Athletic Training Dual Degree B.A./M.S.A.T.

The College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences and the School of Health and Medical Sciences offer a 3+2 dual degree program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Biology (B.S.) and a Master of Science in Athletic Training (M.S.A.T.) as well as Bachelor of Arts in Biology (B.A.) and a Master of Science in Athletic Training (M.S.A.T.). The major codes are BIOZ and BIAZ, respectively. These five-year programs offer students the opportunity to study in a traditional liberal arts environment as well as the art and science of athletic training. The Bachelor’s degree is awarded at the completion of four years of work, and the Master of Science in Athletic Training is awarded at the completion of the fifth year of study.

The dual degree program is intended to prepare graduates to critically analyze and convey information to patients, colleagues, and other health professionals. These clinicians will be able to provide a broad range of patient care services, and perform research and administrative responsibilities. This is accomplished through students and faculty building collaborations, participating in professional organizations in athletic training, and administering athletic training services.

The mission of the M.S.A.T. program is to prepare students to become competent and independent clinicians who will enhance the quality of patient health care and to advance the profession of athletic training. The program teaches and provides practical experiences to enable graduates to assume leadership roles both within the field of athletic training and within the community.

The professional phase of the M.S.A.T. program includes academic courses and clinical practica in athletic training. Students develop the knowledge and skills needed to perform as professional athletic training clinicians and to grow and adapt to the rapid changes in the profession and health care. Upon program completion students will be thoroughly prepared for the Board of Certification (BOC) Examination and able to enter the profession as entry-level practitioners. Additionally, the curriculum prepares students for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) examination.

Accreditation

The Master of Science in Athletic Training program is a CAATE accredited professional graduate program. The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) maintains education standards for accredited
athletic training education programs.

Admission Criteria

Admission to the dual degree program is open to applicants who successfully completed a high school college preparatory curriculum including courses in biology, mathematics, physics, chemistry, social sciences, English, and a foreign language. The Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) scores are required of all applicants. International students must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.

The dual degree program is unique because it accepts students for enrollment in the entire program. Students who maintain the required academic standards (outlined below) during their three years as undergraduates are guaranteed
admission into the graduate professional phase of the program. Due to a limit on the number of AT students in each entering freshman class, admission into the program is extremely selective.

Transfer Policy

Students from outside institutions and internal within Seton Hall University may apply to transfer into the undergraduate portion of the dual degree program either as freshmen or sophomores only. All such applications must demonstrate outstanding academic ability and will be considered on a space-available, case-by-case basis. All internal Seton Hall applicants must have met the undergraduate academic standards described above. Transfer admission into the program is extremely selective due to a limited number of seats available in the graduate professional phase of the program.

Progression into the Graduate Professional Phase

Students enrolled in an undergraduate dual degree program must declare their intent to continue matriculation into the graduate professional phase of their program no later than March 15 of their junior year. Students who successfully complete all of the above requirements, including the appropriate grade and GPA requirements noted above, and all other course requirements within the College of Arts and Sciences and their major, will transition into the graduate professional phase of the athletic training program after their junior year. Students will be awarded a Bachelor’s degree following the successful completion of the first year of graduate studies.

The AT program is a full-time lock-step program; i.e., students must follow the prescribed sequence of courses. Dual degree students in their fourth/senior year (first year of graduate professional study when taking ATFY 4XXX
courses) are subject to SHMS grading policies. Successful completion of each course taken in SHMS in the fourth/senior year with a passing grade of C or higher is mandatory, along with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Any grade below this standard is an automatic failure (F grade) and will result in academic probation. Students on academic probation with suspension will be given the following two options:

1. Wait for the course to be offered again (typically the following year) and repeat the course to earn a B or higher, while still maintaining the required cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Choosing this option will result in the student being placed on program suspension, and no other SHMS courses may be taken until the student has successfully repeated the failed course to earn a B or higher, otherwise the student may be dismissed from the program. The F grade will remain on the student’s undergraduate transcript. Please consult with Financial Aid to determine if student loans will go into repayment during this period.
2. Close out the undergraduate degree (typically the following semester) before entering the graduate professional program. Choosing this option will result in the F grade remaining on the student’s undergraduate transcript. The student will be required to repeat the failed course at the graduate level (GMAT 6XXX or 7XXX) the next time it is offered, paying the graduate tuition rate, and must earn a B or higher and still maintain the required cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, otherwise the student may be dismissed from the program. No other SHMS courses may be taken until the student has successfully repeated the failed course. Please consult with Financial Aid to determine if student loans will go into repayment during this period.

Students will only have one opportunity to repeat a failed course, and failure to earn a B or higher could result in the recommendation of dismissal from the program.

Link to College Core requirement.

Prerequisite Undergraduate Coursework

The following undergraduate courses are designed to provide a solid foundation for the study of athletic training. All prerequisite courses must be completed by June 1st of the junior year with a grade of “C” or higher. Students may only repeat individual prerequisite courses one time, and a grade in a repeated prerequisite course lower than “C” results in automatic dismissal from the dual degree program, thereby losing their guaranteed seat. Upon dismissal, students’ major code will automatically be changed from BIAZ/BIOZ to USCI; students must then consult their advisors to select a new major.

• General Biology I or II (BIOL 1211 General Biology- Organisms or BIOL 1222 General Biology-Cell)
• Genetics & Lab (BIOL 2221 Genetics) & (BIOL 2222 Genetics)
• Anatomy & Physiology I & Lab (BIOL 3334 Anatomy and Physiology I & BIOL 3335 Anatomy and Physiology I lab)
• Anatomy & Physiology II & Lab (BIOL 3336 Human Anatomy and Physio II & BIOL 3337 Human Anatomy and Phys II Lab)
• General Chemistry I or II (CHEM 1123 General Chemistry I or CHEM 1124 General Chemistry II)
• General Chemistry I or II Lab (CHEM 1125 General Chemistry Lab I or CHEM 1126 General Chemistry II Lab)
• Core English I or II (ENGL 1201 Core English I1 or ENGL 1202 Core English II)
• Calculus I or Statistics for Science Majors (MATH 1401 Calculus I or MATH 2111 Statistics for Science Majors)
• General Physics I or II (PHYS 1701 General Physics I or PHYS 1702 General Physics II)
• General Physics I or II Lab (PHYS 1811 Physics Laboratory I or PHYS 1812 Physics Laboratory II)
• Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 1101 Introduction to Psychology)
• Introduction to Sociology (SOCI 1101 Introduction to Sociology)

Note that College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) credits cannot substitute for any prerequisite course requirements for admission.

Courses taken at another institution prior to matriculation at Seton Hall University may be accepted, however those transfer grades will not be factored into the cumulative or prerequisite GPA.

* Students must achieve the required minimum Mathematics Placement Examination score enabling them to enroll in Pre-calculus or a higher level of Mathematics in their Fall semester of their freshman year. Students who fail to do so will be out of sequence in their dual degree program’s curriculum and off track with their ability to complete the undergraduate portion of their dual degree program in the required timeframe. This will disqualify the student from transitioning to the graduate portion of their dual degree program in the School of Health and Medical Sciences. 

Undergraduate Academic Standards

Students must demonstrate that they are prepared to meet the demands of the graduate professional phase of the program. The student’s cumulative GPA will be evaluated on a regular basis, as outlined below. GPA requirements are
exact and will not be rounded to determine eligibility.

• Students are required to earn a grade of “C” or higher in all prerequisite courses.
• Students are required to achieve and maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA by the end of the spring semester of freshman year.
• Students are required to achieve and maintain at least a 2.7 cumulative GPA by the end of the spring semester of sophomore year.
• Students are required to achieve and maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative and prerequisite GPA by the end of the spring semester of junior year.

Failure to maintain the required cumulative and prerequisite GPAs, or failure to earn at least a “C” grade in a prerequisite course during the second attempt, will result in immediate dismissal from the dual degree program, thereby losing the guaranteed seat in the graduate professional phase of the program. No exceptions will be made to any dual degree admission requirements. Upon dismissal, students’ major code will automatically be changed from BIAZ/BIOZ to USCI; students must then consult their advisors to select a new major. Students dismissed from the dual degree program may become biology majors and are welcome to apply to the graduate professional program as part of the general applicant pool. Requirements for application to the AT program can be found in the Graduate Catalogue.

If a student who has been dismissed after freshman year brings his or her GPA up to the required level by junior year, that student may apply to re-enter the dual degree program depending on seat availability and on a case-by-case basis.

Note that BIOZ/BIAZ dual degree students should consult with the Assistant Director of Advising for Dual Degree Programs in SHMS for academic advising.

Athletic Training Experience Requirement

Students are required to complete a minimum of 50 hours observing or volunteering under the supervision of an Athletic Trainer in at least one healthcare setting during their freshman, sophomore and/or junior years. This requirement may be met through paid or volunteer experiences. The healthcare experience is intended to strengthen interpersonal skills and to develop an understanding of the role of an athletic trainer. Students are required to arrange their own healthcare experience. Doing so helps to demonstrate the level of commitment and motivation necessary to become an AT. The healthcare experience requirement can be satisfied at any time prior to admission into the graduate phase of the professional program.

Students must also submit a current CPR/AED card for the Professional Rescuer. Documentation indicating the completion of a minimum of 50 hours of healthcare experience, as well as a copy of the CPR/AED card, must be provided to Mr. Patrick McDermott, Director of Graduate Admissions in the School of Health and Medical Sciences, by March 15th prior to entering the graduate phase of the professional program. Also, a letter of reference from the supervising athletic trainer must accompany the documentation.

Curriculum and Course Sequencing

In the first three years of their undergraduate program, students in the dual degree program must complete all the requirements for the University core, college core, and their undergraduate major. Additionally, students must complete all prerequisite course requirements by June 1st of their junior year as outlined below:
 

*

Prerequisite courses require a grade of “C” or higher; see additional notes.

**

Calculus must be completed by all students.

***

Level depends on placement test.

¹

Should be started Summer Semester Sophomore year but can be completed any time during the student’s freshman, sophomore, or junior years. This is a requirement for admission to the graduate professional phase of the program, and students are responsible for arranging their own athletic training experience.

²

Consult the College of Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum for information regarding these courses.