The Master of Athletic Training (MAT) program at Arkansas State University completed accreditation review from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) in Spring 2020.

This program is designed to help students with a bachelor’s degree and the proper prerequisite coursework to start the professional coursework required of the profession and the Board of Certification exam (BOC). Once accepted to the program, students attend full time for 2 years to complete the MAT degree. Graduate level classroom and clinical study will provide an educational framework that prepares students to be successful as athletic trainers. It will provide the foundation that allows athletic trainers to adapt to the changing face of healthcare and to be positioned as a healthcare provider who significantly improves the health and well-being of their patients and have meaningful, purposeful career paths.

Admission Requirements

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.

Application Deadlines

The deadline for submitting applications to A-State Admissions 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

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: http://www.astate.edu/info/admissions/graduate/how-to-apply/

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

Course Requirements

A minimum of 65 graduate course hours are required for the Master of Athletic Training Program.

Licensure/Certification Requirements for Student Entry into 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.

Accreditation

The MAT program is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The program received its initial accreditation in 2020.