Kinesiology & Recreation - Athletic Training
Overview
The Athletic Training graduate program at Illinois State advances knowledge of the field. Accredited by CAATE, students learn different ideologies and skills within sports medicine. The program focuses on applying various manual therapy techniques and biomechanical principals to prevent, evaluate, and treat musculoskeletal pathologies.
Students learn critical inquiry and reasoning for certified athletic trainers. Using a variety of teaching methods, philosophies, and experiences, students gain practical knowledge beyond that of an entry-level athletic trainer.
Potential career settings include:
- High schools
- Universities
- Professional sports
- Sports medicine clinics
- Hospitals
- Fitness clubs
- Research labs
- Industrial settings
Some graduates go on to earn the highest degree in sports medicine or education.
Point of Pride
Illinois State's Athletic Training program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).
How to Apply
University Admission Requirements
A student applying to a master's program must:
- have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so within one academic year
- present official transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. Transcripts can be emailed from the university to Admissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Office of Admissions, 201 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 2200, Normal, IL 61790-2200
International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions.
Additional Program Admission Requirements
A student applying to this program must:
- have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for either the last 60 hours of your undergraduate coursework or any previous work in a Master's program. If you do not meet the 3.0 GPA standard, you may be considered if your GRE scores for the verbal and quantitative sections are above the 40th percentile (approximately 149 each on verbal and qualitative reasoning). Lastly, you must have an earned undergraduate degree from a Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education approved program and be BOC-Certified by August of the year you begin the program.
- submit official GRE Scores (use institutional code 1319)
- submit a current resume, outlining your education and work history (2 page maximum)
- submit a goal statement including: a) why you are seeking ISU for graduate school, b) how ISU's master's program will prepare you in your future goals, and c) if interested in obtaining a graduate assistantship, which position you are interested in. Please complete the graduate assistantship application located on the employment website. The available positions are listed in the job description.
- submit names and email addresses of three references for letters of recommendation within the online application
Application Deadlines
- Fall (August) Term — December 15
Graduate Assistantships
The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an assistantship a student must, generally,
- be admitted unconditionally as a degree-seeking student into a graduate academic program, or have a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours if in an integrated degree program
- be in good-standing
- be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters, or at least 6 hours during the summer session).
Benefits
Graduate assistants receive
- monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage
- a waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
- a waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment
Costs & Funding
See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from continuous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.