Nov 22, 2024

2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Athletic Training (M.S.)/Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)

Physical therapy is a challenging and satisfying profession — one with many career pathways from which to choose. One particular pathway is developing a career that specializes in sports medicine. Certified athletic trainers have expertise in preventing, recognizing, managing and rehabilitating injuries that result from athletics and other physical activity. The Dual Degree program DPT/MSAT has been established at Shenandoah University for those students who wish to become members in both professions sharing a common link to become a sports medicine expert clinician. The Dual Degree program offers the student all the courses required to meet the standards to take the physical therapy licensure examination and the athletic training BOC certification examination. Courses are shared between programs where there is didactic coursework that overlaps between the two professions.

The Dual Degree DPT/MSAT has two possible pathways of completion, Track 1 and Track 2.

Track 1 Admission Requirements

This Dual Degree program involves formal admittance into the DPT and MSAT programs as established on the respective pages of this catalog. Additional admission requirements beyond the formal acceptance into each program are listed below:

No more than five Dual Degree DPT/MSAT students are admitted annually due to availability of clinical affiliation sites for this program.
Applicants must submit a typed letter with the application to the DPT and MSAT programs stating a request for being admitted into the Dual Degree program.
Applicants who wish to pursue the Dual Degree program and who have been formally admitted into the DPT and MSAT programs are ranked on a competitive basis using the admissions criteria established for the DPT and MSAT programs. Admission into the Dual Degree DPT/MSAT program is granted to the top five applicants.

Track 1 Application Deadline

Dual major DPT/MSAT applications must be postmarked by October 1.

Track 2 Dual Degree DPT/MSAT Program

Track 2 Dual Degree DPT/MSAT is a pathway in which an enrolled MSAT student can apply by Fall year 1 of MSAT program. Interested students follow the PTCAS criteria.

Track 2 Admissions Process

Track 2 Dual Degree DPT/MSAT is a pathway in which an enrolled MSAT student can apply by October 1 of Fall year 1 of MSAT program. Interested students follow the PTCAS criteria.

Degree Requirements

The dual DPT/MSAT degree requirement is successful completion of the credit hours of the combined programs with a grade point average of 2.8 or better.

Physical Therapy Comprehensive Examination

The physical therapy comprehensive examination is administered at the end of the fall semester of the third year and is intended to identify the student’s preparedness to enter his/her full-time clinical internships. Prior to the final two full-time clinical internships, students are required to pass the written and oral components of the comprehensive examination. Successful completion of both components of the comprehensive examination is required of all students as a condition for continued progress through the curriculum.

Track 1 Requirements

Summer, Year 1

Subtotal: 14 credits

Fall, Year 1

Subtotal: 19 credits

Spring, Year 1

Subtotal: 19 credits

Summer, Year 2

Subtotal: 14 credits

Fall, Year 2

Subtotal: 21 credits

Spring, Year 2

Subtotal: 19 credits

Summer, Year 3

PT 753 First Full-Time Clinical Education Experience

Subtotal: 3 credits

Fall, Year 3

PT 744 Amputee Rehabilitation
PT 821 Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy
PT 831 Professional Issues III
PT 861 Clinical Conference III
PT 881 Advanced Topics
Comprehensive Examination

Subtotal: 9 credits

Spring, Year 3

Subtotal: 17 credits

Summer, Year 4

PT 856 Terminal Full-Time Clinical Education Experience II

Subtotal: 3 credits

Fall, Year 4

Subtotal: 7 credits

Total: 144 Credits

Track 2 Requirements

Summer, Year 1

Course Title Credit Hours

AT 501 Risk Management and Emergency Care for Athletes 3

AT 511 Prevention and Protective Interventions 1

AT 521 Functional Human Anatomy I 3

AT 523 Therapeutic Exercise I 1

AT 531 Examination, Assessment and Diagnosis of the Lower Quarter 3

AT 552 Therapeutic Modalities 3

Subtotal Hours 14

Fall, Year 1

Course Title Credit Hours

AT 505 Evidence-Based Practice in Athletic Training 1

AT 571 Sports Nutrition 3

AT 581 Clinical Field Experience I 4

AT 621 Functional Human Anatomy II 3

Subtotal Hours 11

Spring, Year 1

Course Title Credit Hours

AT 504 Psychological Intervention/Referral In Athletic Training 3

AT 533 Clinical Medicine 3

AT 653 Ethics/Professionalism in Athletic Training 2

AT 582 Clinical Field Experience II 4

AT 534 Neurocognitive Assessment and Treatment of Head Injuries 1

Subtotal 13

Summer, Year 2

Course Title Credit Hours

AT 624 Therapeutic Exercise II 2

AT 631 Examination, Assessment and Diagnosis of the Upper Quarter 2

AT 643 Advanced Rehabilitation of Athletic Injury 3

AT 698 Imaging, Casting and Bracing of Orthopedic Injuries 3

AT 651 Clinical Decision-Making in Emergency Care 1

AT 610 Athletic Training Leadership Seminar 1

AT 667 Capstone Project Development I 1

Subtotal 13

Fall, Year 2

Course Title Credit Hours

PT 603 Gross Human Anatomy I 4

PT 607 Examination and Intervention 4

PT 623 Histophysiological Aspects of Movement I 3

PT 643 Evidence-Based Practice: Introduction to Research Design 3

PT 653 Professional Issues I 3

Pre-Clinical Screening

AT 668 Capstone Project Development II 1

Subtotal Hours 18

Spring, Year 2

Course Title Credit Hours

PT 604 Gross Human Anatomy II 4

PT 610 Musculoskeletal System I 3

PT 624 Histophysiological Aspects of Movement II 3

PT 656 Integrated Clinical Experience I 1

PT 672 Functional Neuroanatomy 3

PT 694 Medical Fundamentals 1

AT 767 Capstone in Athletic Training 1

Subtotal Hours 16

Fall, Year 3

Course Title Credit Hours

PT 709 Musculoskeletal System II 3

PT 721 Pathology 3

PT 751 Integrated Clinical Experience II 1

PT 762 Clinical Conference II 1

PT 771 Adult Neurotherapeutics 4

PT 781 Gait Analysis and Biomechanics 3

AT 593 Clinical Field Experience III for Dual Degree MSAT/DPT 2

Subtotal Hours 17

Spring, Year 3

Course Title Credit Hours

PT 703 Pediatric Physical Therapy 4

PT 710 Musculoskeletal System III 4

PT 734 Professional Issues II for Dual Degree DPT/MSAT 1

PT 752 Integrated Clinical Experience III 1

PT 890 Advanced Medical Fundamentals for Dual Degree DPT/MSAT 3

AT 594 Clinical Field Experience IV for Dual Degree MSAT/DPT 2

Subtotal Hours 16

Summer, Year 4

Course Title Credit Hours

PT 753 First Full-Time Clinical Education Experience 3

Subtotal Hours 3

Fall, Year 4

Course Title Credit Hours

PT 744 Amputee Rehabilitation 2

PT 821 Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy 3

PT 831 Professional Issues III 2

PT 861 Clinical Conference III 1

PT 881 Advanced Topics 1

AT 670 Healthcare Administration 2

Comprehensive Examination

Subtotal Hours 11

Spring, Year 4

Course Title Credit Hours

PT 832 Establishing a Physical Therapy Practice/Direct Access 3

AT 691 AT Clinical Field Experience V for Dual Degrees 6

AT 711 Theories and Practice of Conditioning Athletes 2

AT 774 Senior Seminar 1

PT 856 Terminal Full-Time Clinical Education Experience II 3

Subtotal Hours 16

Summer, Year 5

Course Title Credit Hours

PT 856 Terminal Full-Time Clinical Education Experience II 3

Subtotal Hours 3

Total Semester Hours 148

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Athletic Training (M.S.)/Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)

Track 1 Admission Requirements

Track 1 Application Deadline

Track 2 Dual Degree DPT/MSAT Program

Track 2 Admissions Process

Degree Requirements

Physical Therapy Comprehensive Examination

Track 1 Requirements

Summer, Year 1

Subtotal: 14 credits

Fall, Year 1

Subtotal: 19 credits

Spring, Year 1

Subtotal: 19 credits

Summer, Year 2

Subtotal: 14 credits

Fall, Year 2

Subtotal: 21 credits

Spring, Year 2

Subtotal: 19 credits

Summer, Year 3

Subtotal: 3 credits

Fall, Year 3

Subtotal: 9 credits

Spring, Year 3

Subtotal: 17 credits

Summer, Year 4

Subtotal: 3 credits

Fall, Year 4

Subtotal: 7 credits

Total: 144 Credits

Track 2 Requirements