Athletic Training, MATR

Department of Physical Therapy Chairperson: Allison Hyngstrom P.T., Ph.D.
Master of Athletic Training Program Director: Christopher F. Geiser, Ph.D., L.A.T., P.T., A.T.C

Athletic Training Program Vision

Our vision is to build upon a Catholic, Jesuit education that is genuinely transformational, so that our students graduate not simply well educated and effective Athletic Trainers, but also better people; and to do so with such excellence that when asked to name the best entry-level Master of Athletic Training programs in the United States, people will include Marquette University.

Department of Physical Therapy Mission

The Department of Physical Therapy prepares future health care practitioners and researchers with a transformative education rich in clinical experiences, community outreach, and research opportunities to develop leaders guided by the core Catholic, Jesuit values of Cura Personalis and Cura Apostolica. 

Athletic Training Program Mission

The Master of Athletic Training program at Marquette University supports the missions of the university and the College of Health Sciences to graduate professionals who reflect strong, Judeo-Christian Jesuit-based values and entry-level professional competence. The program strives to educate students who will develop into professionals that are knowledgeable of current practices and trends, skillful in applying their knowledge and flexible in their relationship with others. It is the mission of the program that these students will become practitioners who are self-directed lifelong learners, who continually strive to advance their knowledge and skills, and who understand the social, political and economic forces that impact the profession.

Athletic Training Program Philosophy

The Master of Athletic Training program is committed to providing a generalist athletic training education to qualified students who have completed a rigorous blend of prerequisite basic science course work. The goal of the master’s degree curriculum is to develop the Jesuit ideals of cura personalis (care for the total person) and men and women for others, and to integrate these ideals into the effective delivery of care for athletes and active individuals.

The teaching-learning process is recognized as a dynamic interaction of shared responsibility among the academic faculty, clinical faculty and students. The program supports the educational view that students learn in a multitude of ways, necessitating a variety of learning experiences. These experiences are important for the development of a life-long autonomous learner who is self-motivated, self-directed and able to construct knowledge, not just absorb it. Faculty members are resources and role models in the development of these traits.

Each faculty member accepts the responsibility of being a role model by maintaining personal clinical competence, providing quality instruction, contributing to the general body of knowledge, showing professionalism, respecting the dignity of others and being advocates for patient and professional causes. Finally, they help students to become educated members of society, active members of their profession and role models for peers and future Athletic Trainers.

Expected Global Student Outcomes

  1. Marquette Master of Athletic Training graduates demonstrate technical proficiency in the field of athletic training as outlined in the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education’s Standards for Accreditation of Professional Athletic Training Program.

  2. Marquette Athletic Training graduates apply critical thinking and evidence-based decision making in creating and implementing plans of care for both athletic and general populations with a variety of both acute and chronic conditions.

  3. Marquette Athletic Training graduates exhibit values consistent with the Jesuit tradition of lifelong service and caring for others through the safe and ethical practice of athletic training as outlined by the National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification (NATABOC).

Program Objectives

  1. To provide a generalist athletic training graduate education to qualified students who have completed a rigorous blend of prerequisite course work.
  2. To develop the Jesuit ideals of cura personalis (care for the total person) and men and women for others, and to integrate these ideals into the delivery of healthcare for active and athletic populations.
  3. To recognize and take an active role in the dynamic and interactive teaching-learning process with shared responsibility among the academic faculty, clinical faculty and students.
  4. To support the concepts of multiple learning styles and contextual learning in efforts to assure the development of a life-long autonomous learner who is self-motivated, self-directed and able to absorb, construct and internalize knowledge.
  5. To assure each faculty member accepts the responsibility of being a role model by maintaining personal clinical competence, providing quality instruction, contributing to the general body of knowledge, showing professionalism, respecting the dignity of others and being advocates for patient and professional causes.
  6. To mentor students to become educated members of society, active members of their profession and role models for peers and future Athletic Trainers.

Admissions

Admission to the AT program includes a direct-admission pathway for incoming freshmen, a 3+3 Transfer Admission pathway for current MU students in the major of Exercise Physiology or Biomedical Sciences, and a pathway for current seniors (at MU or elsewhere) who will have a completed bachelor's degree prior to matriculation to the Master of Athletic Training program.  Details on admission to the Master of Athletic Training program for these various pathways can be found on the program website.