Master of Science in Athletic Training

The mission of LSU's MSAT Program is to prepare students for successful careers as athletic trainers and ultimately improve community health care. Our program will provide challenging didactic and clinical experiences that enable graduates to provide equitable, comprehensive patient care through patient advocacy, sound clinical reasoning, and evidence-based medicine.

1. Prepare Application Materials

Applications for next year’s MSAT cohort are accepted beginning July 1. 

• • All students can apply directly through ATCAS. Current or former LSU students may apply directly through The Graduate School.

Required Application Materials:

• • Copies of all undergraduate transcripts
  • Approved LSU MSAT Pre-Requisite Review Form
    • Download and complete the linked form
    • Email the completed form to the Program Director, Dr. Amanda Benson (abenson@lsu.edu)
    • * Undergraduate coursework does not need to be completed prior to the submission of your application; however, all prerequisite coursework must be successfully completed before official acceptance into the program.
  • Personal statement that addresses:
    • Your background, interests, experience, and skills as they pertain to a future career in athletic training
    • Your long-term academic and professional goals
  • Three (3) letters of reference, including:
    • One (1) academic reference
    • One (1) clinical supervisor reference
    • One (1) reference of choice
  • Proof of completed observation hours
    • Applicants must complete at least 75 observation hours under a BOC credentialed athletic trainer
    • Acceptable documentation may include a letter of verification on official institution letterhead or this sample form.
    • * Observational hours do not need to be completed prior to the submission of your application; however, all hours must be successfully completed before official acceptance into the program.

2. Apply

Students wishing to be considered during the early application cycle must submit their completed application materials by October 1.

The regular application cycle is rolling. Students applying during the regular admission cycle will receive full consideration for any remaining cohort seats.

3. Application Review

Students who meet the program requirements will be invited to complete a virtual interview. Applicants who do not meet program requirements will not proceed to the interview stage.

Early Application Review: Begins October 1

Regular Application Review: Begins November 1

4. Virtual Interview

Completion of a virtual interview is required for admission into the LSU MSAT Program. Attendees will include program faculty and invited preceptors.

Early Application Interviews: Mid-late October

Regular Application Interviews: Scheduled as needed

5. Application Decision

Students can expect to receive notification regarding their application decision within 2 weeks following their interview.

Students receiving an invitation to join that cycle's MSAT cohort will have 1-2 weeks to accept or decline their seat. Unaccepted seats will become available to eligible waitlisted or provisional applicants.

*Acceptance into the LSU MSAT Program is contingent on acceptance into the LSU Graduate School.

 

Application Questions? Please contact Amanda Benson, PhD, MSAT Program Director

The curriculum for the master's degree in athletic training has been approved the Louisiana Board of Supervisors.

Athletic training students at LSU participate in four semesters of clinical education that prepare them in the prevention, diagnosis and intervention of emergency, acute and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities. Students are responsible for their transportation to and from all clinical sites.

Examples of clinical experience include: team and individual sports at the high school and collegiate level; sports requiring protective equipment, sports with genders opposite the student; and, non-sport patient populations at physician offices and clinics with organizations including but not limited to 

• LSU Athletics
• Baton Rouge Orthopedic Clinic
• Our Lady of the Lake Hospital Systems
• Ochsner Health
• Local High Schools
• Baton Rouge Community College
• Baton Rouge Soccer Club

Admitted students must fulfill all Clinical Readiness Requirements no later than the start of the program. Each student is responsible for all fees associated with fulfilling the Clinical Readiness Requirements:

• Immunizations
• Technical Standards (see dropdown below)
• Criminal Background Check and 10-Panel Drug Screen (required for some off-campus clinical experiences)
• TB Skin Test (within past 12 months prior to program start)

LSU Scholarships and Financial Assistance

In addition to federal financial aid which requires a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), LSU and academic departments offer fellowships, assistantships, tuition awards, and grants. Please note that some funding opportunities and admissions deadlines are the same. Contact the Program Director for information about funding opportunities.

• Murray T. Burch Memorial Athletic Training Student Scholarship: the Murray T. Burch Memorial Athletic Training Student Scholarship was created January 2021 through the LSU Foundation to posthumously honor LSU Athletic Training alumnus Murray Burch. This scholarship is for students in the MSAT program. For more information about Murray and his legacy, please visit the scholarship page.
• LSU Graduate Tuition Waivers: the LSU Graduate School awards up to 200 tuition exemptions to graduate students from underrepresented groups annually. The tuition awards provide for an exemption from either or both the resident and nonresident fee. Recipients are responsible for paying university-required fees. Students must be regularly admitted to a graduate program at LSU and be nominated by their departments.

The LSU Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) Program is a rigorous program that places specific requirements and demands on students to prepare them for entry into the intellectually, physically, and psychologically demanding profession of athletic training. The technical standards establish the essential qualities and functions considered necessary for students admitted to and enrolled in this program to achieve the knowledge, skills, and competencies of an entry-level athletic trainer, as expected by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) and the Board of Certification (BOC), Inc. 

In the event a student is unable to fulfill these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, the student will not be admitted into the program, nor retained in the program. Compliance with the program's technical standards does not guarantee a student program admission nor eligibility for the BOC certification examination. 

Candidates for selection to, and students currently enrolled in the LSU MSAT Program, must:

• Assimilate, analyze, synthesize, integrate concepts and problem solve to formulate assessment and therapeutic judgments and to be able to distinguish deviations from the norm.
• Demonstrate sufficient postural and neuromuscular control, sensory function, and coordination to perform appropriate physical examinations using accepted techniques; and accurately, safely, and efficiently use equipment and materials during the assessment and treatment of patients.
• Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and colleagues, including individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds; this includes, but is not limited to, the ability to establish rapport with patients and communicate judgments and treatment information effectively. Students must be able to understand and speak the English language at a level consistent with competent professional practice.
• Record the physical examination results and a treatment plan clearly and accurately.
• Maintain composure and continue to function well during periods of high stress.
• Demonstrate perseverance, diligence, and commitment to complete the LSU MSAT Program as outlined and sequenced.
• Be flexible and adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in clinical situations.
• Demonstrate affective skills and appropriate demeanor and rapport with patients, caregivers, peers, instructors, and professional colleagues.
• Accept appropriate suggestions and evaluative feedback in a respectful manner and respond by appropriate modification of behavior, both in the classroom and during their clinical experiences.

The Fee Schedule lists the current cost of tuition, Required Fees, and other fees for graduate students.