Graduate Athletic Training Education Program

“Enhancing Medical Coverage for College, High School, and Recreational Athletes of South Carolina”

The Graduate Athletic Training Program at the University of South Carolina is committed to distinguishing itself as a state and national leader in its efforts to address the needs of its student athletes, community and the athletic training profession.

The mission of the graduate athletic training program at the University of South Carolina is to provide a coordinated balance of education and clinical exposure.  Our program is structured around the following mission:

Exposure of our graduate students to a variety of patient populations

• Graduate students will have two separate clinical assignments during their graduate program (USC athletics, smaller colleges, high schools, orthopedic office, USC campus recreation/club sports)
  

• Structured learning opportunities with orthopedic surgeons in the clinic and in surgery

Be an advocate for athletic training education (didactical and clinical education opportunities)

• Serve as an ACI/CI for students in undergraduate program
  

• Teaching assistant opportunities in both didactic and laboratory classes in the undergraduate athletic training program
  

• Structured opportunities for lectures within undergraduate program as well as workshops and seminars within USC Sports Medicine for guest

Implement and development research (evidence-based practice)

• Must complete a data-based research project or thesis as part of the program
  

• Numerous opportunities for involvement in faculty research projects
  

• Expectation to be involved and present research at professional conferences (national/district/state)

The program is a collaborative effort between the Department of PE & Athletic Training, School of Medicine, and Athletic Department of the University of South Carolina. The two-year program is designed to offer advanced studies and clinical experiences in athletic training to BOC certified athletic trainers, while also providing health care to athletes in the state of South Carolina. Graduate assistants with stipends, out-of-state tuition waivers, and tuition credits are available for qualified students.

There are currently two degree options for students in our graduate athletic training program. 1) *Master's of Science in Physical Education with a concentration in Athletic Training and 2) Master’s of Art in Teaching.
*A new degree option (Master’s of Science in Athletic Training) is currently under review by the University.  It is expected this degree will be approved and offered to students graduating in 2013. Once final approval is obtained in 2012, the MS in PE with a concentration in athletic training will no longer be offered.

Our program is designed to provide students with a variety of clinical opportunities during their two years at the University of South Carolina. Currently, graduate assistant athletic trainers in the program provide health care services for athletes/patients at the following sites:

• University of South Carolina Athletic Department
• University of South Carolina Sports Medicine/Department of Orthopedics
• USC Campus Recreation (Intra murals and Club Sports)
• Richland, Newberry, and Lee County School District and SCISA (Private High Schools)

• Our program typically seeks applications in October of each year (see career center on NATA website)
  All applicants must be BOC certified (or eligible)

• Submit cover letter, resume, and list of three references
  

• Only individuals who are accepted by the USC Graduate School are eligible for an assistantship (see below for information related to graduate school admission)
  

• On-campus interviews will take place in January/February of each year
  

• Typical packages will include; tuition waiver, stipend, liability insurance, workers compensation, and gas supplement (certain clinical sites)

• Please do online at: http://gradschool.sc.edu
  

• Currently application should be for either a) MS in Physical education or b) MAT in Physical Education (we anticipate the MS in Athletic Training will be online-for Fall 2012)
  

• GRE scores of 1000 are preferred with a minimum of 400 each in verbal and quantitative
  

• Two letters of recommendations and a statement of professional goals will be required for the MS degree

Current Graduate Assistants

Recent Alumni from Our Program

Faculty and Graduate Student Research

Program Overview

For more information on the graduate program, please contact:
Jim Mensch, PhD, ATC
Athletic Training Program Director
Department of Physical Education
University of South Carolina
218 Blatt Physical Education Center
Columbia, SC 29208
Phone: (803) 777-3846
e-mail