The new application opens each year on July 1 in ATCAS for the following fall admissions cycle. Along with your completed application accompanied by $50 non-refundable application fee, you’ll need to provide a few supporting materials. Pre-professional candidates must complete an undergraduate degree as well as all prerequisite courses prior to starting the MSAT program. Candidates must also complete the following:

• Complete formal application through the ATCAS system.
• An earned bachelor’s degree;
• 3.0 overall GPA. Successful completion of the following classes**:
  • General Biology with Lab (4 credits)
  • Anatomy and Physiology (6-8 credits)
  • General Chemistry (3-4 credits)
  • General Physics with Lab (4 credits, and can be non-calculus based)
  • Nutrition (Sports nutrition is preferable) (3 credits)
  • Kinesiology (3-4 credits)
  • Exercise Physiology (3-4 credits)
  • Entry Level Psychology Course (3-6 credits)

**Candidates whose GPA is below 3.0 with unique and/or extensive professional experience may be eligible for acceptance.

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our financial aid page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

Fees for 2025-2026

• Comprehensive Fee: 5%
• Business Lab Fee, applies to all undergraduate business majors and MBA (Reading CollegeTowne and Pottsville CollegeTowne): $185/semester
• Commencement Fee: $140
• Late Fee: $125/semester
• NSF Check: $40/occurrence

Academic Fees

• AT 113: $58/course
• AT 222: $135/course

Post-baccalaureate are accepted into the professional phase of the MSAT program upon acceptance to the University.

Post-baccalaureate students who have completed an undergraduate degree and the necessary prerequisite courses may apply to enter the professional phase of the Master of Science in Athletic Training Program. Students will apply through Graduate Admissions (ATCAS system accessed at: ATCAS | Applicant Login Page Section (liaisoncas.com) and upon acceptance to the University, will matriculate through the professional phase of the MSAT program. Graduate admission occurs on a rolling basis. A review of applications may continue until all available slots are filled.

To begin the professional phase of the MSAT program, post-baccalaureate students must provide proof of:

• Official transcript(s) indicating that the applicant has earned an appropriate baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Transcripts from all institutions are required.
• A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the baccalaureate degree is required.**
• Successful completion of the following prerequisite courses (must pass these courses with a “C or better”):
  • Biology with lab (3-4 credits)
  • Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 (6-8 total credits)
  • Physics with lab (3-4 credits; can be non-calculus based)
  • Chemistry with lab (3-4) credits)
  • Nutrition (Sports nutrition is preferable) (3 credits)
  • Psychology (3-6 credits)
  • Kinesiology (3-4 credits)
  • Exercise Physiology (3-4 credits)

**Students whose GPA is below 3.0 with unique academic coursework and / or extensive professional experience may be eligible for initial acceptance. Students are required to achieve a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 to graduate from the MSAT program.**

Post-baccalaureate candidates must also provide proof of the following current certifications:

• First Aid
• CPR with AED (Adult, Child, Infant) for the Professional Rescuer (or equivalent)

Students who meet these standards and begin their professional phase coursework will only be required to complete graduate- level MSAT coursework.

There are 24 available openings in each MSAT cohort.
 

All students in the Professional Phase of the MSAT Program must meet the following requirements:

• Obtain a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance form (ACT 151), a Criminal History Record Check (ACT 34), and an FBI Criminal Clearance (ACT 114). All clearances are required upon acceptance into the program and must be renewed yearly. Clearances must be completed prior to beginning any clinical hours (including observational experiences). Students must also complete the Background Checks Notification form. For more detailed information about what clearances are needed, see our Academic Compliance Regulations form.
• Submit a completed health record to the Health & Wellness Center, and complete the Authorization to Release Medical Information form.
• Obtain specific immunizations which includes: a Two-step TB Test, Diphtheria/Tetanus Booster, Measles, Mumps and Rubella and series of Hepatitis B vaccinations, and a Pneumococcal vaccine or waiver.
• Required yearly influenza vaccine or documented refusal.
• Obtain yearly Blood borne Pathogens and OSHA training and complete the Communicable Disease Policy.
• Maintain current certification in Emergency Cardiac Care and First Aid (Professional Rescuer).
• Provide proof of current health insurance.

Students entering their clinical rotations (professional phase) must:

• Provide transportation for clinical experience off-campus (public or private).
• Must have a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 34), a Criminal History Check (Act 151), and an FBI Criminal History Check on file.
• Must have a completed health record on file at the Health & Wellness Center

Progression Policies

• An individual athletic training course or required pre-requisite course must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. However, students must achieve an overall GPA of 3.0 to graduate from the MSAT program.
• Students may repeat/delete only one MSAT (AT) course throughout the athletic training program.
• Students who receive a grade of less than a “C” in an athletic training course may not progress in athletic training courses for which that course is a prerequisite.

Technical Standards / Policy and Procedures

• The technical standards set forth by the MSAT Program establish the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to this program to achieve the knowledge, skills and competencies of an entry-level athletic trainer, as well as meet the expectations of the program’s accrediting agency (Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education - CAATE). The following abilities and expectations must be met by all students admitted to the MSAT Program. In the event a student is unable to fulfill these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, the student will not be admitted into the program or permitted to continue in the program.
• Read the Athletic Training Program Policy and Procedures Manual.

Students are required to complete four supervised clinical practicums during the professional phase (years 4 and 5) of the program. These experiences allow each student the opportunity to practice athletic training skills in a real-world setting with direct patient contact. Alvernia's Athletic Training program proudly partners with the following clinical sites to provide expert clinical education and experiences for our students:

• Albright College
• Alvernia University
• Berks Catholic High School
• Berks Community Health Center at Oakbrook
• Berks County Rugby Football Club
• Boyertown Area School District
• Exeter Township School District
• Fleetwood School District
• Governor Mifflin School District
• Harley Davidson Lifestyle Center
• Kutztown University
• Lancaster Barnstormers
• Lehigh Valley Health Network
• Muhlenberg School District
• Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster
• Penn State Health
• Quakertown Community School District
• Reading School District
• Spooky Nook Sports/Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster
• St. Luke's University Health Network
• Wilson School District
• Wyomissing Area School District
• York College

• The university's athletic training program is fully accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Alvernia's Program Information and Outcomes page on the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) website can be found here.
• Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.