Athletic Training, M.S.

Program Admission Prerequisite Courses

1. Hold, or be eligible to hold, an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association or have completed equivalent academic preparation as determined by an appropriate campus authority, by the end of the spring semester prior to admission to the program.

2. Have attained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 (A=4.00),

3. Have been in good academic, professional, and clinical standing at the last institution and if applicable in the last entry-level athletic training educational program attended,

4. Have successfully completed the following courses with a minimum of “C” and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 by the end of the fall semester prior to the year of admission to the program. No course may be repeated more than once and no more than 3 prerequisite courses may be repeated. CR/NC grades, correspondence courses, or independent study courses cannot be used for prerequisite requirements. It is recommended that no more than two (2) classes may be in progress during the fall semester of application and all prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the Fall semester of application.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) is a two-step process: 

1) Graduate Student Application, and 2) Program application via ATCAS and admission to the MSAT. Admission shall be granted on a competitive basis; meeting the admission requirements qualifies an individual for, but does not guarantee admission to the program.

The MSAT degree program is a four-semester cohort model with instruction beginning in the Fall term.

Graduate Student Admission to the University

1. Applicants must meet the University (CSULB) admission requirements for Graduate Programs (http://web.csulb.edu/depts/enrollment/admissions/graduate_programs.html). Applications for graduate admission are accepted October 1 to January 15. Each applicant must apply online to the University (CSULB) as a graduate student through Cal State Apply (https://www2.calstate.edu/apply).

2. Upon receipt of all necessary documents, CSULB Enrollment Services - Admissions for Graduate Programs will review eligibility based on the minimum University admission requirements for Graduate Programs.

3. If the applicant is deemed eligible for university admission under the admission categories of Graduate Classified or Graduate Conditionally Classified, the graduate student application will be forwarded to MSAT program faculty for review. The applicant will receive notification via email of the MSAT admission status from Enrollment Services - Admissions after the program faculty has made their decision.

Admission to the MSAT

1. Only applicants deemed eligible to be admitted to the University for Graduate. Programs will be considered for admission into the Master of Science in Athletic Training degree program. Eligible applicants will also complete and submit the online application to the program through ATCAS (Athletic Training Centralized Application Service).

2. Applicants will complete and submit the online application to the program through ATCAS (Athletic Training Centralized Application Service) (http://atcas.liaisoncas.org/). The program application deadline is February 1.

3. The ATCAS application requests the below information:

   • Official transcripts of all academic work attempted.
   • Submit to the university and ATCAS official scores from the General Aptitude Section (quantitative, verbal, and analytical) of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), taken within five years of applying to the MSAT program. University Code: 4389, Department Code: 0623.
   • Provide ATCAS with three letters of recommendation attesting to the potential for success as an athletic trainer and/or the scholarly potential of the applicant; o At least one letter must be from an BOC (Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer) certified athletic trainer with whom the applicant had a professional association, and o One from a professor for a prerequisite course which the applicant completed. o If the applicant previously has been employed, the third letter should be from an employer.
   • o If the applicant previously has not been employed, the third letter should be from another BOC certified athletic trainer with whom the applicant had a professional association.
   • Provide documentation of knowledge of athletic training through a minimum of 200 documented hours of volunteer experience under the direct supervision of a BOC certified athletic trainer.
   • Provide a written statement of purpose reflecting the applicant’s commitment to athletic training.
   • Meet prerequisite requirements. All courses (prerequisite and overall) must be taken from an accredited institution.

4. The MSAT uses the “Rolling Admissions” model. This means following admission eligibility to CSULB as a graduate student, the Program Faculty begin evaluating complete ATCAS applications as they arrive. Program seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend that interested students apply as early as possible. The program reserves the right to extend the deadline to accept and review of ATCAS applications after the regular deadline if space in the cohort exists.

5. The MSAT Program Faculty will conduct applicant interviews to assist in their application reviews and admissions decisions via telephone, video conference, or face to face. To be eligible for the interview, applicants must have 1) met CSULB admission requirements as a “Graduate Classified” or “Graduate Conditionally Classified” student, 2) a complete ATCAS application, and 3) meets the program admission prerequisite course requirements.

6. (International Students Only) - applicants who have completed their undergraduate  degree outside of the United States are required to achieve an acceptable score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), minimum 550 (paper-based), or 80 (internet-based).

Post-Admission Program Requirements

After admission to the Master of Science in Athletic Training Program, the following documentation must be submitted to the AT Program prior to the beginning of program instruction.

Health insurance, titers and immunizations (HBV series, MMR, Tdap, chicken pox, and meningococcal), Negative TB Test (within past 2 months), and malpractice insurance. BOC (Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer) identification number. Signed Documentation: Ability to meet Technical Standards with or without accommodations, Statement of Confidentiality, and Communicable Disease Policy. Federal Criminal Background Check will be conducted upon arrival on campus for program instruction.

Adhering to the Athletic Training Programs Technical Standards and academic performance standards functions are required for clinical coursework.

Retention

1. Maintain a 3.00 or better grade point average in all graduate work completed at CSULB.

2. Make continuous satisfactory progress toward the degree objective.

3. Each major course must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. A course in which a grade lower than a “C” is received must be repeated and successfully completed prior to enrolling in any other course for which it is a prerequisite or progression in the program. The program is cohort course sequenced, to repeat a course means the student will be placed on administrative-academic probation and must take an educational leave until the course is offered again in the program sequence. The student will rejoin the program sequence with the next cohort to retake the course. A course can be repeated only once. Failing to meet the course grade standard on the second attempt will result in administrative-academic disqualification from the program.

Advancement to Candidacy

1. Attainment of classified status as a student in a graduate program at CSULB.

2. Meet the University requirements for advancement to candidacy.

3. Fulfillment of the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) for Graduate Students (http://web.csulb.edu/divisions/aa/gwar/students/).

4. Complete a minimum of one semester (fall session) of graduate level coursework in the program.

5. Be enrolled during the term in which advancement to candidacy takes place.

6. Obtain approval for one’s individual program plan from the Graduate Advisor and then from the Associate Dean of the College of Health and Human Services.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Science in Athletic Training degree program is a 52 unit, two years, cohort program that includes clinical education.