New Mexico State University

NMSU is proud to announce the start of a new professional master’s degree in Athletic Training (MSAT).  This program is designed to prepare individuals to become competent, independent clinicians who will enhance the quality of patient heath care and advance the profession of athletic training through the application of evidence-based practice and translational research.  Upon completion of the MSAT degree, students will be eligible for the Board of Certification (BOC) Examination which leads to the ATC credential.  

NMSU is currently seeking accreditation for their new masters’ Athletic Training program and is not accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).  The institution will be submitting a self-study to begin the accreditation process on July 1, 2023. Submission of the self-study and completion of a site visit does not guarantee that the program will become accredited.  Students that graduate from the program prior to accreditation WILL NOT be eligible to sit for the credentialing examination for athletic trainers and will not be eligible for licensure in most states. 

**The proposed timeline for obtaining accreditation would allow graduates of the first cohort to sit for the BOC examination** 

Program Overview: 

The MSAT program at NMSU will consist of 60 credit hours of coursework through both traditional and hybrid courses.  The MSAT is a 2-year (24 month) program that starts in June, with graduation in May upon completion of the program. Students are admitted into a cohort once per year that starts in June.  

 
Plan of Study/MSAT Coursework 

MSAT Student Handbook 

Admissions Requirements  

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution completed by program start date 
• Minimum 3.0 GPA (out of 4.0) 
• Grade of C- or better in all prerequisite courses, with minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for prerequisite courses, completed within the last 10 years. (3.5 preferred) 
• Personal statement and supplemental questions located on ATCAS (hyperlink to ATCAS) 

• Minimum of 50 observation/shadow hours completed with at least one BOC certified Athletic Trainer (more than 50 hours is encouraged) Documented on this form (hyperlink to observation form) 
• 3 recommendations 
• Acknowledgment that you have reviewed program requirements and will abide by the guidelines included. 

Apply 

Prerequisite Coursework 

Those students interested in pursuing the MSAT program are encouraged to complete the undergraduate kinesiology degree at NMSU as it includes all pre-requisite coursework.  More information about the BS in Kinesiology can be found here: (link to catalog for BS-kinesiology-exercise science) 

**If anatomy and physiology courses are completed separately, a minimum of 1 semester of anatomy with lab and 1 semester of physiology with lab are required to meet the prerequisite.