The Marshall University Athletic Training Program is a professional degree program enabling students to earn both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in five years, preparing students to sit for the national Board of Certification (BOC) exam for athletic trainers.

The Professional Master of Science in Athletic Training Program (PMSATP) is fully accredited by the CAATE (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education). Marshall University has one of the most affordable athletic training program tuitions in the country.

The multifaceted program blends classroom instruction, research, and clinical rotations where students obtain real life experience working hands-on with certified athletic trainers, physicians, physical therapists, and other allied health care professionals.

Marshall University offers a variety of clinical settings both traditional and non-traditional, as well as a unique curriculum that prepares students to take and pass the national BOC exam. Recent PMSATP graduates have gained employment in settings that include, but are not limited to, high school, college, and professional athletics, outpatient clinics, industrial rehabilitation sites, physician practices, the performing arts, military, safety settings, and higher education.

We offer the only 3+2 athletic training graduate program in the state of West Virginia in addition to the traditional 4+2 offering. The 4+2 offering is perfect for those who have earned a bachelor’s degree from another institution who are seeking a master’s degree in athletic training.

We offer a rigorous academic program that blends classroom and laboratory instruction with clinical rotations where students obtain required clinical education experiences being assigned to BOC-certified athletic trainers, physicians, physical therapists, and other allied health care professionals. The athletic training program at Marshall offers classes in:

Foundational clinical skills in athletic training
Assessment of orthopedic injuries
General medical conditions
Therapeutic interventions
Organization and administration in athletic training
Current trends in athletic training
Research methods
Completion of a graduate research project

Follow the link to the current course catalog. Please note, if you are currently enrolled in the program, check with your academic advisor for your specific plan of study.

Course Catalog

Why study Athletic Training at Marshall?

Marshall University is the only institution in the state of West Virginia to offer a 3+2 program structure, so students in the Marshall Athletic Training program are eligible to take the BOC exam a year earlier in their education than students in competing programs. Additionally, the program’s structure reduces tuition costs, making Marshall one of the most affordable athletic training programs in the country, even for out-of-state students.

Already have a bachelor’s degree? No problem – students who meet the pre-requisites can still pursue the program like most traditional two-year master’s degree programs in athletic training.

Once you are admitted to Marshall University and have declared athletic training as your major, you must complete specific prerequisite courses to apply for admission into the PMSAT. At the end of this three year period, after completing 90 hours of course work and meeting all PMSATP program admission requirements, students then apply to our Professional Master of Science in Athletic Training program. Once admitted, students need two additional years to complete all the PMSAT program class and clinical education requirements and graduate with an athletic training master’s degree. Students from other institutions who have met all the PMSAT admission requirements are also encouraged to apply to the PMSAT program.

We encourage you to review the 2025-26 PMSATP Policies and Procedures Manual before applying. Acceptance into the PMSATP is competitive and separate from acceptance to Marshall University.

With student debt in the U.S. at a record high, finding a program that allows you to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees in just five years is an amazing opportunity. Whether you’re interested in aspects of fitness like weight training, personal training, and strength training or you just want to become a certified athletic trainer, our Professional Master of Science in Athletic Training will prepare you to succeed in a variety of industries.

four students working on putting a student on a backboard

Career Outlook

Athletic trainers (ATs) are health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.  Athletic trainers are an integral part of health care in many clinical settings. The certified athletic trainer has the medical and physiological skills necessary to provide initial assessment and treatment of injury and the foresight to reduce the risk of their occurrence. A professional degree in Athletic Training and BOC certification offers graduates opportunities to practice in a variety of clinical settings including, but not limited to:

Public and private secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional and Olympic sports
Youth leagues, municipal and independently owned youth sports facilities
Physician practice, similar to nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists and other professional clinical personnel
Rural and urban hospitals, hospital emergency rooms, urgent and ambulatory care centers
Clinics with specialties in sports medicine, cardiac rehab, medical fitness, wellness and physical therapy
Occupational health departments in commercial settings, which include manufacturing, distribution and offices to assist with ergonomics
Police and fire departments and academies, municipal departments, branches of the military
Performing arts including professional and collegiate level dance and music

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of athletic trainers is projected to grow 19 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for athletic trainers is expected to increase as people become more aware of the effects of sports-related injuries, and as the middle-aged and older population remains active. The athletic trainer salary varies amongst fields with the highest salaries in the performing arts and professional sports industries.

Program & Student Achievements

As an athletic training student, you may be chosen for scholarship awards or will have abstracts selected for presentation at the state, district and national level. A few examples of these student achievements include:

Heather Williamson in 2023 was awarded an $2,300 NATA Foundation Scholarship.
Emily Fankhanel in 2022 was awarded 2nd place recipient of the MAATA Larry Sutton Scholarship, which also earned her a $1,000.00 award.
Kimberly Hill was awarded $1500 for 1^st place with the MAATA 2021 Larry Sutton Scholarship, and she was awarded the 2020 William Prentice / MAATA (D3) Scholarship, valued at $2,300, from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Research and Education Foundation.
Kate Waddell was the 2nd place recipient of the Larry Sutton Scholarship, which also earned her a $1,000.00 award.
Bethany Beuhring in 2016 won a NATA Foundation Scholarship.

WVATA Student of the Year Awards

MAATA Student Senators- One Student selected per state per year.

Kimberly Hill 2019-2021
Emily Fankhanel-2020-2022
Alyssa McCarty-2021-2023
Heather Williamson-2022-2024
Danielle Samsury-2023-2025

WVATA Quiz Bowl Champions

2023-Olivia Newhouse, Heather Williamson, Lyndsie Wilson
2021-Gary Gilbert, Kimberly Hill, Katelyn Smith
2018-Colby Sayre, Kate Waddell, Alexis Walls

WVATA Executive Committee Student Representatives

Kaitlyn Smith-2020-2021
Patrick Wagner-2022-2023
Olivia Newhouse-2024-2025

Specialized Faculty

As an athletic training major at Marshall, you’ll get the chance to learn from highly trained faculty who are integrated into professional organizations such as the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association (MAATA) Critical Incident Stress Management Committee, the West Virginia Athletic Trainers Association (WVATA) and the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Committee on Professional Ethics. These connections are valuable for our students as they can lead to exciting research opportunities and pathways to successful athletic training careers.

CAATE Program Assessment Measures

CAATE Program Information and Outcomes Page

The Master of Science in Athletic Training Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), 2001 K Street NW, Third Floor North Washington, DC 20006.