Sports Medicine

The program provides an advanced curriculum that enhances athletic training skills beyond the entry level and enriches academic preparation for advanced work in the field of exercise science. The program is interdisciplinary in nature and provides students with a well-rounded educational experience. The thesis requirement allows students to acquire skills to perform experimental research and to create a specialized area of interest. Students have the option of working with a diverse faculty with varied research interests. This includes working with novel technologies in the HEAT (Heat Illness Evaluation, Avoidance and Treatment) Institute and the possibility of studying a professional athlete population. Additionally, the Department of Sports Medicine offers several athletic training graduate assistantships, allowing students to remain clinically active while completing graduate studies. Graduates of the program are competitive and typically gain employment at the college/university level. Additionally, graduates have continued their education in other allied health programs, such as physician's assistant school.

Job placements of our recent graduates include:

• University of Florida
• Chestnut Hill College
• East Stroudsburg University
• Bryn Athyn College
• North Shore High School
• Mifflin County High School
• Holy Family University
• College of St. Elizabeth
• Lehigh University
• Gallaudet University
• The Hill School
• Gwynedd Mercy College
• The Steadman Clinic
• Catholic University

To be accepted as a fully matriculated student into the master's program, an applicant needs to meet the requirements for WCU graduate study. Specifically, a student must have a minimum 2.8 undergraduate GPA, a minimum 3.0 GPA in the major discipline, and a competitive GRE score. An applicant must present a bachelor's degree in athletic training or a program that includes the following undergraduate courses: human anatomy and physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, and statistics. The application package must also include official transcripts representing all previous coursework, two letters of recommendation, and a written goals statement.

Students may apply online. When completing the online application process, you must create a profile and select your program of study. Be sure to select M.S. in Athletic Training Post-Professional Concentration within the Sports Medicine Department in the College of Health Sciences.

The curriculum is a science-based program with a required thesis track. The program includes basic research preparation (EXS 600 Research Methods and HEA 526 Biostatistics), advanced exercise science courses (EXS 681 Advanced Exercise Physiology and EXS 585 Biomechanics), cadaver anatomy (SMD 500 and 501), advanced sports medicine courses (SMD 592 & 693 Seminar & Topics in Sports Medicine, SMD 505 Evidence Based Practice in Sports Medicine) and research (thesis).

Students are required to complete the following courses:

1. Degree core (6)
• SMD 501 Cadaver Anatomy Lab (4)
• SMD 505 Evidence Based Practice in Sports Medicine (3)
2. Concentration core (20)
• SMD 500 Cadaver Anatomy Lecture (2)
• SMD 592 Seminar in Sports Medicine (3)
• SMD 693 Topics in Sports Medicine (3)
• HEA 526 Biostatistics (3)
• EXS 600 Research Methods in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (3)
• SMD 698 Research I (3)
• SMD 699 Research II (3)
3. Suggested Electives (9)
• EXS 585 Biomechanics (3)
• EXS 600 Research Methods in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (3)
• EXS 681 Advanced Exercise Physiology (3)
• EXS 587 Environmental Physiology (3)
• NSG 522 Epidemiology (3)
• EXS 582 Physical Activity and the Environment (3)
• EXS 687 Applied Muscular Physiology (3)
• EXS 688 Applied Cardiovascular Physiology (3)
• NTD 522 Nutrition for Health Fitness and Performance (3)

Course Sequencing Sheet

	Previously Completed Research
McClelland, J.	The Effects of Cardiovascular Fitness and Body Composition on Maximal Core Temperature Values in Collegiate Football Players During Pre-Season
Carver, M.	The Influence of College Alcohol Consumption Behaviors on Neurocognitive, Reaction Time, and Balance Performances
Gonzales, M.	Commercial Testosterone Boosters and Their Physical & Hormonal Effects on Healthy Young Males
Stout, L.	The Effects of Hydration Conditions on Performance Skills in Male and Female Collegiate Ice Hockey Players
Byrnes, C.	The Relationship Between Functional Movement Score and Performance and How They are Affected by Intervention
Courtney K.	The Physical and Mental Effects of a Competitive High School Wrestling Season
Keene K.	Effect of Foot Type and Rigidity on Landing Mechanics and Tibial Rotation in an Athletic Population
Miller, M.	The Effects of Individual Sodium and Fluid Replacement on Ratings of Thermal Sensations, Mood, Thirst, Palatability and Fullness After Exercise Induced Dehydration in Collegiate Football Players
Newsome, M.	Effects of Complete Sodium and Fluid Volume Replacement Following Acute Exercise-Induced Dehydration on Football Specific Exercise
Shah, P.	A Comparison of Regional Sweat Electrolyte Concentrations in Collegiate Football Players
Caulfield, H.	The Efficacy of four different Replacement Treatments on Fluid and Electrolyte Balance after exercise Associated Dehydration
Blahaus A.	The Effects of Individual Sodium and Fluid Replacement on Fluid and Electrolyte Balance After Exercise Induced Dehydration in Collegiate Football Players
McGuigan, C.	Effects of Intravenous Cold Saline on Core Temperature in Hyperthermic Collegiate Football Players
Murphy, J.	Adherence to Sports Injury Rehabilitation and Protection Motivation Theory
Van Lier, T.	The Effects of Massage and Graston Technique on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
McCann, J.	Blood Lactate Responses to Cold Water Immersion and Biking compared to Controls in Professional Ice Hockey Players after High Intensity Skating
Scullin, G.	Cooling Rates in Exercise Induced Hyperthermic Football Players and Cross Country Runners Using Cold Water Immersion
Marcinek, T.	Serum Creatine Kinase Levels in NCAA Football Players During Preseason Now That an Acclimatization Time Period is Mandated
Hartman, C.	Patient Reported Outcomes Over the Course of a Competitive Basketball Season in Participants with and without a Previous Knee Injury History
Funk, J.	A Comparison of Biomechanical Differences, Patient Outcome Measures, Jump-Landing Adaptations, and Strength Deficits between ACL Reconstructed Individuals