MAT Admission

Looking for undergraduate admission and Pre-Athletic Training? Visit our Pre-AT admission page.

Students who are currently enrolled in pre-athletic training at Drake should refer to the Drake Direct MAT requirements for more information.

International students: for more information about requirements for international applicants, visit our international student admission page.

This page contains information about

Important Admission Dates

The 2023/2024 ATCAS cycle opens on July 1, 2023 - application link coming soon!

2022/2023 Admission Cycle Dates:

June 30, 2023 - Athletic Training Centralized Application System (ATCAS) opens (Remember to select Drake as one of your schools!)

Apply Here

- Scroll down to view our admission requirements
- Applicants may apply for an application fee waiver on the ATCAS website

September 2023-August 2024 - Admission interviews by invitation, in-person and virtual options offered (scroll down for more information about admission interviews)
June 13, 2024 - ATCAS closes (Drake will continue to take new applicants until August 12, 2024)
August 12, 2024 - Last day to submit an application to Drake MAT program (email drakeat@drake.edu if after June 13, 2024)
August 21-23, 2024 - CPHS Professional Student Orientation activities (required for enrolled A1 students)
August 26, 2024 - Fall 2024 term begins, first day of class

MAT and Pre-AT Visit Dates:

Friday, October 27, 2023 - Athletic Training Visit Day
- Students wishing to apply directly to our MAT program - register for the Focused AT Day Program
- High school students and students wishing to transfer into our undergraduate Pre-AT program - register for the Comprehensive AT Day Program

Friday, November 3, 2023 - STEM and Health Professions Day
Individual visits offered daily (in-person and virtual options)
- Students wishing to apply directly to our MAT program - register for an individual visit on our CPHS Campus Visit website
- High school students and students wishing to transfer into our undergraduate Pre-AT program - register for an individual visit on our Drake Admissions website

Admission Information

Admission to the Drake University Master of Athletic Training (MAT) program is based on academic and personal qualifications that are necessary for successful, competent practice as an athletic trainer. Candidates are evaluated on the basis of the fit between their personal goals and the mission and goals of the MAT program.

Drake University's Master of Athletic Training (MAT) program operates on a rolling admission process. We will interview and admit students until the A1 class is full and a sufficient number of applicants have been identified for the wait list. We recommend submitting application materials early in order to ensure your application is processed and considered in a timely manner.

Admission Requirements

Please note that these are the requirements applicants must meet in order for their applications to be considered complete. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee admission to the MAT program.

Submit an application through the Centralized Application Service for Athletic Training (ATCAS).
Complete the required Drake-specific questions within the ATCAS application.
Complete at least 3 years of undergraduate coursework (at least 92 credit hours)
Complete (or be in the process of completing) the prerequisite coursework outlined in the table below. All required courses must be completed by the end of the summer term prior to entering the MAT program.

Recommended Qualifications

No minimum GPA is required, although a 3.0 prerequisite GPA (as calculated in ATCAS) is considered competitive.
Observation or shadowing hours are recommended, but not required. Applicants should be generally familiar with the athletic training profession and may be asked to demonstrate their understanding of athletic training during the admission process.

Prerequisite Requirements

Subject	Courses/Credit Hours	Drake Courses
Anatomy and Physiology A complete year course sequence in anatomy (one semester) and physiology (one semester) is required. Students may take a combined anatomy/physiology sequence, but they must take both semesters in order to fulfill the requirement. Labs are required.	2 courses/8 credit hours (including labs)	HSCI 125/L and 141/L (PHAR 125 may replace HSCI 125); or BIO 018/L and 129
Exercise Physiology A one-semester course in exercise physiology is required. A lab is not required.	1 course/3 credit hours (no lab required)	BIO 134 or HSCI 107
Biological Sciences A one-semester course in the biological sciences is required. Courses may include ecology, evolution, cell biology, heredity, biological diversity or the structure of plants and animals. A lab is required.	1 course/4 credit hours (including lab)	BIO 012/L or BIO 013/L
General (Inorganic) Chemistry A one-semester course in general (inorganic) chemistry is required. The course must fulfill the prerequisite requirements for advanced chemistry courses. A lab is required.	1 course/4 credit hours (including lab)	CHEM 001 and 003, or 002 and 004
General Psychology A one-semester introductory course in psychology is required. This course must fulfill the prerequisite requirements for advanced psychology courses. A lab is not required. Developmental psychology or sports psychology may also be substituted.	1 course/3 credit hours	PSY 001 (4 credit hours)
Physics/Biomechanics A one-semester course in general physics or biomechanics is required. This may be a course designed for physics, life science or health science majors. A lab is not required.	1 course/3 credit hours (no lab required)	PHY 011
Nutrition A one-semester course in nutrition is required. A course intended for health care majors is recommended. A lab is not required.	1 course/2 credit hours	BIO 032 or PHAR 126
Statistics A one-semester course in general statistics is required. Business statistics, psychology statistics or biological science statistics courses are accepted.	1 course/3 credit hours	STAT 060, 071 or HSCI 060
Medical Terminology A one-semester course in medical terminology is required.	1 course/1 credit hour	HSCI 095
*Please note: English Composition and Public Speaking have recently been removed as prerequisite requirements for our MAT program. The Prerequisites section of the ATCAS application was finalized prior to this change and we are no longer able to make changes to this section. However, we no longer have a credit-hour requirement for English Composition and Public Speaking.

Students must earn a grade of C or higher in order to fulfill prerequisite courses. Students who wish to fulfill prerequisites using Advanced Placement (AP) scores must earn a 4 or higher on the AP exam. Students may transfer in a cumulative maximum of 66 credit hours from all 2-year institutions they have attended. Please see Drake University's Transfer Credit Information page or contact the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at drakeat@drake.edu for more information.

Interview Information

Students with strong application materials and academic qualifications will be invited to complete the second phase of the admission process, which includes a required admission interview. Applicants who are invited to complete an admission interview may select an in-person or virtual interview preference.

What is NOT Required for Admission

GRE or other graduate level admission exam
Letters of recommendation

Enrollment Requirements

Upon enrollment in Drake University's Master of Athletic Training program, students must

Submit acknowledgment that they have read and understand the program's Technical Standards (this is done during Professional Student Orientation)
Pass a criminal background check
Provide an official health certification
Submit a copy of immunization record
Pass a drug screening

Admitted students will receive more information about these requirements during the enrollment process. Additional information can be found in our Master of Athletic Training Student Handbook or our Master of Athletic Training Experiential Handbook.

Tuition and Fees

Scholarships Available!

Official tuition and fees are set on an annual basis by the Drake University Office of Finance and Administration, approved by the Board of Trustees and administered through the Office of Student Accounts. Information regarding tuition and fees for the current academic year in the Master of Athletic Training (MAT) program can be found on the Financial Aid Office website. Here, you will also find the activity and technology fees and additional resources and opportunities for financial assistance.

Tuition for the Drake MAT program is calculated on a per-semester basis for students taking up to 18 credit hours per semester. This provides a high value for students' tuition costs.

Students in the Drake 3+2 MAT track should consult the Financial Aid Office for tuition charges during the overlapping year.

Interested in financial assistance? Visit our Financial Aid Office.