Athletic Training and Nursing students assess a patient in the Welcome Home Suite.

If you are a high school or undergraduate student interested in pursuing athletic training please check out the Ball State University Pre-Athletic Training track in Exercise Science. Students who complete this track will have met the prerequisite course requirements for the Master of Science in Athletic Training program.

Athletic trainers are healthcare providers who provide point of care for patients in a variety of settings. Students will learn how to prevent, diagnose, and treat injuries and illness related to physical activity. As an athletic trainer, you’ll engage in interprofessional practice with a variety of healthcare providers, including physicians and nurses,  to provide patient-centered care that results in patient participation in athletics, work, and life.

Our master of science in athletic training will prepare you for employment within a variety of settings—from secondary school athletics to professional sports, sports medicine clinics, government agencies, and performing arts organizations.

Accreditation

Our program is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) in Austin, Texas. Learn more.

 

Association for Athletic Training Education

Our Mission

The mission of the Ball State University Athletic Training Program is to provide an innovative curriculum to develop clinical scholars who are committed to delivering high-quality patient-centered care within an interprofessional health care team. We aspire to develop students who are dedicated to maintaining involvement within the profession through clinical practice and service.

Program Features

Innovative Curriculum

An Innovative Curriculum Focused on Clinical Experiences

Our students engage in far more clinical experience than in other programs. You’ll complete 36 weeks of clinical immersion (compared to the minimum four-week requirement), giving you substantial experience in a professional setting before transitioning to independent clinical practice.

Our program curriculum has additional focus areas in:

  • Behavioral health
  • Practice-based research
  • Healthcare documentation and informatics
  • Administration and leadership

Diverse Career Opportunities Supported by a Strong Alumni Base

Our program has a rich history at Ball State which has created a committed alumni base. Many of our graduates are eager to provide clinical and professional positions to our students. 

Job demand for athletic trainers is expected to grow 23% between 2016 and 2026, much faster than the national average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

With a master’s degree, you’ll be well-prepare to work for a university, sports organization, or healthcare organization. But your degree will have a much broader application, with career opportunities in emerging areas needing preventative healthcare and treatment such as manufacturing, fire and rescue, military, and the performing arts.

A few of the places a master's degree will prepare you to work include:

  • colleges and universities
  • secondary schools
  • clinics or hospital
  • professional sports
  • emerging settings such as performing arts, public safety, military, or industrial companies

Work Closely with Experienced Faculty

As a student, you’ll work closely with faculty members who are both professionally experienced athletic trainers and highly regarded researchers who are published nationally.

Dorice Hankemeier, PhD, LAT, ATCProgram Director & Associate Professor of Athletic Training 

Zachary J. Dougal, DAT, LAT, ATC, CKTP, Clinical Education Coordinator & Assistant Clinical Professor of Athletic Training 

Stacy E. Walker, PhD, ATC, FNATA, Professor of Athletic Training

Accelerated Master's Program (AMP)

Our Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) in Athletic Training allows you to begin your graduate studies at Ball State while still an undergraduate student saving time and money as you pursue an advanced education in your field of interest.

AMP Program Information

Program and Admission Requirements

Our master of science in athletic training is a 62-credit, clinically focused program that will take two years (six semesters) to complete.

After completing introductory courses in your first semester, clinical experiences will be added each of the remaining five semesters.

For a list of courses you will take, download our course sequence below. For courses descriptions,  please view our Graduate Catalog. Our Master of Science in Athletic Training Program Handbook (PDF) details our program requirements and expectation. 

Are you interested in our degree? Review our admission requirements, dates and deadlines, and instructions. Then complete the online application.

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More Information

If you would like to learn more about this program or about Ball State Graduate School in general, please complete our online form to request more information. Or, if you’d like to speak with someone in our department directly by phone or email, please contact us.

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