Graduate
Master of Athletic Training (MAT) Degree Program
This degree is earned in conjunction with the Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. Together, these degrees offer a complete view of how the human body performs physically.
Graduate Degree Programs
Health Sciences
Athletic Training Master's Degree Program
Master of Athletic Training (MAT)
What is the Master of Athletic Training program?
The Master of Athletic Training is earned in conjunction with a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology. Both are earned in five years. At graduation, you will be eligible for national certification as an athletic trainer.
The TLU athletic training master's degree program develops a deep understanding of how the human body moves and performs at its best. Learn to diagnose injuries, deliver treatment, and protect your athletes from harm. Ideal for students who want to build a career that promotes health and performance.
Degree Options
What is an Athletic Trainer?
When they hear the term “athletic trainer,” most people think of sports teams. We imagine the skilled women and men who help players stay on the field and off the stretcher. That’s an important part of their job, but it’s only one part. Most athletic training happens off the field. The stakes are high and the situations complex.
Athletic trainers are healthcare professionals. Working alongside physicians, athletic trainers offer a variety of services to their patients. These include:
- Preventing injuries
- Promoting wellness and exercise
- Examining and diagnosing injuries and illnesses
- Emergency care
- Developing therapy programs
- Healthcare administration
What to Expect
Two Degrees in One
Earning a Master of Athletic Training (MAT) degree is done at the same time as a Bachelor of Science (BS) in kinesiology. Both degrees are earned over the course of five years.
We combined these degrees because they offer the most career-ready education possible. While learning the fundamentals of kinesiology—i.e., the study of how the body moves—MAT students also discover what it means to care for the whole body.
Hands-On from Day One
You’ll be working in real clinical situations with real patients. As your expertise grows, you will do more hands-on caregiving. This will include injury evaluation, on-field care, rehab design, and preventative programming. You will be able to make important healthcare decisions based on knowledge and experience.
The Final Two Semesters
In the final two semesters, you will do minimal classwork. (Most of it is online.) Instead, you’ll spend your time in clinical situations. You will observe surgical procedures and work with patients and athletes. You can choose to study in a variety of settings. These include physician offices, physical therapy clinics, and local high school athletics. At graduation, you will have spent countless hours fine-tuning your decision-making skills and expanding your practical knowledge.
Small Classes
Athletic training classes are among the smallest at Texas Lutheran University. You’ll be in a cohort of about 12 students, allowing you to get more one-on-one time with professors and physicians.
Accreditation & Certification
TLU’s Athletic Training Program gained accreditation in 2005 from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) and received a 10-year accreditation award in 2010-2011 through 2020-2021. Upon completion, you are eligible for national certification through the Board of Certification (BOC) and for Texas State Licensure. For more information, visit caate.net.
Careers in Athletic Training
You’ll be ready to jump into your career the moment you earn your MAT degree. TLU graduates are currently working in the NFL, across collegiate sports, and in high schools, clinics, and hospitals.
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Professional, Collegiate, and High School Sports
Athletes depend on their trainers. Whether you want to pursue the big leagues or lend your expertise to younger athletes, there is a growing market for athletic trainers in sports. As more teams realize the value of high-level athletic training, ATs find themselves with an increasing number of career options.
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Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation must be tailored to the individual athlete’s needs. Many athletic trainers spend their careers in rehab clinics designing the best way to return every patient to their best possible physical condition.
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Physician Practice
Athletic trainers often work alongside physicians in their offices, helping improve health outcomes and patient satisfaction. ATs’ knowledge and experience are often critical to helping medical doctors diagnose and rehabilitate injuries and illnesses.
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Healthcare Administration
Athletic trainers are increasingly sought after as healthcare administration, helping to shape the protocols and processes for treatment. ATs understand how to balance emergency decision-making with long-term well-being, making them uniquely qualified to influence healthcare strategy and policy.
Admissions & Program Requirements
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Professional Program Admissions Requirements
Concurrent Bachelor’s & Master’s Degrees
Materials needed to complete an application file include:
- A concurrent graduate student application provided by the Office of Admissions.
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended not listed on the TLU transcript.
- One academic and one professional recommendation letter
View The Course Progression
Direct Admission to MAT Program
Materials needed to complete one’s application file include:
- TLU Application
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Supplemental Program Form: This includes an essay on your professional goals
- Graduate addendum
- One academic and one professional recommendation letter
Applications are due March 1 for students beginning the ensuing summer semester.
All applicants who wish to be considered for the MAT program must also:
- Complete an interview with the TLU Athletic Training Program Faculty.
- Have a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale for all college coursework.
- Complete TLU’s general education and Kinesiology Major requirements OR a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university before beginning program coursework.
- Complete, with a C or higher, the TLU equivalent of the following coursework:
BIOL 233: Pathophysiology
BIOL 235: Nutrition
BIOL 245: Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL 246: Human Anatomy and Physiology II
CHEM 147: Principles of Chemistry
KINS 238: Foundations of Athletic Training
KINS 335: Exercise Physiology
KINS 476: Biomechanics
PHYS 141: General Physics
PSYC 131: Introduction to Psychology
STAT 374: Statistics
All applications are obtained and submitted through the TLU Admissions Office. Students whose application file meets the admission criteria will be reviewed by the Athletic Training Admission Committee. Applications will be evaluated and ranked based on the above criteria. Students accepted into the professional phase of the program will be required to sign a technical standards document and submit a general medical physical completed by a medical doctor before beginning the clinical portion of the program. -
Program Costs & Financial Aid
Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from clinical sites. The actual cost of transportation will vary based on location of clinical site and the current price of gasoline. The average distance to off campus clinical sites is 15 miles (range 2-35 miles).
Financial Aid Information:
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BOC Pass Rates
BOC Pass Rates
2016-2017
2017-2018
2018-2019
3 yr aggregate
Number of students graduating from program
5
1
5
11
Number of students graduating from program who took BOC examination
5
1
5
11
Number of students who passed the BOC examination on the first attempt
5
1
5
11
Percentage of students who passed the BOC examination on the first attempt
100
100
100
100
Number of students who passed the BOC examination regardless of the number of attempts
5
1
5
11
Percentage of students who passed the BOC examination regardless of the number of attempts
100
100
100
100
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Graduation, Retention, & Placement Rates
Graduation, Retention, & Placement Rates
2016-2017
2017-2018
2018-2019
3 yr aggregate
Program Retention Rate*
83%
25%
80%
69%
On-Time Graduation Rate**
83%
25%
83%
55%
Overall Graduation Rate***
83%
25%
83%
69%
Number of Graduates Employed in Athletic Training
5
1
4
10
Graduate Employment Rate in Athletic Training****
100%
100%
80%
92%
Number of Students Employed as Other
0
0
0
0
Student Employment Rate as Other
0
0
0
0
Number of Students Not Employed
0
0
1
1
Students Not Employed Rate
0
0
20%
9%
*Program Retention Rate: Percentage of students who have been admitted to the professional program who return to the institution to continue their studies in the program the following academic year.
**On-time graduation Rate: Percentage of students who graduated within the "normal time" for completing the program.
***Graduate Employment Rate in Athletic Training: Percentage of students following graduation that have obtained positions in the following categories: employed as an athletic trainer, employed as an athletic trainer in a residency program, employed as an athletic trainer and in a degree program, or not employed due to enrollment in another athletic training degree program.
****Note: Students in the 2017-18 cohort had the option of transitioning to the graduate level professional program. Of the 8 students that were admitted to this cohort, 4 transitioned to the graduate level program, 3 did not continue the program, and 1 graduated from the undergraduate program.
- Program Brochure