Athletic Training, Master of
Saint Louis University’s athletic training program offers a Master of Athletic Training (MAT) degree. There are three paths of entry into the program.
- Early-assurance, freshman-entry:
- Five-year curriculum, including two summers
- Receive a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science - Athletic Training (BSES-AT) concentration after successfully completing the first four (4) years of coursework
- Receive the MAT degree after successfully completing an additional one (1) year of post-baccalaureate coursework
- Early-assurance, undergraduate transfer:
- Transfer from another program or university during undergraduate studies
- Post-baccalaureate
- Two-year curriculum, including two summers
- Receive the MAT degree after successfully completing two (2) years of graduate coursework
SLU's athletic training program is the standard of excellence within the field, boasting an outstanding pass rate on the Board of Certification (BOC) exam and excellent job placement rates. SLU students and faculty are engaged regularly in the profession, receiving honors at the national and international levels.
SLU's program has a proven track record of global engagement. The athletic program has a curricular track in which students can attend SLU's campus in Madrid, Spain for up to four semesters; an international clinical exchange program with universities in Spain and Ireland; and the program is an institutional member of the World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy (WFATT).
Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the BOC Examination for the Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) credential.
Program Highlights
The advantages to earning a Master of Athletic Training degree at Saint Louis University include:
- Opportunity for direct admission to the program as a freshman
- Opportunities to pursue additional curricular goals such as minors, certificates and study abroad programs
- SLU is home to the only NCAA Division I athletic program in the city of St. Louis
- Diverse clinical education opportunities
- Highly qualified and accessible faculty
- Interprofessional focus of core curriculum to build a team approach to health care
- State-of-the-art laboratories and clinical equipment in the Doisy College of Health Sciences
Curriculum Overview
Students who begin the program as freshmen spend their first three years completing the required liberal arts and science prerequisite courses. Students who meet academic and professional behavior requirements of the pre-professional phase continue into the two-year professional phase of the program after their third year.
Post-baccalaureate students complete the two-year professional phase of the program.
The two-year professional phase of the program includes coursework in the five domains of athletic training practice: risk reduction, wellness, and health literacy; assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis; critical incident management; therapeutic intervention; and health care administration and professional responsibility. Students participate in clinical experiences each semester in a variety of practice settings.
Clinical and Research Opportunities
SLU's athletic training students participate in clinical experiences each semester, and the diversity of clinical sites is a hallmark of the program. In addition to Saint Louis University’s athletic teams, eight other St. Louis-area universities and over 20 high schools serve as clinical sites for the program. An immersive clinical experience takes place over the second summer of the professional phase that allows students to explore unique clinical opportunities anywhere in the country. Students experience additional networking opportunities such as physician office rotations, NCAA championship events, and summer camps.
Program faculty are actively engaged in a variety of scholarly activities within SLU's state-of-the-art research laboratories, providing many opportunities for students to gain experience in research and scholarship. Faculty members serve in prominent roles in state, regional and national organizations in athletic training, and students have the opportunity to travel with faculty to local, regional, and national conferences to present their scholarly work. Additionally, the program houses the editorial offices of the Journal of Athletic Training and the Athletic Training Education Journal.
Careers
Graduates work in a variety of settings, practicing injury prevention, assessment, and rehabilitation and activity-specific conditioning.
Certified athletic trainers are employed in many settings such as:
- High schools
- Colleges and universities
- Professional sports
- Sports medicine clinics
- Military, law enforcement, tactical teams
- Performing arts
- Occupational/Industrial organizations
In addition to providing patient care, athletic trainers also work as clinical researchers, administrators, faculty members and clinical instructors.
Admission Requirements
Freshman Applicants
General Information
Every application to the athletic training program is reviewed on an individual basis.
Freshman Admission Requirements
The best-qualified students are selected from the application pool with a minimum recommended cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
Recommended high school courses:
- Four years of high school English
- Four years of high school math, with achievement to at least the level of pre-calculus
- Four years of high school science, including biology and chemistry
- Physics is encouraged by not required
Standardized test scores are optional. When evaluating whether to apply test-optional or with a test score, applicants should note that students accepted in previous years had an average composite 25 ACT or an average total 1200 SAT.
Meeting admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.
Transfer Applicants
General Information
As space allows, students may enter the AT Program as internal (enrolled in another program at SLU) or external (enrolled in another college or university) transfer students. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Transfer Admission Requirements
- Minimum of 25 hours of college credit
- Minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
- No science course grade below a C
- External applicants must submit official transcripts
Current SLU students interested in transferring to the program should discuss their plans with their current academic advisor. Following that discussion, the student will be referred to the AT program director to review coursework and eligibility further.
External students should contact the Transfer Admissions Office. A transfer advisor will review the coursework and the student’s eligibility for the program. They will also discuss admission procedures to the University. Following that discussion, the student will be referred to the AT program director to review coursework and eligibility further. Transferology is a helpful resource to determine how coursework from other colleges/universities may transfer toward the MAT Program.
Meeting admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.
Post-Baccalaureate Applicants
General Information
As space allows, students may enter the MAT Program as a post-baccalaureate student.
Begin your application for this program through the Athletic Training Centralized Application System (ATCAS) or through the SLU graduate application portal by April 1 to be considered for summer admission. Classes start mid-May.
Admission Requirements
- Minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
- No science course grade below a C
- Required prerequisite college courses must be completed prior to beginning the program with a grade of C or above:
- Biology with Lab (4 credits)
- Chemistry with Lab (4 credits)
- Physics with Lab (4 credits)
- Anatomy (3-4 credits) and Human Physiology (3-4 credits)
- Or Anatomy & Physiology I and II (6-8 credits)
- Exercise Physiology (3 credits)
- General Psychology (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Medical Terminology (1-3 credits)
Application Requirements
- Three letters of recommendation
- Professional goal statement (500 words)
- GRE scores are not required
Meeting admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.
International Applicants
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students, along with the following:
- You must demonstrate English language proficiency.
- Proof of financial support must include:
- A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding your time at Saint Louis University.
- A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of your study at the University.
- Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
Tuition
| Tuition | Total Program Cost |
|---|---|
| Master of Athletic Training | $55,000 |
Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:
Information on Tuition and Fees
Scholarships and Financial Aid
There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:
- Scholarships: Awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need. In addition to University scholarships, the Doisy College of Health Sciences offers scholarships to sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students.
- Financial Aid: Provided in the form of grants and loans, some of which require repayment.
For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, applicants should apply for admission by Dec. 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.
For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.
Accreditation
SLU's Master of Athletic Training is accredited through the 2024-25 academic year by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) as a graduate professional program. The Master of Athletic Training program is one of more than 350 CAATE accredited programs nationally.
Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
2001 K Street NW, 3rd Floor North
Washington, DC 20006
P: 512-733-9700
844-GO-CAATE | 844-462-2283
http://caate.net
For more information about the SLU athletic training program's outcomes, graduation rates, retention rates, board of certification exam pass rates and job placement rates, please see the program outcomes data reported by CAATE.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate respect for diversity as it relates to the practice of athletic training.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate effective communication strategies necessary for patient-centered care.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate interprofessional collaboration skills that advance holistic patient-centered care.
- Graduates will be able to employ evidence-based clinical reasoning in the practice of athletic training.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate the ability to translate athletic training concepts into effective clinical practice.
Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science Requirements
Athletic Training Requirements (for students admitted as freshman or admitted as transfer undergraduate students after completion of the Bachelor of Science Exercise Science-Athletic Training Concentration)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MAT 5550 | Rehabilitation in Athletic Training II | 4 |
| MAT 5600 | Athletic Training Administration | 3 |
| MAT 5620 | 3 | |
| EXSC 5241 | Clinical Research and Design | 2 |
| MAT 5700 | AT Clinical Practicum I | 3 |
| MAT 5750 | AT Clinical Practicum II | 3 |
| MAT 5900 | AT Field Experience | 2 |
| MAT 6010 | Contemporary Clinical Practice | 2 |
| MAT 6700 | AT Clinical Practicum III | 4 |
| MAT 6160 | Enhancing Human Performance | 3 |
| MAT 6960 | AT Capstone Project | 2 |
| MAT 6750 | AT Clinical Practicum IV | 4 |
| MAT 6800 | Seminar in Athletic Training | 3 |
| Total Credits | 38 | |
Athletic Training Requirements (for students admitted as post-baccalaureate)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANAT 4000 | Human Gross Anatomy | 5 |
| MAT 5010 | Principles of Athletic Training | 2 |
| MAT 5125 | Therapeutic Modalities | 3 |
| EXSC 5121 | Clinical Biomechanics | 3 |
| MAT 5160X | Aspects of Nutrition | 2 |
| MAT 5240 | Musculoskeletal Assessment and Management I | 4 |
| MAT 5250 | Musculoskeletal Assessment and Management II | 4 |
| MAT 5500 | Rehabilitation in Athletic Training I | 4 |
| MAT 5550 | Rehabilitation in Athletic Training II | 4 |
| MAT 5800 | Medical Conditions and Physical Activity | 4 |
| MAT 5600 | Athletic Training Administration | 3 |
| MAT 5620 | 3 | |
| EXSC 5241 | Clinical Research and Design | 2 |
| MAT 5700 | AT Clinical Practicum I | 3 |
| MAT 5750 | AT Clinical Practicum II | 3 |
| MAT 5900 | AT Field Experience | 2 |
| MAT 6010 | Contemporary Clinical Practice | 2 |
| MAT 6700 | AT Clinical Practicum III | 4 |
| MAT 6160 | Enhancing Human Performance | 3 |
| MAT 6960 | AT Capstone Project | 2 |
| MAT 6750 | AT Clinical Practicum IV | 4 |
| MAT 6800 | Seminar in Athletic Training | 3 |
| Total Credits | 69 | |
Continuation Standards
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.70 to remain in good standing.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
Standard Track
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| BIOL 1240 & BIOL 1245 | General Biology: Information Flow and Evolution and Principles of Biology I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 1080 & CHEM 1085 | Principles of Chemistry 1 Lecture and Principles of Chemistry 1 Lab (satisfies CORE 3800) | 4 |
| CORE 1500 | Cura Personalis 1: Self in Community | 1 |
| ENGL 1900 | Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Research (satisfies CORE 1900) | 3 |
| XXXX | Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 1480 & CHEM 1485 | Principles of Chemistry 2 Lecture and Principles of Chemistry 2 Lab | 4 |
| CORE 1000 | Ignite First Year Seminar | 2 |
| CORE 1200 | Eloquentia Perfecta 2: Oral and Visual Communication | 3 |
| MAT 1000 | Intro to Athletic Training | 1 |
| MATH 1400 | Pre-Calculus 1 | 3 |
| XXXX | Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| CORE 1700 | Ultimate Questions: Philosophy | 3 |
| IPE 2100 | Interprofessional Collaboration and Healthcare in Global Context | 3 |
| MAT 2000 | Athletic Training Student Development I | 1 |
| PHYS 1220 & PHYS 1235 | General Physics I and General Physics I Lab 1 | 4 |
| PPY 2540 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| PSY 1010 | General Psychology (satisfies CORE 3600) | 3 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| ANAT 1000 | Basic Human Anatomy | 3 |
| CORE 1600 | Ultimate Questions: Theology | 3 |
| CORE 2500 | Cura Personalis 2: Self in Contemplation | 0 |
| IPE 4200 | Applied Decision-Making in Interprofessional Practice | 3 |
| PHYS 1240 & PHYS 1255 | General Physics II and General Physics II Lab 1 | 4 |
| XXXX | Upper Division Psychology Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| CORE 2800 | Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression | 2-3 |
| CORE 3400 | Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture | 3 |
| PHIL 2050 | Ethics | 3 |
| STAT 1100 | Introduction to Statistics (satisfies CORE 3200) | 3 |
| XXXX | Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 14-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| IPE 4900 | Interprofessional Community Practicum | 3 |
| MAT 3000 | Athletic Training Student Development II (satisfies CORE 3500) | 2 |
| EXSC 3230 | Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| XXXX | Elective | 3 |
| XXXX | Elective | 1-3 |
| Credits | 12-14 | |
| Summer | ||
| ANAT 4000 | Human Gross Anatomy | 5 |
| MAT 5010 | Principles of Athletic Training | 2 |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| MAT 5125 | Therapeutic Modalities | 3 |
| EXSC 5121 | Clinical Biomechanics | 3 |
| MAT 5240 | Musculoskeletal Assessment and Management I | 4 |
| MAT 5160X | Aspects of Nutrition | 2 |
| MAT 5700 | AT Clinical Practicum I | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science - AT awarded upon completion of Semester 8 (minimum 130 credits) | ||
| MAT 5250 | Musculoskeletal Assessment and Management II | 4 |
| MAT 5500 | Rehabilitation in Athletic Training I | 4 |
| MAT 5750 | AT Clinical Practicum II | 3 |
| EXSC 5241 | Clinical Research and Design | 2 |
| MAT 5800 | Medical Conditions and Physical Activity | 4 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Summer | ||
| MAT 5900 | AT Field Experience | 2 |
| Credits | 2 | |
| Year Five | ||
| Fall | ||
| MAT 5550 | Rehabilitation in Athletic Training II | 4 |
| MAT 5600 | Athletic Training Administration | 3 |
| MAT 5620X | Sports Psychology | 3 |
| MAT 6010 | Contemporary Clinical Practice | 2 |
| MAT 6700 | AT Clinical Practicum III | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| MAT 6160 | Enhancing Human Performance | 3 |
| MAT 6750 | AT Clinical Practicum IV | 4 |
| MAT 6800 | Seminar in Athletic Training | 3 |
| MAT 6960 | AT Capstone Project | 2 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 160-163 | |
Post-Baccalaureate Entry
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Credits | |
| ANAT 4000 | Human Gross Anatomy | 5 |
| MAT 5010 | Principles of Athletic Training | 2 |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Fall | ||
| EXSC 5121 | Clinical Biomechanics | 3 |
| MAT 5125 | Therapeutic Modalities | 3 |
| MAT 5160X | Aspects of Nutrition | 2 |
| MAT 5240 | Musculoskeletal Assessment and Management I | 4 |
| MAT 5700 | AT Clinical Practicum I | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MAT 5250 | Musculoskeletal Assessment and Management II | 4 |
| MAT 5500 | Rehabilitation in Athletic Training I | 4 |
| MAT 5750 | AT Clinical Practicum II | 3 |
| MAT 5800 | Medical Conditions and Physical Activity | 4 |
| EXSC 5241 | Clinical Research and Design | 2 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Summer | ||
| MAT 5900 | AT Field Experience | 2 |
| Credits | 2 | |
| Fall | ||
| MAT 5550 | Rehabilitation in Athletic Training II | 4 |
| MAT 5600 | Athletic Training Administration | 3 |
| MAT 5620X | Sports Psychology | 3 |
| MAT 6010 | Contemporary Clinical Practice | 2 |
| MAT 6700 | AT Clinical Practicum III | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| MAT 6160 | Enhancing Human Performance | 3 |
| MAT 6750 | AT Clinical Practicum IV | 4 |
| MAT 6800 | Seminar in Athletic Training | 3 |
| MAT 6960 | AT Capstone Project | 2 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 69 | |
Contact Doisy College of Health Sciences
Recruitment specialist
314-977-2570
dchs@health.slu.edu
2+SLU programs provide a guided pathway for students transferring from a partner institution.