Admissions Process

The Masters of Athletic Training Program (MATR) is an intense 2-year, 64-credit, 6-semester program designed for students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. As is the trend nationwide, applicants to the MATR are only admitted in the summer academic session and must be admitted for Graduate Study at UIS in order to be considered for admission to the MATR. View requirements for admission to Graduate Study.

Given the medical nature of the athletic training profession, the enrollment in the MATR program is limited. Once the applicant’s file is complete, applicants will be considered and admitted on a rolling basis until the MATR is at capacity for the clinical education limits. An applicant’s file is considered complete (and eligible for review) once the applicant has a completed graduate application on file with the Office of Admissions and all required application material has been submitted to the MATR Program. Cohort sizes are limited based on the number of clinical placement sites and preceptors available for the program each year. If selected and the applicant accepts the position, classes for each cohort will start in the summer session of the application year.

The MATR Admissions Committee will evaluate applicants based on:

  • Completion of admissions requirements*
  • Academic ability
  • Evidence of potential for future practice as an athletic trainer
  • Evidence of personality traits conducive to working effectively with people
  • Letters of recommendation

* While not a requirement of admission, students are strongly encouraged to complete a health-related major as a means to completing the prerequisite courses required for admission into the MATR.

Transfer Policy

Due to the sequencing of the MATR and the complexity of external accreditation, all courses in the professional athletic training program must be taken at UIS.

Applying to UIS Master of Athletic Training Program

Students interested in the Master of Athletic Training Program have two options for applying.

Option #1: Apply through the University of Springfield website. Students who are applying to only to the MATR should use the following steps:

  1. To Apply to Master of Athletic Training Program:
  • Go to Application Management.
  • Under First-time users: click “Create an account to start a new application”.
  • Once you have created your account, you will select the Graduate Application Type
  • Proceed to complete and submit your application for admission.
  • On the Intended Educational Plan page, select Intended Major or Program of Study: Athletic Training (MATR) and Term: Summer 2018
  1. To Check the Status of your Application:
  • Go to Application Status.
  • Use your email and password from your application to log in.
  • On your Application Status Page, you can upload documents, complete additional forms, and pay your application fee.
  1. Have your transcripts sent to UIS by mail or electronically.

Mailing Address:

University of Illinois Springfield
Office of Admission, MS UHB 1080
Springfield, IL 62703

  1. Accept your Offer of Admission:
  • After you have been admitted, you must accept your offer using the Intent to Enroll form on your Application Status Page.
  • Failure to do so will forfeit your space in the program and any funding previously awarded.Option #2: Apply through the Athletic Training Centralized Application System (ATCAS). This option is the better option for applicants who are also applying to other professional athletic training programs that utilize the ATCAS system.

Option #2: Apply through the Athletic Training Centralized Application System (ATCAS). This option is the better option for applicants who are also applying to other professional athletic training programs that utilize the ATCAS system.

Forms Required to Apply:

Regardless of which method you utilize to submit your application you will be required to submit the following forms:

  • MATR Observation Hours Form: documents the hours of observation and provides verification of said hours by AT supervisor with his/her signature
  • MATR Technical Standards Form: students must indicate their ability to perform the technical standards of the athletic training profession with or without accommodations. Note: The University of Illinois Springfield is committed to the principle that no qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of disability, be excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of the University, or be subjected to discrimination by the University as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. However, the University of Illinois Springfield cannot and does not waive the published degree requirements for MATR students. The University of Illinois Springfield will make a reasonable accommodation to assist otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities to fulfill their degree requirements, consistent with applicable federal and state law and the policies of UIS. In the event a candidate is unable to fulfill these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, the candidate will not be admitted into the program.
  • MATR Immunization Policy and Record: students must submit this form as a part of the application to verify the appropriate immunizations have been completed prior to enrollment in the MATR. Immunizations that require a series can be partially completed at the time of application and will be addressed on a case by case basis with the student.

For questions related to your application, the admission process, inquiries about your course work, credit transfers etc, please contact:

Celest Weuve, PhD, ATC, LAT
Director, Master of Athletic Training Program
Director, School of Health Sciences
University of Illinois Springfield
One University Plaza, MS SLB 16
Springfield, IL 62703

Email: cweuv2@uis.edu
Office: (217) 206 – 8414

Program Progression

Students in the MATR Program must maintain high academic standards to continue progressing through the program. In order to remain in good standing in the MATR Program students must:

  1. Maintain at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) cumulative GPA
  2. Earn a B or better in all MATR required coursework (grades of B- or lower are not accepted)*
  3. Demonstrate satisfactory completion of all competencies, proficiencies, and curricular content standards associated with the didactic and clinical education components of the program
  4. Maintain current CPR/AED for Professional Rescuer and Healthcare Provider or Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers certification
  5. Successfully complete annual bloodborne pathogens, HIPAA, FERPA, and sexual harassment training
  6. Maintain annual tuberculosis and influenza immunization requirements
  7. Abide by the Policies and Procedures outlined in the MATR Student Handbook
  8. Complete Criminal Background Checks as outlined

*Students may submit a Student Petition form to use up to a maximum of three hours of C/C+/B- grade toward a single didactic (non-practicum) course in the degree. The Student Petition form must be processed in the semester following the course in question. Required courses that are completed with a grade of B- or lower must be repeated.Students may repeat program courses for grade improvement only once. All courses required for the MATR are sequential. Repeating a course will result in the student being unable to progress in the program and the graduation date for the student will be postponed by at least one academic year.