How to obtain your desired clinical experience 

Students will engage in 6 hands-on clinical experiences throughout the MSAT curriculum.  Each unique clinical experience will provide students with the ability to integrate their acquired knowledge and skills from the classroom into the clinic.  Students will be assigned a faculty supervisor and clinical preceptor for each experience. 

• The first year of the clinical curriculum will utilize a truly integrative approach designed to expose students to clinical education while simultaneously managing a rigorous didactic courseload.  First-year clinical experiences will be assigned by the Coordinator of Clinical Education & Fieldwork Coordinator.   All first-year clinical sites will be located within the greater Springfield area (see clinical sites tab).

• The second year of the clinical curriculum begins in summer 2 with an opportunity for students to explore non-traditional settings or other unique settings of their choice.  This experience is not limited by geographical location and occurs over a five-week span.  The Fall and Spring semesters become interchangeable in the second year based on the student's desire for an immersive experience.  

  • The immersive rotation is a practice-intensive experience that allows the student to experience the totality of care provided by athletic trainers.  Clinical education is thus the primary academic focus for the semester, allowing students to obtain a sense of real-world experience in hopes of enhancing their transition to practice.  The immersive spans the length of the chosen semester and students are expected to engage in clinical care for approximately 40 hours/week.

  • The Sports Injury Rehabilitation Clinic (SIRC) is a rehab-intensive experience focused on working as part of a healthcare team.  Patients seeking long-term and/or postsurgical care will be scheduled every hour with an athletic training student who will develop and guide them through the rehabilitation process.   

Use the steps below as a guide to help you find and secure your desired immersive clinical experience for ATRN 676 & 680 

Step 2 - Review the Professionalism Checklist tab above!  

• The AT program expects all students to maintain high standards of professionalism throughout each clinical experience.  Professionalism should be your top priority from the time you begin communicating with potential clinical sites until you successfully complete your clinical rotation. 

Step 4 - Complete the Clinical Information Form for your Cohort

• Clinical Information Form - Class of 2025 

Step 6 - Remain patient!

• The Coordinator of Clinical Education and the Fieldwork Coordinator will take it from here to finalize the clinical placement 

  • Preceptor Training

  • Affiliation Agreement (legal)