Acceptance into the program is based on a holistic system that includes grade point average (for cumulative and prerequisite courses), completion of prerequisite courses, essay and letters of recommendation.

To enter KU's master's degree program in athletic training, you will need to meet the following admission requirements.

Undergraduate Degree and GPA

A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution must be completed prior to the start of the program. The degree may be in any field but must include all classes listed in the prerequisite courses section below. Degrees earned outside the United States must be evaluated for equivalency.

An overall and prerequisite grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is required to be eligible for this program. In addition, official student transcripts must document an individual course grade of no less than "C" on each prerequisite course.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for this program.

Prerequisite Course Requirements

The following courses must be completed with the minimum grade "C" within the last 10 years.

• Biology with lab (4 credits).
• Human anatomy with lab (4 credits)*.
• Human physiology with lab (4 credits)*.
• Kinesiology, biomechanics, or human movement analysis course (3 credits).
• Exercise physiology (3 credits).
• Personal health, community health, or wellness (3 credits).
• Nutrition (3 credits).
• Psychology (3 credits).
• Physics with lab (4 credits).
• Chemistry with lab (4 credits).
• Statistics (3 credits).

* When taken together, two semesters of human anatomy and physiology (with laboratory) can fulfill this requirement. Alternatively, a single combined human anatomy and physiology course (with laboratory) of five semester credits or greater will meet the requirement.

All prerequisite coursework must be completed before the start of the program. Preference will be given to students having completed at least 80% of the prerequisites at the time of application.

A single course may not be used to fulfill more than one prerequisite requirement. The exception is a five-semester credit hour combined anatomy and physiology course (with laboratory) for both the anatomy and physiology requirements.

All prerequisite coursework must be taken for a grade. Classes scored as pass/fail, credit/noncredit, or satisfactory/unsatisfactory are not acceptable. However CLEP, ACT and advanced placement credits are acceptable when officially documented on a college transcript.

If a prerequisite course is taken more than once (even if at different universities), all instances that appear on the official transcript must be reported. The grades from the best score on each class will be used in prerequisite GPA calculations.

Athletic Training Experience

Applicants are expected to have a general understanding of health care and athletic training. Although KU does not require specific hours be documented, applicants are encouraged to invest the time needed to acquire knowledge of the role of athletic trainers in health care through a minimum of 40 hours of observation or volunteer experience with a credentialed athletic trainer.

Vaccine and Clinical Site Requirements

Matriculated students will need to provide an immunization profile prior to participating in curricular and/or clinical experiences required by the program. Please read the information found at the bottom of the program's curriculum page and be sure that you understand these requirements.

Background Check and Drug Screening

The Joint Commission requires all incoming students to submit and provide a background check report to KU. This one-time fee must be paid by the student directly to the company performing the background investigation. You will be asked to provide information and make the payment after official acceptance into the program.

For more information, please see the School of Health Professions background check add and drug screening instructions. In addition, drug screening may be required to participate at clinical training sites while in the program.

Technical Standards

All individuals admitted to the program will be asked to verify that they can meet the technical standards with or without accommodation(s). Applicants who disclose a disability are considered for admission if otherwise qualified.

Computer Requirements

Students in this program are required to have a computer that meets the minimum software and hardware requirements.

International Students

An applicant is considered an international student if they require a visa, or currently reside in the U.S. with non-immigrant status, or currently reside in the U.S. while applying for permanent residency. Additional requirements and documentation, such as proof of English language proficiency, are required for international students to become eligible for KU programs. Please review the information for international students before applying.

Additional Information

For more details, please review the KU program page on the Athletic Training Centralized Application Service (ATCAS).

The KU Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training reserves the right to waive any documentation normally required and to accept or deny admission whenever it believes sufficient information exists to make a decision.