The 3 + 2 M.S.A.T. degree program allows students to complete a Master of Science in Athletic Training degree in combination with the B.S. in Exercise Science in only 5 years (3 pre-professional years plus 2 professional years leading to two separate degrees). This enrollment option is designed for the traditional residential college student interested in a liberal arts experience combined with professional education in athletic training.

The B.S. in Exercise Science will be granted in December of the 4th year of study; however, students will have completed all general education and  exercise science major requirements by the end of the 3rd year of study (110 credits). The remaining credits required to earn the B.S. degree will be earned through graduate level courses in athletic training taken in the summer between the 3rd and 4th year and during the fall of the 4th year of study.

The Master of Science in Athletic Training is awarded at the end of the 5th year of study and the completion of a total of 73 graduate credits in athletic training. The M.S.A.T. is a year-round, 24-month curriculum that focuses entirely on athletic training professional content and hands-on patient care experiences. The M.S.A.T. requires continuous enrollment and is uniquely designed to teach students how to function in an inter-professional healthcare team that mimics the real dynamic health systems in which they will work. Students will engage in common coursework with other graduate students in Physician Assistant Studies, Physical Therapy, and Pharmacy.

BS in Exercise Science

• During the 3 pre-professional years of study, students focus on University general education requirements along with courses required for the exercise science major.
• This curricular design allows students to become fully immersed in the liberal arts experience while gaining valuable insights to sociocultural aspects of health and wellness that are germane to patient care experiences in athletic training.

MSAT

• The M.S.A.T. curriculum consists of two professional years of study and is rooted in basic sciences, emergency care, orthopedic injury assessment and diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions while offering advanced coursework in gross anatomy with cadaver dissection, clinical decision making, applied neuromuscular and biomechanical concepts, orthopedic casting and bracing, optimizing athletic performance, and pathophysiology.
• The unique curriculum is enhanced through the use of high-fidelity patient simulators, state-of-the-art motion analysis equipment, and exceptional clinical facilities.
• Students will gain in-depth knowledge of evidence-based clinical practice and gain experiences in clinical decision making that are synthesized across concepts spanning the full scope of practice of an athletic trainer with particular focus on musculoskeletal assessment/diagnosis and therapeutic interventions.
• The professional phase of the 3+2 program requires 73 credits of graduate coursework that is completed over the course of 24 months and requires continuous enrollment. Didactic and clinical courses are sequenced to allow for the greatest amount of depth in both content and clinical application.

Application Procedures

Matriculation in to the M.S.A.T. degree requires a secondary admission process. Once admitted to High Point University as an undergraduate, students will declare a major in Exercise Science/Pre-Athletic Training (BS.EXS.ATR). Students will formally apply to the M.S.A.T. degree late fall or early in the spring of their third pre-professional year (i.e., junior year). Students on the 3+2 track are given priority admission over students applying to the 2 year M.S.A.T. from outside High Point University. Students who meet the requirements to continue their course of study will progress into the graduate phase of their education. Students who do not progress will continue in a course of study resulting only in a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. Students who do not continue matriculation into the M.S.A.T. will use their fourth year of study to complete undergraduate elective courses of their choice.

Students on the 3+2 track should submit their formal application through ATCAS before November 1 with conditional admission decisions made no later than January 15. Full admission will be determined at the end of the spring semester and is contingent upon completion of required prerequisites that may still be in-progress.

Prerequisite Coursework

As defined in the MSAT Admission Criteria, specific prerequisite courses are required for admission and matriculation into the professional program. This policy further defines the criteria used to determine the appropriateness of a course for meeting admission and matriculation criteria.

The following courses are required prerequisites with the HPU equivalent course and focus included.

Procedures for Verification of Prerequisite Course Completion:

1. All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to matriculation into the program which occurs in the summer PY1 semester.
2. Applicants must indicate in AT-CAS which course(s) on their official transcript(s) fulfill the prerequisite requirement. Verification of course completion occurs via AT-CAS review.
3. High Point University students on the 3+2 MSAT Track should take the courses at HPU or their approved equivalent as determined by the HPU Office of the Registrar.
4. Should the title of the course vary significantly from the course list provided in admissions material (e.g., Kinesiology instead of Biomechanics), the MSAT admissions committee will request a copy of the course description and/or course syllabi to verify the focus of the course using the criteria listed in the table above and published at http://www.highpoint.edu/athletictraining/2-year-post-baccalaureate-master-of-science-in-athletic-training/#tab3
5. If a student has a pre-requisite course “in progress” at the time of application, they may be admitted contingent upon completion of the course. Matriculation into the professional program will be dependent upon verification of completion via official transcript submitted to the HPU Office of Graduate Admissions.

Scholarships, Tuition & Fees Structure

3+2 Completion Option

Scholarships

If I am a Presidential Scholar will I be able to retain my scholarship as a graduate student?

Presidential Scholars are granted 8 semesters of funding toward the baccalaureate degree. Students on the 3+2 track remain classified as undergraduate students through December of the 4^th year of study which equates to 8 semesters due to required summer school. Therefore, students with Presidential Scholarships are eligible to retain those funds until the BS in Exercise Science is awarded in December of the 4^th year of study.

Are there scholarships available specifically for students enrolled in the MSAT program?

The Master of Science in Athletic Training is one of 11 tuition-free master’s programs. For more information click here. 

Tuition & Fees

What is the tuition structure for the 3+2 Master of Science in Athletic Training program?

Students will pay the undergraduate comprehensive tuition/fee structure for the first three years of study. Once admitted to the professional Master of Science in Athletic Training program students pay the annual MSAT tuition and fee structure that is billed in 6 blocks (summer I, fall I, spring I, summer II, fall II, spring II). A tuition based on the 2024-2025 tuition rates are included below. Please note that the amounts do not reflect tuition/fee increases that may occur annually or room and dining plans available to undergraduate students.

The following is a breakdown of your direct comprehensive fee costs for the first professional year as well as other estimated allowances making up your “Cost of Attendance.”

*Housing and Food Budgets are for students living off-campus. Should on-campus housing be available and if a student signs up to live-on-campus, then these budget amounts will be replaced with actual housing and dining plan charges. Please email your Financial Planning Counselor if this applies to you.

Other program expenses

Students are responsible for the costs associated with required annual flu shots. All HPU students are required to have proof of health insurance and responsible for any expenses incurred to meet this requirement.

Students are responsible for the cost of textbooks and must have a laptop or mobile device suitable for in-class use and for online learning.

While HPU provides two uniform shirts for clinical rotations, students should be aware that some rotations have clothing contracts (e.g., Nike, adidas) which prohibit the wearing of certain brands. In many but not all cases, those clinical sites will provide clothing for the student.

Students are also responsible for all costs associated with their personal transportation to clinical rotations. Students are responsible for all living costs and should be aware that some clinical rotations occur outside of the immediate High Point region and therefore the student may choose to seek short-term housing opportunities in other areas.

Financial Aid

Many HPU AT students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to apply for student loans to support their graduate education (School Code 002933). Information about these loans is available in the Office of Student Financial Planning. If you have specific questions, please contact your Student Financial Planning Counselor, Cana Gyongyos Hill, by phone at 336-841-9289 or by email at [email protected].

Payment

Payment of all tuition and fees is due at the beginning of each term of enrollment.

Application Fee

For each application cycle prospective candidates must pay the AT-CAS application fee and the program designation fee. These fees and policies regarding payment and refund are set by AT-CAS. Additional information is available on their website.

Enrollment Deposit

All applicants accepted into the program will be charged a $200 nonrefundable deposit to hold their seat. This money will be applied toward their first semester tuition upon matriculation.

Withdrawal from HPU / Refund of Paid Tuition

For the High Point University policy on crediting any charges paid based on date of withdrawal, please refer to the information on https://www.highpoint.edu/studentaccounts/withdrawal-information/graduate.