Athletic Training (MS)
Why earn a master's degree in Athletic Training?
Elevate your career in Athletic Training with a Master's Degree.
Athletic Training is an integrative profession that combines the knowledge of anatomy and physiology with the science of human movement and compassionate care for injury prevention and rehabilitation. By pursuing a master's degree in Athletic Training, you will gain innovative expertise in diagnosing, treating, and preventing sports-related injuries, as well as in providing critical emergency care when it matters most.
Upon completion of a graduate athletic training program, and after successfully passing the Board of Certification (BOC) Examination, you will be fully equipped to enter the field as a highly skilled and certified athletic trainer. With your degree in hand, you'll be ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of patients across diverse environments, from professional sports teams to industrial settings and healthcare facilities.
Why earn a master's degree in Athletic Training at AU?
Discover what sets the AU graduate Athletic Training program apart.
At AU, you’ll experience a program that emphasizes in-person, hands-on coursework designed to provide you with practical experience and skills that are essential for success in the field of athletic training.
Gain experience in areas that align with your professional aspirations through individualized clinical rotations to cater to your specific interests and career goals.
In addition to your coursework, you will receive support and resources to help you prepare for the BOC exam, a crucial step towards becoming a Certified Athletic Trainer.
Our curriculum is designed to align with the BOC practice analysis and incorporates the latest trends in the athletic training workforce, ensuring that you are equipped with relevant knowledge and skills upon graduation.
As a minority-serving institution, we take pride in our diverse student community. You'll have the opportunity to learn and collaborate with peers from various backgrounds, enriching your educational experience and broadening your perspectives.
Our dynamic lab environments are designed to support hands-on learning and collaboration, giving you the freedom to refine your skills, practice techniques, and work on projects at your own pace.
Click the links below to view some of our spaces:
New undergraduate students are currently able to enter the “3+2” track.
Athletic trainers are licensed or otherwise regulated in 49 states and the District of Columbia; efforts continue to secure regulation in California, according to the National Athletic Trainers Association.
The Aurora University, Graduate Athletic Training program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), 2001 K Street NW, 3rd Floor North, Washington, DC 20006, 512-733-9700.
AU has contracts with a variety of clinical experience settings, including high school sports, professional sports, physical therapy clinics, and doctor’s offices. The staff will go above and beyond to place you with a preceptor that will help you grow and develop in and out of the professional world.Maysen Cahn ‘23 MSAT Graduate, LAT, ATC, Staff Athletic Trainer at Penn State Schuylkill
2023 annual median salary for full-time, certified/licensed athletic trainers
2022-2032 projected job growth rate
Experiential learning
The 8-week clinical immersive modules within our five semesters give you the best possible opportunity to fully experience the day-to-day routines and practice of a certified athletic trainer in a variety of settings. Our clinical site opportunities span the entirety of the Chicagoland area and beyond. With the separation of clinical and classroom responsibilities, you are able to stay closer to home while still getting a great experience learning from the dedicated professionals that serve as our clinical preceptors.
Clinical sites
- Advocate Medical Group
- Benedictine University
- Chicago Red Stars
- De La Salle Institute
- Harper College
- Hinsdale Central High School
- Hinsdale Orthopedics
- Lake Forest College
- Lurie Children's Hospital
- Mundelein High School
- Neuqua Valley High School
- Northwestern Medicine
- OrthoIllinois
- Stanford University
- University of Chicago
- University of Florida
- University of St. Francis
- Waubonsee Community College
Where our graduates work
- ATI Physical Therapy
- Athletico Physical Therapy
- Boeing
- Chicago Cubs
- Chicago O’Hare Airport
- Grayslake Central High School
- Hinsdale Orthopedics
- Illinois Bone and Joint Institute
- Lewis University
- Metea Valley High School
- Northwestern University
- Orthopedic Rehab Specialists
- OSF Orthopedics
- Plainfield South High School
- Schaumburg Fliers
- Windy City Thunderbolts