COURSE CURRICULUM

The Athletic Training graduate program at Southeast Missouri State University is a clinically focused degree designed to prepare students for advanced practice in injury prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and athletic healthcare management. The curriculum integrates advanced academic coursework with extensive supervised clinical experience to ensure students develop both strong scientific knowledge and real-world professional competence. Core courses include research design and evaluation, behavioral statistics, foundations of athletic training, musculoskeletal assessment, injury prevention principles, emergency care, therapeutic interventions, general medical conditions in active populations, and professional administration in athletic training. Students also engage in applied clinical research and a seminar course that integrates knowledge from across the program. A major component of the degree is progressive clinical education, where students complete multiple clinical experience courses ranging from introductory placements to immersive and advanced clinical rotations, allowing them to apply skills directly in real patient care environments under professional supervision. The program emphasizes evidence-based practice, requiring students to understand current research and apply it to clinical decision-making. Students also complete a final comprehensive or oral examination to demonstrate mastery of the field. Overall, the program prepares graduates for professional roles as certified athletic trainers by combining advanced medical knowledge, hands-on clinical training, and research-based education in sports medicine and rehabilitation settings.