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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: 

Track I

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
CourseTitleCredits
Summer Year 1
AT 501Risk Management and Emergency Care for Athletes3
AT 511Prevention and Protective Interventions1
AT 521Functional Human Anatomy I3
AT 523Therapeutic Exercise I1
AT 531Examination, Assessment and Diagnosis of the Lower Quarter3
AT 552Therapeutic Modalities3
 Subtotal Hours14
Fall Year 1
PT 601Medical Terminology0.5
PT 603Gross Human Anatomy I4
PT 607Examination and Intervention4
PT 623Histophysiological Aspects of Movement I3
PT 643Evidence-Based Practice: Introduction to Research Design2
PT 653Professional Issues I2
 Pre-Clinical Screening 
AT 591Clinical Field Experience I for Dual Degree MSAT/DPT2
 Subtotal Hours17.5
Spring Year 1
PT 604Gross Human Anatomy II4
PT 610Musculoskeletal System I3
PT 624Histophysiological Aspects of Movement II3
PT 625Clinical Documentation0.5
PT 645Evidence Based Practice Introduction to Research Design II2
PT 656Integrated Clinical Experience I1
PT 672Functional Neuroanatomy3
PT 694Medical Fundamentals1
AT 534Neurocognitive Assessment and Treatment of Head Injuries1
AT 592 Clinical Field Experience II for Dual Degree MSAT/DPT2
 Subtotal Hours20.5
Summer Year 2
AT 610Athletic Training Leadership Seminar1
AT 624Therapeutic Exercise II2
AT 631Examination, Assessment and Diagnosis of the Upper Quarter2
AT 643Advanced Rehabilitation of Athletic Injury3
AT 651Clinical Decision Making in Emergency Care1
AT 667Capstone Project Development I1
AT 698Imaging, Casting and Bracing of Orthopedic Injuries3
 Subtotal Hours13
Fall Year 2
PT 709Musculoskeletal System II3
PT 721Pathology3
PT 751Integrated Clinical Experience II1
PT 762Clinical Conference II1
PT 771Adult Neurotherapeutics4
PT 781Gait Analysis and Biomechanics3
AT 571Sports Nutrition3
AT 593Clinical Field Experience III for Dual Degree MSAT/DPT2
AT 668Capstone Project Development II1
 Subtotal Hours21
Spring Year 2
PT 703Pediatric Physical Therapy4
PT 710Musculoskeletal System III4
PT 734Professional Issues II for Dual Degree DPT/MSAT2
PT 784Non-Ambulatory Care for the Complex Patient1
PT 890Advanced Medical Fundamentals for Dual Degree DPT/MSAT2
AT 533Clinical Medicine3
AT 594Clinical Field Experience IV for Dual Degree DPT/MSAT2
AT 767Capstone in Athletic Training1
 Subtotal Hours19
Summer Year 3
PT 753First Full-Time Clinical Education Experience3
 Subtotal Hours3
Fall Year 3
PT 744Amputee Rehabilitation2
PT 810Wound Care Fundamentals1
PT 821Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy3
PT 831Professional Issues III2
PT 861Clinical Conference III1
PT 881Advanced Topics1
 Comprehensive Examination 
 Subtotal Hours9
Spring Year 3
PT 832Contemporary Business Practices3
AT 691AT Clinical Field experience V for Dual Degree DPT/MSAT6
AT 711Theories and Practice of Conditioning Athletes2
PT 856Terminal Full-Time Clinical Education Experience II3
AT 504Psychological Intervention/Referral in Athletic Training3
 Subtotal Hours17
Summer Year 4
PT 856Terminal Full-Time Clinical Education Experience II3
 Subtotal Hours3
Fall Year 4
AT 692Clinical Field Experience VI for Dual Degree DPT/MSAT4
AT 670Healthcare Administration2
AT 774Senior Seminar1
 Subtotal Hours7
 Total Hours145
 Optional Elective Credits: 
AT 799Independent Study2
AT 720WFR for Medical Professionals2
HP 550GEL2

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
CourseTitleCredits
Summer Year 1
AT 501Risk Management and Emergency Care for Athletes3
AT 511Prevention and Protective Interventions1
AT 521Functional Human Anatomy I3
AT 523Therapeutic Exercise I1
AT 531Examination, Assessment and Diagnosis of the Lower Quarter3
AT 552Therapeutic Modalities3
 Subtotal Hours14
Fall Year 1
AT 505Evidence-Based Practice in Athletic Training1
AT 571Sports Nutrition3
AT 581Clinical Field Experience I4
AT 621Functional Human Anatomy II3
 Subtotal Hours11
Spring Year 1
AT 504Psychological Intervention/Referral in Athletic Training3
AT 533Clinical Medicine3
AT 534Neurocognitive Assessment and Treatment of Head Injuries1
AT 653Ethics and Professionalism in Athletic Training2
AT 582Clinical Field Experience II4
 Subtotal Hours13
Fall Year 2
PT 601Medical Terminology0.5
PT 603Anatomy I4
PT 607Examination and Intervention4
PT 623Histophysiological Aspects of Movement I3
PT 643Evidence Based Practice Introduction to Research Part I2
PT 653Professional Issues I2
AT 668Capstone Project Development1
 Subtotal Hours16.5
Spring Year 2
PT 604Anatomy II4
PT 610Musculoskeletal System I3
PT 624Histophysiological Aspects of Movement II3
PT 625Clinical Documentation0.5
PT 645Evidence Based Practice Introduction to Research Design Part II2
PT 656Integrated Clinical Experience I1
PT 672Functional Neuroanatomy3
PT 694Medical Fundamentals1
AT 767Capstone in Athletic Training1
 Subtotal Hours18.5
Fall Year 3
PT 709Musculoskeletal System II3
PT 721Pathology3
PT 751Integrated Clinical Experience II1
PT 762Clinical Conference II1
PT 771Adult Neurotherapeutics4
PT 781Gait Analysis and Biomechanics3
AT 593Clinical Field Experience III for Dual Major MSAT/DPT2
 Subtotal Hours17
Spring Year 3
PT 703Pediatric Physical Therapy4
PT 710Musculoskeletal System III4
PT 734Professional Issues II for Dual Major DPT/MSAT2
PT 784Non-Ambulatory Care for the Complex Patient1
PT 890Advanced Medical Fundamentals for Dual Major MSAT/DPT2
AT 594Clinical Experience IV for Dual Major MSAT/DPT2
 Subtotal Hours15
Summer Year 3
PT 753First Full-Time Clinical Education Experience3
 Subtotal Hours3
Fall Year 4
PT 744Amputee Rehabilitation2
PT 810Wound Care Fundamentals1
PT 821Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy3
PT 831Professional Issues III2
PT 861Clinical Conference III1
PT 881Advanced Topics1
AT 670Health Care Administration2
 Comprehensive Exams0
 Subtotal Hours12
Spring Year 4
PT 830Contemporary Business in PT Practices2
PT 856Terminal Full-Time Clinical Experience II3
AT 691Clinical Field Experience V for Dual Major MSAT/DPT6
AT 711Theories and Practice of Conditioning2
AT 774Senior Seminar1
 Subtotal Hours14
Summer Year 4
PT 856Terminal Full-Time Clinical Education Experience II3
 Subtotal Hours3
 Total Hours137

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.

Meet The Athletic Training Faculty

Meet The Physical Therapy Faculty

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!