Program Overview

Athletic Training (M.S.)

The Athletic Training program at Texas State University is a professional master's program that provides students with a course of academic study in patient-centered care, interprofessional practice and education, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, healthcare informatics, and professionalism.

Program Overview

Responding to recent trends in sports health, a master's degree can help propel professionals to advanced career success. Texas State University's athletic training program has maintained national accreditation since 1972. It has a long, proud history for athletic training education involving both didactic and clinical education and for placing graduates in athletic training careers in industry, professional sports, college and university, and high school, as well as sports medicine clinical settings.

Course Work

The current program has two routes to completion; the 3/2 route and the 2-year post-baccalaureate route. Both programs encompass two consecutive calendar years involving very specific course work (55 credit hours), competitive clinical experiences and immersive experiences and culminate with an evidence-based research project.

• Degree: M.S.
• Hours: 55
• Thesis Option: Non-Thesis
• Minor Option: No minor
• Location: San Marcos

Program Details

Students will have the opportunity to obtain clinical skills in NCAA Division I and II intercollegiate athletics, high school athletics, general medical, and semi-professional and professional sports.

Program Mission

The mission of the professional master's program is to provide students with a course of academic study in patient-centered care, interprofessional practice and education, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, healthcare informatics, and professionalism.

Career Options

Graduates holding a master of science degree in athletic training are prepared for employment in a variety of settings within the following areas:

• Colleges/universities
• High schools
• Professional sports
• Rehabilitation/physical medicine clinics
• Hospitals and research facilities
• Industry
• Tactical settings (police, fire/EMS)

Program Faculty

Texas State University's faculty in the professional master's in athletic training program are national leaders in the field of athletic training. They are the authors of peer-reviewed publications and grants, and officers and board members in professional associations and set high standards for students in the program. Additionally, the clinical faculty and staff have years of clinical experience, serve as role models and set high standards for the students' learning.

Admission Requirements

The items required for admission consideration are listed below.

• Application
  • Completed online application
• Application Fee
  • $55 nonrefundable application fee, or
  • $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
• Transcripts & GPA
  • Baccalaureate degree from an accredited university.
  • A copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted.
  • A 3.0 overall GPA or a 3.0 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses).
  • A minimum 3.0 GPA in all background courses.
• Background Course Work
  • As required background coursework, there is a set of 10 pre-requisites that will prepare the student for the rigors of the program.
  • The following is the list of pre-requisites that students must have completed in their undergraduate degree or are in progress of completing prior to admission:
    • Physics
    • Chemistry
    • Introduction to Nutrition
    • Introduction to Psychology
    • Introduction to Statistics
    • Exercise Physiology
    • Biomechanics
    • Medical Terminology
    • Anatomy & Physiology (with lab)
    • Care & Prevention (or equivalent)
• Test Scores
  • GRE not required
  • Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores
    • Official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
    • Official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
    • Official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
    • Official Duolingo scores required with a 110 overall
    • Official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall
• Documents
  • Confirmation of 75 observation hours signed by a certified (ATC) and/or licensed (LAT) professional who has guided the observational experiences
  • Resume/CV
  • Statement of purpose (maximum two pages) discussing why you have chosen to pursue graduate studies in athletic training at Texas State University
  • Three forms of recommendation

Application Deadlines

• Summer I - Priority: January 1 (U.S. Citizen), January 1 (International)
• Summer I - Standard: May 1 (U.S. Citizen), March 15 (International)
• Priority Deadline: Ensures full consideration for admission and eligibility for certain funding opportunities, including scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships, and guarantees that your application will be considered in the initial review.
• Standard Deadline: Represents the last day a complete application can be submitted, but does not guarantee admission consideration. After the priority deadline, applications are reviewed on a rolling, space-available basis until the program is full, at which point, applications will close.