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 Program is a 3+2 program. 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 either Lock Haven University or Jefferson University for two years to complete their Master of Science in Athletic Training. There are two main benefits to this program:

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

Because Exercise Science is built upon the basic sciences, students must also complete a Core Science requirement, which includes courses from Biology, Chemistry, and Physics:

BIOL 237: Human Anatomy & Physiology I
BIOL 238: Human Anatomy & Physiology II
CHEM 121+125: Chemical Bonding with Stoichiometry and Reactions Lab
PHYS 121+123: Introductory Physics with Physics I Lab

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. Some elective credits will fulfill master's program prerequisites, which vary by program, while others will be drawn from Exercise Science courses.

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 B or higher (see below)
- Two courses can be at a B-
- GPA in these courses must be 3.00 or higher
100 documented observation hours
2 letters of recommendation
Additional admission materials may be required

Prerequisite Courses

BIOL 237
BIOL 238
CHEM 121+125
EXER 260
EXER 333
EXER 343
EXER 453
MATH 117 or 217 (Note: MATH 217 is preferred)
MATH 175* (Prerequisite: MATH 140A, MATH 140B, or Placement Level 5)
PHYS 121+123
PSYC 101

* Designates courses that will be completed as free electives. All others are built into the curriculum.

Lock Haven University MSAT Admission Requirements

Lock Haven 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
3 letters of recommendation (1 from a certified athletic trainer)
GRE scores at the 50^th percentile or higher (program code 1978)
Statement of professional goals (750 words or less)
Successful interview
Additional admissions materials may be required

Prerequisite Courses

BIOL 161*
BIOL 162*
BIOL 237
BIOL 238
CHEM 121+125
EXER 200*
EXER 260
EXER 333
EXER 343
MATH 117
PHYS 121+123
PSYC 101

* Designates courses that will be completed as free electives. All others are built into the curriculum.

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, both Lock Haven and Jefferson require a minimum GPA of 3.00 (see above).

Students will apply to their selected graduate program early in their junior year. Each year, up to 5 students who meet the program's admission requirements will receive guaranteed entry into the graduate program. If more than 5 students apply, the Exercise Science Department selects which five students receive guaranteed admission, while the remainder apply via the normal application process (with a high likelihood of acceptance).

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.