and other qualifications required in every U.S. jurisdiction. Graduates are encouraged to determine the requirements for any U.S. state/district in which they plan to practice by contacting the appropriate board e.g., health, medicine. These boards can be identified by searching the individual state and/or the BOC, Inc. webpage at https://www.bocatc.org/state-regulation.
Get to know the faculty
Meet the Director
Dr. Chase Hale
Program Director, M.S. in Athletic Training
540-828-5763
chale@bridgewater.edu
You’ll have close working relationships with your professors and clinical educators as you work with patients starting in your first semester on campus.
Ready to learn more? Contact us!
Brian Stock
Assistant Director of Admissions for Graduate Recruitment
540-828-5375
bstock@bridgewater.edu
Mission Statement
We are equipping our students to be distinctive, marketable and to excel in an evolving healthcare community through personal development, dynamic education, and integrated clinical practice. Our students will learn to care for patients with empathy and technical excellence using an interdisciplinary perspective. We will develop clinicians who are able to adapt to new discoveries and persevere in the face of adversity. Our graduates will use their experiences within the program to have a positive impact as professionals on the broader community as leaders and people of principle.
