Pre-Athletic Training Concentration

Athletic Trainers primarily work with sports teams and athletes at all levels of competition on injury prevention, management, and recovery. Opportunities for work outside of the sports world are also growing in areas such as occupational health, the performing arts, health care, the armed forces, and more. For more information about Athletic Training, visit the National Athletic Trainers' Association website.

The Pre-Athletic Training Concentration is an accelerated 3+2 pathway. Students will attend Shippensburg University for three years, where they will work on their requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, and then attend Commonwealth University at (Lock Haven), Jefferson University, or Messiah University for two years to complete their Master of Science in Athletic Training. There are two main benefits to this pathway:

As long as students meet the admission requirements (see below), they will have guaranteed admission into a master's degree program.
In total, this pathway requires only 5 years of education instead of the usual 6, saving one year of tuition, fees, and other expenses.

If you are interested in becoming an athletic trainer, but want to attend Shippensburg for four years, or want to attend a different graduate program, check out the Allied Health Pre-Professional Concentration instead. If you are more interested in enhancing the physical fitness and performance of athletes, check out the Human Performance & Fitness Concentration instead. Ready to declare? View our admission requirements.

Pre-Athletic Training Coursework

Exercise Science Core Coursework

All Exercise Science Majors must take the following courses:

EXER 150: Introduction to Exercise Science
EXER 244: Movement Science & Skill Analysis
EXER 260: Principles of Nutrition
EXER 336: Motor Behavior
EXER 340: Prevention & Care of Athletic Injuries
EXER 352: Psychology of Physical Activity
EXER 375: Exercise Testing & Programming
EXER 453: Research Design & Statistics

Pre-Athletic Training Concentration Courses

All PAT students must also take concentration-specific coursework that provides important background knowledge and skills for graduate programs. Those courses are:

EXER 278: Medical Terminology
EXER 333: Biomechanics
EXER 343: Foundations of Exercise Physiology

Students must also complete 10 credits of elective courses which will be used to fulfill prerequisites for their chosen master's degree program.

Commonwealth University (Lock Haven) MSAT Admission Requirements

Commonwealth University has the following admission requirements:

Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
All prerequisite courses completed with a grade of C or higher (see below)
75 documented observation hours
2 professional references
Statement of professional goals (750 words or less)
Successful interview
Additional admissions materials may be required

Prerequisite Courses

Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab
Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab
Biology with Lab
Chemistry with Lab
Exercise Physiology
Kinesiology / Biomechanics
Nutrition
Physics
Psychology
Statistics

Jefferson University MSAT Admission Requirements

Jefferson University has the following admission requirements:

Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
All prerequisite courses completed with a grade of C or higher (see below)
Observation hours are optional
1 professional reference
Personal essay
Successful interview
Additional admission materials may be required

Required Prerequisite Courses

Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab
Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab
Biology with Lab
Chemistry with Lab
Physics with Lab
Psychology

Messiah University MSAT Admission Requirements

Messiah University has the following admission requirements:

Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
All courses, including prerequisites, completed with a grade of C or higher (see below)
Observation hours are optional
2 letters of recommendation
Statement of professional goals
Successful interview
Additional admissions materials may be required

Prerequisite Courses

Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab
Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab
Biology with Lab
Chemistry with Lab
Exercise Physiology
Kinesiology / Biomechanics
Physics
Psychology
Statistics

3+2 Program Details

During their first year of study, students should choose a graduate program so that they can tailor their schedule to meeting the prerequisites for that program. To stay in this concentration, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75; however, a minimum GPA of 3.00 (see above) is required for entry into all graduate programs.

Students will apply to their selected graduate program during their junior year. Each year, students who meet the program's admission requirements will receive guaranteed entry into the graduate program.

In their three years at Shippensburg, students will complete 96+ credits comprising Exercise Science, General Education, and free elective coursework. The remaining 24 credits will be completed at their selected graduate program and transferred back to Shippensburg to bring the student's total credit count to 120. After their fourth year, students will graduate from Shippensburg University with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, and after their fifth year, will graduate from their chosen graduate program with a Master of Science in Athletic Training.

Pre-Athletic Training Admission Requirements

High school students interested in entering the PAT Concentration upon acceptance into Shippensburg University must meet both of the following criteria:

Overall high school GPA of 3.40 or higher
Top 50% of graduating class

Current Shippensburg University students interested in transferring from another major (including Exploratory Studies) must meet all of the following criteria:

Overall GPA of 2.50 or higher
Completion of EXER 150: Introduction to Exercise Science, with a grade of C or higher
Completion of one of the following courses with a grade of C or higher: BIOL 237 (recommended), BIOL 150, BIOL 161, or BIOL 162
Meeting with Department Chair

Current non-Ship college students interested in transferring from another university must meet all of the following criteria:

Overall GPA of 2.50 or higher
Completion of one of the following courses with a grade of C or higher: Human Anatomy & Physiology I w/Lab (recommended), Biology I or Biology II
Meeting with Department Chair (completed after confirmation of acceptance)

Note for Transfer Students

It is strongly recommended that students complete (or are scheduled to complete) BIOL 237: Human Anatomy & Physiology I w/Lab and BIOL 238: Human Anatomy & Physiology II w/Lab (or their equivalents at other institutions) with a grade of C or higher before transferring to Exercise Science. Both courses are necessary to progress through the major, and not having these courses already completed may delay your progress and/or your graduation semester. Please contact the Exercise Science Department with questions or to schedule a meeting with the Department Chair to discuss your options.