DPT & MSAT Dual Degree
Become a sports medicine expert clinician
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.
Explore the Dual Degree
Shenandoah University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy/Master of Science in Athletic Training dual degree program produces graduates with an array of skills in not only rehabilitation, but also prevention and coaching in terms of helping athletes grow faster and stronger.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy and Master of Science in Athletic Training dual degree program offers two tracks:
In Track I, the MSAT and DPT programs begin in the same year. Students will complete the summer semester of MSAT education at the Winchester campus before starting the DPT program in the fall. Students will then complete DPT classes and part-time AT clinics during the first two years of the program. Year 3 consists of 3 full-time clinic experiences; a PT clinic, AT clinic, and a combined dual degree experience.
DPT & MSAT Dual Degree — Track I
** The total dual program with non-elective credits is 144. Students may choose to take AT 799, AT 720 or HP 550 as an elective. Scheduling will be determined by the student based on course availability and in consultation with their MSAT advisor.
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 Summer Semester | ||
| AT 501 | Risk Management and Emergency Care for Athletes | 3 |
| AT 501 | 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 |
| Semester Subtotal: 14 credits | ||
| 1st Year Fall Semester | ||
| PT 603 | Gross Human Anatomy I | 4 |
| PT 607 | Examination and Intervention | 4 |
| PT 623 | Histophysiological Aspects of Movement I | 2 |
| PT 615 | Foundations of Pain Science | 1 |
| PT 643 | Evidence-Based Practice: Introduction to Research Design | 2 |
| PT 653 | Professional Issues I | 2 |
| PT 601 | Medical Terminology | 0.5 |
| AT 591 | Clinical Field Experience I Dual Degree MSAT/DPT | 2 |
| Semester Subtotal: 17.5 credits | ||
| Year 1 Spring Semester | ||
| PT 604 | Gross Human Anatomy II | 4 |
| PT 610 | Musculoskeletal System I | 3 |
| AT 534 | Neurocognitive Assessment and Treatment of Head Injuries | 1 |
| PT 624 | Histophysiological Aspects of Movement II | 2 |
| PT 656 | Integrated Clinical Experience 1 | 1 |
| PT 672 | Functional Neuroanatomy | 3 |
| PT 694 | Medical Fundamentals | 1 |
| AT 592 | Clinical Field Experience II for Dual Degree MSAT/DPT | 2 |
| PT 743 | EBP Part II | 2 |
| PT 625 | Clinical Documentation | 0.5 |
| Semester Subtotal: 19.5 credits | ||
| Year 2 Summer Semester | ||
| AT 624 | Therapeutic Exercise II | 2 |
| AT 631 | Examination, Assessment and Diagnosis of the Upper Quarter | 2 |
| AT 651 | Clinical Decision Making in Emergency Care | 1 |
| AT 610 | Athletic Training Leadership Seminar | 1 |
| AT 643 | Advanced Rehabilitation of Athletic Injury | 3 |
| AT 698 | Imaging, Casting and Bracing of Orthopedic Injuries | 3 |
| AT 667 | Capstone Project Development I | 1 |
| Semester Subtotal: 13 credits | ||
| Year 2 Fall Semester | ||
| 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 571 | Sports Nutrition | 3 |
| AT 593 | Clinical Field Experience III for Dual Degree MSAT/DPT | 2 |
| AT 668 | Capstone Project Development II | 1 |
| Semester Subtotal: 21 credits | ||
| Year 2 Spring Semester | ||
| PT 703 | Pediatric Physical Therapy | 4 |
| PT 710 | Musculoskeletal System III | 4 |
| PT 734 | Professional Issues II for Dual Degree DPT/MSAT | 2 |
| PT 890 | Advanced Medical Fundamentals for Dual Degree DPT/MSAT | 2 |
| AT 533 | Clinical Medicine | 3 |
| AT 594 | Clinical Field Experience IV for Dual Degree MSAT/DPT | 2 |
| AT 767 | Capstone in Athletic Training | 1 |
| PT 784 | Non-Ambulatory Care | 1 |
| Semester Subtotal: 19 credits | ||
| Year 3 Summer Semester | ||
| PT 753 | First Full-Time Clinical Ed Exp | 3 |
| Semester Subtotal: 3 credits | ||
| Year 3 Fall Semester | ||
| PT 744 | Amputee Rehab | 2 |
| PT 821 | Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy | 3 |
| PT 831 | Professional Issues III | 2.5 |
| PT 861 | Clinical Conference III | 1 |
| PT 881 | Advanced Topics | 1 |
| Comprehensive Examination | 0 | |
| PT 810 | Wound Care Fundamentals | 1.5 |
| Semester Subtotal: 11 credits | ||
| Year 3 Spring Semester | ||
| PT 830 | Contemporary Business Practices | 2 |
| AT 691 | AT Clinical Field Experience V for Dual Degrees | 6 |
| AT 711 | Theories and Practice of Conditioning Athletes | 2 |
| PT 856 | Terminal Full-time Clin Ed Exp II | 3 |
| AT 504 | Psychological Intervention/Referral in Athletic Training | 3 |
| Semester Subtotal: 16 credits | ||
| Year 4 Summer Semester | ||
| PT 856 | Culminating Clinical Experience | 3 |
| Semester Subtotal: 3 credits | ||
| Year 4 Fall Semester | ||
| AT 692 | Clinical Field Experience VI for Dual Degree | 4 |
| AT 670 | Healthcare Administration | 2 |
| AT 774 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| Semester Subtotal: 7 credits | ||
| Program Total Credits: 144 | ||
| Optional Elective Credits**: 2 |
The Doctor of Physical Therapy and Master of Science in Athletic Training dual degree program offers two tracks:
Track II
In Track II, the MSAT program begins 1 year before entering the DPT program. Students will complete a full year of MSAT education at the Winchester campus before starting the DPT program in the fall. Students then have 1 year to fully immerse into the DPT education before rejoining the MSAT education in Year 3. Year 4 consists of 2 full-time clinic experiences; a PT clinic and a combined dual degree experience.
DPT & MSAT Dual Degree — Track II
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Summer, Year 1 | ||
| AT 501 | Risk Management and Emergency Care for Athletes | 3 |
| AT 511 | Prevention and Protective Interventions | 1 |
| AT 521 | Functional Human Anatomy 1 | 3 |
| AT 523 | Therapeutic Exercise I | 1 |
| AT 531 | Examination, Assessment and Diagnosis of the Lower Quarter | 3 |
| AT 552 | Therapeutic Modalities | 3 |
| Total | 14 | |
| Fall, Year 1 | ||
| 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 |
| Total | 11 | |
| Spring, Year 1 | ||
| AT 504 | Psychological Intervention/Referral in Athletic Training | 3 |
| AT 533 | Clinical Medicine | 3 |
| AT 534 | Neurocognitive Assessment and Treatment of Head Injuries | 1 |
| AT 582 | Clinical Field Experience II | 4 |
| AT 653 | Ethics/Professionalism in Athletic Training | 2 |
| Total | 13 | |
| Summer, Year 2 | ||
| AT 610 | Athletic Training Leadership Seminar I | 1 |
| 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 651 | Clinical Decision Making in Emergency Care | 1 |
| AT 667 | Capstone Project Development I | 1 |
| AT 698 | Imaging, Casting and Bracing of Orthopedic injuries | 3 |
| 13 | ||
| Fall Year 2 | ||
| PT 601 | Medical Terminology | .5 |
| PT 603 | Gross Human Anatomy I | 4 |
| PT 607 | Examination and Intervention | 4 |
| PT 623 | Histophysiological Aspects of Movement I | 2 |
| PT 615 | Foundations of Pain Science and Management | 1 |
| PT 643 | Evidence-Based Practice: Introduction Research Design | 2 |
| PT 653 | Professional Issues I | 2 |
| AT 668 | Capstone Project Development I | 1 |
| 16.5 | ||
| Spring, Year 2 | ||
| PT 604 | Gross human Anatomy II | 4 |
| PT 610 | Musculoskeletal System I | 3 |
| PT 624 | Histophysiological Aspects of Movement II | 2 |
| PT 625 | Clinical Documentation | .5 |
| PT 645 | Evidence Based Practice: Introduction to Research Design II | 2 |
| PT 656 | Integrated Clinical Experience | 1 |
| PT 672 | Functional Neuroanatomy | 3 |
| PT 694 | Medical Fundamentals | 1 |
| AT 767 | Capstone Project Development II | 1 |
| 17.5 | ||
| Fall Year 3 | ||
| 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 |
| 17 | ||
| Spring Year 3 | ||
| PT 703 | Pediatric Physical Therapy | 4 |
| PT 710 | Musculoskeletal System III | 4 |
| PT 734 | Professional Issues II for Dual Degree MSAT/DPT | 2 |
| PT 890 | Advanced Medical Fundamentals | 2 |
| PT 784 | Non-Ambulatory Care for the Complex Patient | 1 |
| AT 594 | Clinical Field Experience IV for Dual Degree MSAT/DPT | 2 |
| 15 | ||
| Summer, Year 4 | ||
| PT 753 | First Full-Time Clinical Education Experience | 3 |
| Fall Year 4 | ||
| PT 744 | Amputee Rehabilitation | 2 |
| PT 821 | Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy | 3 |
| PT 831 | Professional Issues III | 2.5 |
| PT 861 | Clinical Conference III | 1 |
| PT 881 | Advanced Topics | 1 |
| PT 810 | Wound Care Fundamentals | 1.5 |
| AT 670 | Healthcare Administration | 2 |
| 13 | ||
| Spring Year 4 | ||
| PT 830 | Contemporary Business Practices in Physical Therapy | 2 |
| PT 856 | Terminal Full-Time Clinical Education Experience II | 3 |
| AT 691 | AT Clinical Field Experience for Dual Degree MSAT/DPT | 6 |
| AT 711 | Theories and Practice of Conditioning Athletes | 2 |
| AT 774 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| 14 | ||
| Summer Year 5 | ||
| PT 856 | Terminal Full-Time Clinical Education Experience II | 3 |
| TOTAL | 99 |
Our accomplished and caring faculty serve as mentors beyond the classroom. As a team, they prepare you to serve as a compassionate athletic trainer and physical therapist, critical thinker and ethical leader. You’ll benefit from small class sizes that enable faculty members to provide individualized attention and nurture your academic and professional development.
The Dual Degree program involves formal admittance into the DPT and MSAT programs.
The DPT/MSAT Program is highly competitive. No more than five Dual Degree DPT/MSAT students are admitted annually due to availability of clinical affiliation sites for this program. 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.
The admissions process for the dual degree program has recently been updated. Please see below for details:
- Applicants to the dual MSAT/DPT program must complete the PTCAS application by October 1 AND Shenandoah’s Dual Degree Supplemental Application, which can be found by visiting the university application page.
- Applicants should also contact the SU Athletic Training Program Admissions Coordinator, Karen Gross (kgross@su.edu), to confirm interest in the Master’s in Athletic Training portion of the program and assist in managing the application process for the MSAT program.
- Despite the separate applications, the AT and PT faculties meet together during the admissions process to discuss and rank the dual applicants, so both programs have an integral role in the selection of the students.
- Questions may also be directed to the DPT Admissions Coordinator, Patty Kline, at dptadmissions@su.edu.
Thank you again for considering Shenandoah University for your MSAT/DPT studies!