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MAT Admission
Students who want to apply for the Master of Athletic Training Program must submit an application through the Centralized Application Service for Athletic Training (ATCAS) at the link below.
Looking for undergraduate admission and Pre-Athletic Training? Visit our Pre-AT admission page.
MASTERS-DEGREE-LEVEL ATHLETIC TRAINING PROGRAM
The Drake University Master of Athletic Training program is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), located at 2001 K Street NW, 3rd Floor North Washington, DC 20006; (512) 733-9700; website https://caate.net/. The program is accredited through the 2025-2026 academic year. A required comprehensive accreditation review will be conducted during the 2025-2026 academic year, with a self-study due date of July 1, 2025, and an on-site visitation scheduled in consultation with the institution.
Students who are currently enrolled in pre-athletic training at Drake should refer to the Drake MAT Connection requirements for more 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. Prior education, work experience, honors, awards, service to others and leadership activities are also considered in the admission process.
No GRE required!
Students can apply to our MAT program by meeting the following 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 (92 credit hours)
- No minimum GPA is required, although a 3.0 prerequisite GPA (as calculated in ATCAS) is considered competitive.
- 50 hours of observation or shadowing in an athletic training setting is recommended, but not required. All applicants will be asked to demonstrate their understanding of athletic training settings during the interview process.
- 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.
| Subject | Credit Hours | Drake Courses |
|---|---|---|
|
Anatomy and Physiology |
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 |
3 credit hours | BIO 134 or HSCI 107 |
|
Biological Sciences |
4 credit hours (including lab) | BIO 012/L or BIO 013/L |
|
General (Inorganic) Chemistry |
4 credit hours (including lab) | CHEM 001 and 003, or 002 and 004 |
|
General Psychology |
3 credit hours | PSY 001 (4 credit hours) |
|
Physics/Biomechanics |
3 credit hours | PHY 011 |
|
Nutrition |
2 credit hours | BIO 032 or PHAR 126 |
|
Statistics |
3 credit hours | STAT 060, 071 or HSCI 060 |
|
Medical Terminology |
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. |
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Students must earn a grade of C or higher in order to receive transfer credit and fulfill prerequisite courses. Please see Drake University's Transfer Credit Information page or contact the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at (515) 271-3018 for more information. Students who wish to fulfill prerequisites using Advanced Placement (AP) scores must earn a 4 or higher on the AP exam. Please contact the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences for more information.
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. Students with strong applications and academic credentials will be invited to complete the second phase of the admission process, which includes a required virtual or on-campus interview.
Upon admission to the Drake University MAT program, students must (requirements subject to change):
- Submit a signed technical standards form
- Provide proof of CPR certification
- Pass a criminal background check
- Submit a copy of immunization record
- Pass a drug screening
- Submit a copy of health insurance
Tuition and Fees
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 Office of Student Financial Planning 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 Student Financial Planning Office for tuition charges during the overlapping year.
Interested in financial assistance? Visit our Office of Student Financial Planning website.
Enrollment Requirements
Upon admission to Drake University's Master of Athletic Training program, students must
- Submit acknowledgment that they have read and understand the program's Technical Standards
- Provide proof of CPR certification
- Pass a criminal background check
- Provide an official health certification
- Submit a copy of immunization record
- Pass a drug screening
- Submit a copy of health insurance
- Complete HIPAA, FERPA, bloodborne pathogen and mandatory reporter training
Admitted students will receive more information about these requirements during the enrollment process, and can be found in our Master of Athletic Training Student Handbook or our Master of Athletic Training Experiential Handbook.
CPHS News
June 8, 2022
