Master in Athletic Training

All applicants must have a bachelor’s degree. No particular field of study is required; however students are encouraged to select undergraduate majors consistent with their individual abilities and interests. Required courses in some majors such as biology and exercise science are more consistent with the MAT pre-requisite requirements.

mat application requirements

Applicants must submit the following information prior to acceptance into the MAT program.

• Accepted application to A-State Graduate Studies
• Current CPR/AED, First Aid Certification
• Signed technical standards
• Criminal background check
• Drug screening policy
• Student health record (to include:)
  • Personal health history form
  • Physical examination form
  • TB skin test
  • MMR vaccination form
  • Hepatitis B proof of vaccination or refusal
  • Health insurance report
• Questionnaire
• Submit transcripts

Application Deadline

The deadline for submitting applications is April 1st.

Prerequisites

Satisfactory completion with a letter grade of B or higher are required for admission to the MAT program.

• Anatomy & Physiology I & II (4 credits each- must include labs)
• Chemistry
• Physics I (4 credits- must include lab)
• Biology
• Psychology
• Statistics
• Kinesiology and/or Biomechanics

Students are encouraged to complete additional preparation courses in the hard sciences beyond the MAT prerequisites to receive additional weighting credit in the application scoring process. Students are also encouraged to complete related specialty certifications such as Emergency Medical Technician, Teaching Certification, Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Corrective Exercise Specialist or Casting Certification prior to the start of the MAT program

Licensure/Cert Requirements

For Students Entering The Field:

The State of Arkansas requires individuals to possess the national certification by the Board of Certification (BOC) prior to issuing a permanent license to practice athletic training. Students graduating from the MAT program are eligible to take the BOC exam.

Application Requirements

Students must submit an application to Graduate Admissions within the Office of Admissions, Records, and Registration. Transcripts must be sent to Graduate Admissions.

Graduate Admissions

Once a student has submitted an application through Graduate Admissions, a review of materials will be completed by athletic training faculty.

UNCONDITIONAL ADMISSION STATUS

View University Graduate Degree Policies

The following Graduate School admission requirements are minimum standards which identify the pool of applicants from which departments select students to be admitted in a degree program. To be granted unconditional admission status in the Graduate School, applicants must:

• Submit a completed online application for admission and the nonrefundable application fee of $30 for U.S. Applicants, $40 for International Applicants, or $50 for Doctoral Applicants to Graduate School Admissions, along with the required program documents, by the deadline on the department website.
• Earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution (or its equivalent as determined by the Graduate School).
• Achieved a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale or a 3.00 GPA on the last 60 hours.
• Achieved a minimum 3.00 GPA on any previous graduate courses completed at either Arkansas State University or another accredited university.
• Submitted official transcripts from each college or university as requested by the Graduate School. Official transcripts must be submitted directly from the registrar of other institutions to the office of the Graduate School at Arkansas State University.

CONDITIONAL ADMISSION STATUS

An applicant who fails to meet the GPA requirements for Unconditional Admission Status, who lacks the appropriate undergraduate background for a particular degree program, or whose baccalaureate degree is from an unaccredited institution, may be granted conditional admission status after:

• Submission of a completed online application for admission and the designated nonrefundable application fee mentioned above to Graduate School Admissions, along with the required program documents, by the deadline on the department website.
• Submitted official transcripts from each college or university as requested by the Graduate School. Official transcripts must be submitted directly from the registrar of other institutions to the office of the Graduate School at Arkansas State University.
• Achieving a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale or a 2.75 GPA on the last 60 hours for admission into a graduate program or for admission as a non-degree student.

PROGRAM ADMISSION CRITERIA

Meeting the minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate School does not necessarily ensure acceptance into a particular graduate degree program. Individual departments may establish requirements for individual degree programs above and beyond the standards for admission to the Graduate School.

1. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION MATERIALS

Closely observe the deadline and required materials set by your graduate program of interest, including any additional documents requested of students who are seeking departmental funding through assistantships or fellowships. Complete the application and fax, e-mail or mail any materials that could not be submitted online to A-State Graduate Admissions.

General documents needed in the application process:

• A completed online application accompanied by the appropriate application fee ($30 for U.S. applicants, $50 for International applicants, $50 for Doctoral applicants), along with the required documents for that specific graduate program. See the program website for specific required documents. (There may be separate application forms for some programs, as noted on the departments' websites.)
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended since leaving high school. Transcripts must be mailed directly from the institutions previously attended. If you are a graduate of A-State, we will obtain your transcript for you.
• All students are required to present written documentation of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) immunization. This immunization must have been received after the first birthday and after January 1, 1968.
• Arkansas law requires that, in order to be eligible for enrollment at a public institution of higher learning, a male applicant between the ages of 18 and 25 who is a U.S. citizen must be registered or be exempt from registration with the Selective Service System.
• If a standardized test is required for your major, you may contact the Testing Center at Arkansas State University at (870) 972-2038 for information regarding tests and test dates.

 

2. REVIEW BY THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM

Once an applicant has submitted all required documents to Graduate Admissions, the admissions committee for that particular academic program will review their applicant file and make their decisions regarding admission.

3. FINAL REVIEW BY THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

Once the Graduate School receives the academic program’s admission decision, they email a copy of that Notice of Admission Decision to the applicant, unless the program notifies their applicants directly.

4. ADMISSION

If accepted into the degree program to which you applied, Graduate Admissions will admit you to the University and email you a copy of your Notice of Admission, unless that program notifies their accepted applicants directly. Admitted applicants need to check with their assigned advisor, as noted on their Notice of Admission, in order to be able to register for the semester.

Our mission

The mission of the Master of Athletic Training (MAT) Program at Arkansas State University is to educate athletic training professionals to deliver patient-centered care as members of an interdisciplinary team emphasizing evidence based practice and to enhance and enrich the quality of life of all individuals and communities in the Mississippi Delta region who encounter A-State AT faculty, staff, and alumni.

Program goals

Goal 1: Prepare students to think critically and apply knowledge to the field of athletic training

Outcome – Scholarly Inquiry

• Critique research in athletic training and related disciplines as a basis for application to clinical practice.

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Goal 2: Provide students with quality didactic and clinical learning experiences to support excellent medical care

Outcome – Standard of Care

• Demonstrate evidence-based clinical practice and decision-making in athletic training services.
• Critically analyze, interpret, and apply published research findings to professional practice.
• Synthesize principles of biomechanics, anatomy, and neurology to develop therapeutic interventions.

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Goal 3: Prepare students to successfully transition to practice and achieve professional goals

Outcome – Professional & Personal Growth

• Demonstrate ethical decision-making in patient care.
• Communicate effectively with patients, parents, supervisors, physicians, coaches, and peers.
• Recognize the role of athletic trainers as healthcare providers within a multidisciplinary team.
• At least 51% of each graduating cohort will pass the Board of Certification (BOC) exam on their first attempt.

program stats

Program Graduation Rate

Retention Rate

BOC Exam Pass Rate

Placement Rate