Master of Science in Athletic Training

MSAT Program Design

This 60-credit direct-entry program is completed over 2 academic years [full-time enrollment required – day courses only]. Courses are designed to suit various learning styles, with lecture and laboratory sessions that simulate real-life patient care.

Students progress through the program curriculum as a group. This team-like approach provides students with a support network of their peers and future colleagues.

Faculty and Facilities

Our dedicated full-time faculty have over 50 combined years of experience in the teaching and practice of athletic training.

Two state-of-the-art athletic training classroom-laboratory spaces that total 2,500 square feet of versatile teaching, laboratory, research, and patient care spaces.

Hands-On Experience

Students complete over 1,000 hours of real-life, hands-on experiences delivering patient care under the supervision of a licensed athletic trainer, including two full-time immersive clinical experiences. Clinical sites range from high schools and universities to professional sports.

In-Demand Career Opportunities

Graduates gain contemporary knowledge and patient care skills that prepare them to immediately compete in a high demand job market as a licensed athletic trainer. The program has a long history of successful alumni that have made a tremendous impact in our local communities and across profession, including athletic trainers that work in high schools, colleges, professional sports, and other related fields.

Students interested in joining Salem State's Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program may apply using the ATCAS application system. ATCAS allows students to upload their information and supporting documents to one centralized location and select from participating programs. They can have their completed application materials sent directly to the selected programs' administrators.

Apply to Salem State's MSAT Program

If you are concerned about the cost of applying for the MSAT program, please reach out to Professor Kevin Silva directly and/or apply for the fee waiver assistance program through the ATCAS website.

Year Two

Download the Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) Program Handbook

Upon successful completion of the BOC examination, graduates of the professional MSAT program are prepared to enter the profession as a licensed athletic trainer. Graduates of the program can work in variety of clinical settings, including but not limited to:

• Interscholastic Athletics (Example: High School, Middle School, Youth Sports)
• Intercollegiate Athletics (NCAA Division I-III, Club Sports, Recreation)
• Professional Sports (NBA, NFL, MLS, NHL, MLB)
• Performance Medicine (Performers, such as theaters, dancers, acrobats)
• Military and Public Safety (ROTC, armed forces, police, fire, EMS)

The CAATE mandated that the entry-level athletic training (AT) degree be changed from a undergraduate degree to a graduate degree by 2022. Based on this mandate, Salem State University fully committed to making the transition to the graduate level and was approved by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and the CAATE to offer a Professional MSAT Program. We welcomed the first MSAT cohort in the fall of 2021.  

Incoming freshmen and transfer students interested in the MSAT Program are encouraged to enroll in the exercise science: pre-rehabilitation sciences within the sport and movement science (SMS) department.

In addition to tuition and fees, the following list of expenses are the approximate costs to the student associated with the professional BSAT program, not all expenses listed apply to all students. It is the AT student’s responsibility to cover all associated expenses related to the program. Please note that expenses may vary depending on location of clinical site(s) and the individual student’s living situation.