Predictors of Success in Entry-level Master's Degree Programs in Athletic Training
ABSTRACT Athletic training educational program directors use a variety of admission criteria to select qualified applicants who they anticipate will succeed academically and professionally. No standard sets of admission criteria exist for identifying a student’s ability to succeed in an entry-level master’s degree athletic training program or on the Board of Certification (BOC) examination. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the relationship between entry-level master’s degree athletic training student demographic and academic factors and first- attempt passing rate on the BOC examination. The research questions examined the relationship between age, gender, admission grade point average (GPA), final GPA, and BOC exam success. Data (N = 73) from 3 Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)-accredited entry-level master’s athletic training education programs were used in this study. The results of the Pearson correlation indicated a positive relationship between admission GPA and final GPA and a positive relationship between final GPA and passing the BOC examination on the first attempt. With an increased demand for athletic training professionals (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012) and a new focus on the program outcomes by the accrediting association (CAATE, 2013), the results of this study will assist athletic training educators in selecting and preparing students who have the greatest potential to succeed.
entry-level, graduate, health science, education, outcomes, Higher Education, Sports Sciences
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