At minimum, graduate programs in athletic training require students to have earned a bachelor's degree in a related field in health or the life sciences. Prospective students who do not possess a degree in athletic training may need to take prerequisite undergraduate courses in anatomy and physiology, among others before applying for admission. Some master's degree programs also stipulate a minimum undergraduate grade-point average (GPA).
The requirements for doctoral programs vary; some require candidates to have earned a master's degree with a certain GPA, others demand a minimum score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and some insist on a minimum undergraduate GPA.
A graduate program in Athletic Training will enhance the knowledge learned at the undergraduate level while also providing specialized coursework. Graduate students in athletic training must also undertake research and/or participate in an internship, graduate assistantship, or maintain active employment as an athletic trainer so that they can immediately apply new skills and knowledge. Some internships may consist of working at a local rehabilitation facility, while graduate assistantships may require the student to serve as one of the athletic trainers for the university's sports teams. Research projects include applied scientific studies; one recent project examined how different materials used in football uniforms contribute to heat exhaustion during practice.
Athletic training graduate schools can offer a master's, doctoral program or both. Only a few master's degree programs in Athletic Training focus on academic research and require the completion of a thesis. Master's programs that do not require a thesis conclude with a clinical project that demonstrates hands-on expertise. Doctoral programs conclude with the completion of a dissertation. Coursework at the graduate level focuses on three areas: knowledge of injury diagnostic tools, techniques for treating injury, and the scientific, conceptual understanding that is the foundation of the first two areas. Research-oriented schools will provide more training in the third subject and also train future athletic-trainer educators, while clinically oriented programs will focus more on the first two. Schools may also offer courses in the business and legal aspects of athletic training, such as supervision of staff, and financial management of equipment and supplies.
While many non-accredited programs offer graduate and post-professional coursework in Athletic Training, only a handful of university programs have earned accreditation from NATA. Prospective graduate students can narrow down their choice of school by looking at a number of factors. Trainers who wish to pursue research or teaching positions should look for schools that specialize in the academic aspects of the discipline, such as Michigan State University or the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Those interested in aquatic therapy and rehabilitation can find instruction at Western Michigan University. Students who want to contribute to improvements in athletic performance for the athletes under their care can study at California University of Pennsylvania. Trainers who will eventually seek employment with professional or collegiate sports teams might want to consider programs that offer the most hands-on work with collegiate athletes of the highest caliber, such as those found in NCAA Division I programs. As of 2011, NATA has only accredited 13 doctoral programs in Athletic Training, each of which provides different specializations within the field.