OSU-CHS Athletic Training Program offers guaranteed admissions to 7 universities

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Media Contact: Sara Plummer | Communications Coordinator | 918-561-1282 | sara.plummer@okstate.edu

OSU Center for Health Sciences Athletic Training program now has Guaranteed Admission Program agreements with six universities in Oklahoma and one in Kansas allowing undergraduate students interested in a career in athletic training a more direct path to a master’s degree. 

For those attending one of the seven partnering universities, the GAP allows the top two students interested in earning a master’s in athletic training who meet specified criteria to be guaranteed admission to OSU-CHS master’s in athletic training program, pending an interview. 

The universities who now have GAP agreements with OSU-CHS are East Central University, Northeastern State University, Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma Christian University, Rogers State University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. 

“A student can apply for the GAP once they meet all the requirements and then that lessens their stress,” said Matthew O’Brien, professor and coordinator of clinical education for athletic training program at OSU-CHS. “It gives students peace of mind that they earned entry into the MAT program early. And if we are getting close to class capacity, being in the GAP program would be incredibly important because a student is guaranteed a seat.”

Anyone earning a bachelor’s degree can qualify for the GAP as long as they complete the requirements that include a 3.0 GPA at graduation, have at least 50 hours of documented athletic training observation hours, and earn a B letter grade or higher in anatomy, biology, biomechanics, chemistry, exercise physiology, human physiology, medical terminology, nutrition, physics, psychology and statistics. 

For freshmen and sophomores at these participating institutions who want to pursue a career in athletic training, the GAP is a great opportunity as they begin planning out their classes during their undergraduate years.

“It’s assuring them that they’ll have a seat guaranteed to them in OSU’s athletic training program,” O’Brien said. “They’ll also have priority over students applying in the normal application cycle. It’s a win-win for the student and MAT program.”