Degree Programs

Dual Degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy/Master of Science in Athletic Training Curriculum

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 of 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 course work that is overlapping between the two professions.

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:

  1. No more than five Dual Degree DPT/MSAT students are admitted annually due to availability of clinical affiliation sites for this program.
  2. 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.
  3. Applicants who wish to pursue the Dual Degree program, 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.

Curriculum:

Course Title HRS.
Summer- Year 1
AT 501 Risk Management and Emergency Care for Athletes 3
AT 511 Advanced AT Techniques 2
AT 521 Functional Human Anatomy I 2
AT 523 Therapeutic Exercise I 1
AT 531 Pathology/Evaluation of Athletic Injury I 3
AT 541 Therapeutic Modalities I 2
Subtotal Hours 13
Subtotal Audit Hours 0
Fall- Year 1
PT 603 Gross Human Anatomy I 4
PT 609 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
PT 761 Clinical Conference I 1
AT 591 Clinical Field Experience 1 for Dual Degree MSAT/DPT 2
Subtotal Hours 20
Subtotal Audit Hours 0
Spring- Year 1
PT 604 Gross Human Anatomy II 4
PT 610 Musculoskeletal System I 3
PT 624 Histophysiological Aspects of Movement II 3
PT 656 Clinical Practicum I 1
PT 672 Functional Neuroanatomy 3
PT 682 Medical Foundations 2
PT 685 Psychosocial Aspects of PT 2
AT 592 Clinical Field Experience II for Dual Degree MSAT/DPT 2
Subtotal Hours 20
Subtotal Audit Hours 0
Summer- Year 2
AT 623 Therapeutic Exercise II 1
AT 631 Pathology Evaluation AT 2 3
AT 643 Advance Rehabilitation in Athletic Training 3
AT 621 Functional Human Anatomy II (2 audit hours) 0
AT 641 Therapeutic Modalities 2 2
Subtotal Hours 9
Subtotal Audit Hours 2
Fall- Year 2
PT 709 Musculoskeletal System II 3
PT 721 Pathology 3
PT 751 Clinical Practicum II 1
PT 762 Clinical Conference II 1
PT 771 Adult Neurotherapeutics 4
PT 781 Gait Analysis and Biomechanics 3
PT 790 Therapeutic Exercise (1 audit hour) 0
AT 571 Sports Nutrition 3
AT 593 Clinical Field Experience 3 for Dual Degree MSAT/DPT 2
Subtotal Hours 20
Subtotal Audit Hours 1
Spring, Year 2
PT 703 Pediatric Physical Therapy 4
PT 710 Musculoskeletal System III 4
PT 732 Professional Issues II 2
PT 744 Prosthetics and Orthotics 2
PT 752 Clinical Practicum III 1
PT 792 Physical Agents (3 audit hours) 0
PT 891 Integumentary Disorders 1
AT 504 Psych Intervention/Referral in AT 3
AT 514 Pharmacology in AT 2
AT 594 Clinical Field Experience 4 for Dual Degree MSAT/DPT 2
Subtotal Hours 21
Subtotal Audit Hours 3
Summer- Year 3
PT 753 Clinical Internship I 2
Subtotal Hours 2
Fall- Year 3
PT 805 Gross Human Anatomy and Kinesiology III 1
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
PT 897 Comprehensive Examination 1
PT 898 Evidence Based Practice: Advanced Critical Analysis
of the Literature and Implementing Research		 3
AT 633 Clinical Medicine 3
AT 745 Industrial Rehabilitation/Ergonomics 2
Subtotal Hours 17
Subtotal Audit Hours 0
Spring- Year 3
PT 832 Establishing a Physical Therapy Practice/Direct Access 3
AT/PT 691 AT Clinical Field experience V for Dual Degrees/
PT Clinical Internship II 		6
AT 670 Health Care Administration 2
AT 711 Theories and Practice of Conditioning Athletes 3
Subtotal Hours 14
Subtotal Audit Hours 0
Summer- Year 4
PT 855 Clinical Affiliation III 6
Subtotal Hours 6
Subtotal Audit Hours 0
Fall- Year 4
AT 692 Clinical Field Experience VI for Dual Degrees 4
AT 774 Senior Seminar 1
Subtotal Hours 5
Total Semester Hours 147
Total Audit Hours 6