ATHLETIC TRAINING 3 + 2

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The Loras College Athletic Training program is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) through the 2028-2029 academic year. The program’s status is in good standing with the CAATE.

The mission of the Loras College Master of Athletic Training Program is to produce active learners, responsible contributors, and reflective thinkers that can provide exceptional healthcare to an active population through quality didactic and clinical athletic training educational experiences.

1. Students will demonstrate comprehension of concepts and skills vital to basic function in health sciences careers.
2. Students will be active learners and reflective thinkers by using common research techniques to discover and implement athletic training evidence based medicine.
3. The program’s didactic and clinical education will develop and educate students with the ability to be responsible contributors by transitioning classroom knowledge into effective clinical practice.
4. Students will be able to demonstrate professional communication skills in order to efficiently communicate with both patients and healthcare professionals throughout the program’s didactic and clinical education and in post-graduate settings.
5. The program will ensure that graduates are prepared for autonomous practice as a Certified Athletic Trainer in post-graduate settings.

Program Outcomes

For Loras College Graduate Athletic Training Program outcome measures, and Board of Certification results, please visit https://caate.net/program-info/157/.

Eligibility:
Acceptance into the Kinesiology major and completion of at least 30 credits of coursework accepted toward the Kinesiology major. Applicants must show:

• Strong academic ability, evidenced by a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
• Completion of the following prerequisite course requirements before the start of the M.A.T. program:

• • Principles of Biology I
  • General Chemistry I
  • Anatomy & Physiology I
  • Anatomy & Physiology II
  • Nutrition
  • Biomechanics
  • Statistics
  • Physics I
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Psychology (General Psychology is required, additional psychology coursework recommended)

Instructions for applying to the master’s program

Questions?

If you have questions about eligibility or program curriculum, please contact Dr. Molly Figgins, Athletic Training Program Director at molly.figgins@loras.edu.

If you have questions about the application requirements and admission process, please contact Megan Henderson, Director of Admission for Graduate and Professional Education Programs at megan.henderson@loras.edu.

Students in the 3+2 program will be charged undergraduate tuition and receive undergraduate financial aid until they complete their undergraduate degree requirements. Once students have completed their undergraduate degree requirements, they will be considered graduate students and will pay the graduate tuition rate (with associated graduate financial aid). The predicted number of undergraduate credits for a 3+2 student is 128 which includes general education and major requirements. The anticipated number of graduate credits for a 3+2 student is 35. Visit https://www.loras.edu/financial-aid#tutition for current undergraduate and graduate tuition rates.

Eligibility for full time undergraduate status during the fourth year requires that the student take at least 12 credits per semester (if less credits are taken, financial aid will be proportionately decreased). Institutional aid from Loras College is awarded to undergraduates for up to four years. Federal and state aid for undergraduates is based on undergraduate eligibility and Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.

Anticipated additional fees for students enrolled in the 3+2 MAT program (subject to change):

Typhon is a web-based software program designed specifically for CAATE-accredited programs that facilitates student and program assessment. Enrollment in Typhon and payment of the one-time fee provides student access to the program for 5 years and includes educational tools to assist students in their academic progression in the program, and prepare them for employment post-graduation.

The CAATE accreditation standards require that students purchase a liability insurance policy during the professional phase of the entry level program.  This requirement is consistent across all entry level programs regardless of level (bachelors or masters).

Clinical Experience courses ATR 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, and 606 will be located at a variety of clinical sites, and include experiences outside of the Loras College campus in Dubuque and the greater Tri-State area. Loras MAT students will be required to provide their own transportation to assigned clinical sites, and will be responsible for any associated travel costs. For further information on required travel associated with clinical experiences, please refer to the student handbook link, located in the student experience section.

DOC KAMMER SCHOLARSHIP

Each fall, athletic training students who are enrolled at Loras as undergraduate students, are nominated by an athletic training, kinesiology, and sport management faculty committee for the Doc Kammer Scholarship award. This scholarship was generously set up by the family of Doc Kammer, who served as an athletic trainer for Loras College from 1929-1971. Nominated students compete and are selected for the award based on their involvement in extracurricular activities, academic achievements, professional involvement in athletic training and future career goals.

What undergraduate major would I receive in the 3+2 program?
A Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology.

What is the advantage of going through the Loras 3+2 program as opposed to receiving my bachelor’s degree and then entering a master’s program?
There can be significant financial advantages. Students in the 3+2 program will be charged undergraduate tuition and receive undergraduate financial aid until they complete their undergraduate degree requirements- even if that goes into the fourth year when they’re completing graduate coursework. Once students have completed their undergraduate degree requirements, they will be considered graduate students and will pay the graduate tuition rate (with associated graduate financial aid). Please see more details in the “Tuition & Fees” section above.

Do you need a master’s degree to be an athletic trainer? 
The Athletic Training Strategic Alliance consisting of the Board of Directors of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and the Commissioners of the Commission on the Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) with the support of the Board of Certification (BOC) and the NATA Foundation have jointly acted to establish a master’s-level degree as the professional degree for athletic training. Earning a master’s in athletic training is a requirement to becoming a licensed Athletic Trainer.

Will the accreditation standards for professional program accreditation change?
Yes, in addition to the Standard for the degree, the CAATE has asked their Standards Committee to work to examine and evolve the Standards to reflect the added rigor and other key components of quality healthcare education as we move toward implementation of the degree requirement. This could involve interprofessional education, periods of clinical only immersion (time when the students do not have any classes but are only in clinical rotations, i.e. working with a college football team), among other changes.

Will the educational content change?
The degree change is part of a broader vision to produce providers who are prepared to meet the challenges our patients will face in the future. The educational content will also evolve to provide our students and ultimately their patients with healthcare knowledge and skills that produce a provider who can function as a mid-level (Level II) provider (i.e. physical therapist, nurse practitioner, occupational therapist).A steering committee comprised of representatives from the NATA, the BOC and the CAATE is beginning to work on revision of the professional educational content (Competencies). The working group has been charged that the professional knowledge needs to be reflective of professional programs offered at the master’s degree level.

The degree change might not have an influence on the reputation of athletic trainers so why do it?
The perception of Program Directors, who oversee programs at the master’s level is that students at the graduate level show an increase in maturity, commitment to the profession and benefit from a higher quality of clinical experience. This will aid the public’s perception of athletic training with other health care professions. It’s also been shown that the retention of ATs who have a master’s is better than those who don’t. This longevity also impacts reputation.

Will changing the degree level increase salaries?
There is data to prove athletic trainers with a master’s degree earn more than those with a bachelors; however, as part of the review process a health care economist conducted a study specific to athletic training education. The research shows degree level alone is not a strong indicator of salary increase. But, years of full time employment plus an advanced degree can lead to an increased salary. In addition, ATs who have a master’s are more likely to stay in the profession and again that is one of the components that leads to increased salary.

Where can I work with an athletic training degree?
Certified Athletic Trainers can find jobs in colleges, universities, high schools, clinics, hospitals, and many other non-traditional settings (ie: industrial, fine arts, military).

Visit the following sites for additional frequently asked questions:
http://caate.net/the-professional-degree
http://www.nata.org/degree-change-frequently-asked-questions