The degree in athletic training reflects the requirements of the Commission on the Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, and students who want to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) examination must complete this degree. Admission to the athletic training program is competitive and limited. University admission does not necessarily constitute eligibility for admission into this degree program.
Retention in the program requires an overall NIU GPA of 3.00. Students enrolled in the program may be dismissed from the program for academic reasons or for unprofessional behavior or actions that threaten the health and safety of others. The Athletic Training Student Handbook describes the policies of the program. Students are required to adhere to all current policies and procedures. Refer to the program website for additional information, including program deadlines.
Check departmental information for additional requirements.
Admission
To be considered for admission to the M.S.A.T program, an applicant must be admitted to Graduate School at NIU and have completed the following baccalaureate course work:
Human anatomy and physiology (8 semester hours preferred, 4 semester hours mixed course minimum)
General chemistry with lab (4 semester hours)
Physics with lab (4 semester hours)
Cellular biology with lab (4 semester hours)
Biomechanics/kinesiology
Exercise physiology
Human nutrition or sport nutrition
Psychology or sport psychology
Applicants must complete a limited admissions application, which will include a letter of interest, resume, three letters of recommendation, minimum of 50 observation hours with a BOC certified athletic trainer within the last 10 months prior to application, and transcripts, for all prerequisite courses. Syllabi for all prerequisite courses should be available upon request. Applicants must also provide proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) or Healthcare Provider CPR/AED and First Aid Certification (see list of approved certifications per BOC). Qualified applicants will undergo a pre-admission interview. The GRE is not required for admission. Applicants will be ranked based on their overall GPA, the GPA of their prerequisite coursework, letters of recommendation, and interview performance.
Students will be required to undergo criminal background checks in order to be placed at clinical experience sites. If the student has a prior criminal record, he or she may not be able to complete the program or required courses.
Requirements for Accelerated B.S. in Kinesiology/M.S. in Athletic Training
The accelerated sequence leads to both a B.S. in kinesiology and an M.S. in athletic training degrees. Students who want to complete this program must identify themselves to the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education as undergraduate majors, ideally in their first semester on campus, and gain successful entry to the M.S.A.T. program. Admission to the M.S.A.T program will be on a competitive basis, and the likelihood of admission will depend on the number and quality of the applicants to the program.
Eligibility requirements for application to the M.S.A.T. program through the accelerated B.S. in kinesiology program are:
Undergraduate majoring in kinesiology
Completion of at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate designated course work as approved by adviser
Minimum of 3.00 GPA
Completion of all application requirements, including application to the graduate school, statement of purpose, resume, three letters of recommendation, minimum of 50 observation hours with a BOC certified athletic trainer within the last 10 months prior to application, and transcripts for all college course work. Qualified applicants will undergo a pre-admission interview. The GRE is not required for admission.
Admission will be on a competitive basis, and the likelihood of admission will depend on the number and quality of the applicants to the program, the number and quality of applicants to the M.S.A.T in general, as well as other factors normally considered in admissions decisions by the Graduate School and the Athletic Training program.
Failure to meet requirements of the accelerated sequence may lead to a B.S. degree only, but only after all the requirements for that degree have been met. Students are required to fulfill all requirements for the M.S.A.T. degree mentioned in the previous section in order to be awarded this degree.
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