Program Availability

The Athletic Training Master of Science (MS) program provides advanced, innovative education in the profession. Students who earn their MS in Athletic Training at Indiana State are well prepared to practice at the top of their license as ethical, inclusive, culturally competent, and highly skilled athletic trainers.

The MS in Athletic Training at Indiana State is a 54-credit cohort hybrid program. The program has six consecutive semesters with a summer start. The first year is 33 credits on-campus, focusing on building foundation knowledge and skills. The second year can be completed anywhere and blends online learning with immersive clinical experiences. 

Our program has several benefits: 

• Small class sizes 
• Up to seven different clinical experiences 
• Clinical simulations 
• Donor anatomy integrated into courses 
• Certification in Graston Technique and Workplace Injury Prevention 

Additionally, our program has competitive pricing in the Midwest with Total In-State Tuition of $24,848 and the Midwest Consortium Tuition of $36,620. There is a total addition of $3,680 in fees. 

To apply, applicants should have a prerequisite and an overall GPA of 3.0. Applicants should complete prerequisite courses before starting the program. Applicants may apply with up to three (3) outstanding prerequisite courses. Please check our list of prerequisite courses and suggested electives. 

View Application Instructions

Why Earn a Master of Science in Athletic Training at Indiana State?

Indiana State's Athletic Training MS program is one of the oldest programs in the United States (founded in 1969). The program has over 3,000 alumni working in all athletic training settings in multiple countries. More than 20 athletic trainers associated with Indiana State are members of the National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame.

Hybrid Format 

The first year of the Athletic Training MS program is residential and focuses on the development of foundational knowledge and clinical skills gained through classwork and simulated patient encounters. Students begin their first clinical experiences during the first fall and spring semesters. 

The program's second-year students can live anywhere. Students complete most of their coursework online and are in person for three-to-four days per semester. This model allows students the flexibility to pursue a variety of immersion experiences. The curriculum in the second year focuses on developing critical judgment and gaining clinical experiences. 

Receive Extensive Clinical Training

Students in the MS in Athletic Training program at Indiana State gain five semesters of clinical experience under the supervision of highly skilled athletic trainers with professional experience in multiple settings (up to seven different settings). 

During the first year, clinical experiences are designed to help students apply their new knowledge and skills in clinical settings. Local clinical sites are utilized for first-year clinical experiences. During the second year, you will complete 26 weeks of immersive clinical experiences, learning full-time under the supervision of a certified athletic trainer. The longer immersions prepare our graduates with the confidence and skills needed to become highly successful practitioners. The emphasis is on clinical reasoning and working towards autonomous care. 

Possible experiences include athletics (high school, collegiate, and professional sports); industrial; tactical; clinical; and physician extender. Click here for a list of current clinical sites. The Director of Clinical Education works with students to identify new clinical sites. However, each site must meet Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) standards and have a signed contract with Indiana State University.

Clinical experience sites for the MS in Athletic Training include Indiana State University Athletics, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Athletics, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Athletics, Eastern Illinois University, Vigo County School Corporation, Forte Orthopedics, Indy Eleven, Indy Fuel, and Fisher Freight. Clinical placements can be anywhere if the site meets all the program criteria and has a signed contract with Indiana State.  

Learn from Our Excellent Faculty

Athletic Training faculty and clinical preceptors bring many years of clinical experience and scholarly research to their classes. Award-winning instructors remain professionally active through consulting work, committee memberships, scholarship, and other activities. They provide students with academic guidance and professional mentorship throughout the two-year program and beyond.

What You’ll Learn in the Athletic Training MSAT Program

The Master of Science in Athletic Training program features comprehensive, experience-based coursework that incorporates four essential and distinctive principles.

• Patient-centered care emphasizes the central role that individual patients’ specific health needs and desired outcomes play in treatment decisions. It aims to train care providers who are respectful of patients' backgrounds and preferences, social and cultural traditions, values, and socioeconomic conditions.
• Simulated patient encounters are used to provide students with realistic learning experiences that provide knowledge and skills in a controlled environment. Simulations are customized to help students develop specific skills and improve on individualized goals.
• Disablement models provide a framework for evaluating and treating each patient’s unique needs by assessing patient-centered outcomes and determining the effectiveness of health care interventions. By using disablement models, students learn quality improvement strategies they can use to provide high-quality, patient-centered care.
• Evidence-based medicine is the practice of integrating patient values and clinical experiences with the best available research to provide the best possible patient-centered care. Students complete a culminating research project that emphasizes improving patient care using quality improvement and practice-based research.

Students who successfully complete the Athletic Training MS program will also fulfill the requirements for two additional certifications: 

• Graston Technique Essentials – Students will complete the Graston Technique Essentials course during their third semester in the program.
• Workplace Injury Prevention Certificate – Students will complete the iMSKA program to earn the certificate. The program is designed to prepare students for the Industrial/Tactical settings.

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Career Possibilities for Athletic Training MS Graduates

While many athletic trainers find career employment with high school, college, and professional sports organizations, other fields such as law enforcement, performing arts, industry, physician practice, and other health care providers also employ athletic trainers.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that industry demand for athletic trainers will grow 11 percent from 2024-34, much higher than the rate for occupations overall.

The National Athletic Trainers Association 2023 Salary survey shows salary data by job settings. Indiana State is proud to have had a 100-percent job placement rate for Athletic Training MS graduates for the last three graduating classes. The average starting salary is $58,500, with a salary range of $45,000 to $70,000. 

Accreditation

This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. More information about our program accreditation status and student outcomes can be found on our CAATE Program Information and Outcomes. 
 

Application Instructions

All students seeking admission to the Athletic Training MS program must meet the prerequisite requirements, complete the designated application, submit all collegiate transcripts, and complete an interview with the MAT admissions committee. 

How to Apply

Indiana State University Undergraduate Students

Current Indiana State students who meet the prerequisite requirements can apply through Early Assurance. Additionally, students who declare Pre-Athletic Training have a reserved seat in the program. 

1. Apply online. Follow the link and click on Graduate. 
2. After you create your account, select: 
   1. College of Health and Human Services
   2. Master of Athletic Training program
   3. Complete Application
   4. Indiana State University transcripts will be automatically uploaded.
   5. Submit all non-Indiana State transcripts, if applicable. 
       

 Students from Colleges and Universities with MOUs with Indiana State University 

Indiana State University has several Memorandums of Understanding with several colleges and universities that permit students to directly apply to Indiana State. 

1. Apply online. Follow the link and click on Graduate. 
2. After you create your account, select: 
   1. College of Health and Human Services 
   2. Master of Athletic Training program
   3. Complete Application
   4. Submit all of your collegiate transcripts. 

All Other Applicants

Complete your application through the Athletic Training Centralized Application System (ATCAS). You will need to complete the standard ATCAS questions and submit your transcripts. You do not need to add all of your classes.

International Applicants

Complete your application through the Athletic Training Centralized Application System (ATCAS). You will need to complete the questions and add your transcripts. You do not need to add all of your classes. 

Deadlines

The Master of Science in Athletic Training program has rolling admissions, which means we will review your application, interview you, and communicate our decision to you throughout the year. We accept applications up to the week prior to the start of Summer 1 classes. We suggest submitting your application early in order to secure a seat in the program. International applicants must apply by April 1 to ensure adequate time to obtain all of the necessary documents and a visa.

Next Steps

Your application will be reviewed by the Athletic Training admissions committee. You will be invited to participate in an online interview if you meet the prerequisite requirements. After your interview (typically within three days), you will receive communication with one of the following decisions: Accepted; Conditional Acceptance; or Not Accepted. If offered admission into the program, you will receive an acceptance letter from Graduate Admissions with instructions on how to accept or decline the offer. 

Once admitted, you will receive notification from the University and will be provided your University ID number, which is needed to activate your University username on the MyISU Portal. The Portal offers access to online registration, University records, and other important services, including e-mail and University announcements.