Pre-Athletic Training

These are the prerequisites for the 3 + 2 MAT program. These courses align with the AHS major requirements.

• AHS 1020 Introduction to Health Care Professions (2 credits) AHS 3080 Structural Kinesiology (4 credits)
• BIO 2010 Human Anatomy and Physiology for the Health Professional I (4 credits)
• BIO 2020 Human Anatomy and Physiology for the Health Professional II (4 credits)
• CHM 1010 General Chemistry I (4 credits)
• CHM 1020 General Chemistry II (4 credits)
• EXS 3080 Physiology of Exercise (4 credits)*
• EXS 2330 Applied Statistics for Health & Human Services (4 credits)
• PHY 2100 Physics I (4 credits)
• PYC 1500 Introduction to Psychological Science (4 credits)

Other Suggested Courses

• CDM 2100 Health Communication (4 credits)
• BUS 1130 Introduction to the Business of Healthcare (4 credits)
• PYC 1850 Lifespan Development Psychology for the Health Professional (4 credits)

* = prerequisites needed for course.

Students must major in allied health science in order to apply for the 3 + 2 MAT program. It is important to work closely with your advisors to ensure you are meeting all prerequisites for athletic training school.

In order to apply to the 3 + 2 MAT program, you must have 20 hours of shadowing a certified/license athletic trainer. The hours of shadowing must be documented on the Carthage College shadowing documentation. You can get this document from the AHS Schoology resource page or the program website. You should be shadowing multiple Athletic Training locations to demonstrate your understanding and commitment.

There are no required entrance exams.

You will need to submit a personal statement with your application. To help craft your personal statement, attend our Personal Statement Workshop, typically held in the fall semester.

You will need several letters of recommendations for your application. You need three letters of recommendation. One letter must be from a current Carthage professor, an ATC, and one of your choosing.

Ideally, you should ask for a letter of recommendations at least 2-3 months in advance of your application deadline, although give as much time as possible. This way they have adequate time to reflect upon their experience and write the best possible letter they can. If you are participating in an experiential role, it is suggested that you ask for a letter a month or two prior to the close of that experience. You should ask within 6 months of working with an Athletic Trainer if you are asking for a letter.

The application for the 3 + 2 program is due on September 15 of your junior year. Applications will be submitted through the ATCAS platform. This platform has a rolling application process, but it is suggested to submit in August or early September. Your application will be the most competitive if you submit before September 1. Below is the list of application materials:

• Personal statement
• Shadowing hours
• 3 or more letters of recommendation
• Transcripts

Preparing for professional school starts year one at Carthage, and we are here to help you each step of the way! We recommend that you reach out to your advising team as soon as possible regarding your plans so they can help you start preparing.

You should also join the Pre-Health Club at Carthage, which could help you foster connections with other pre-health students, understand what your next steps will look like, and deepen your experience with healthcare. Start building connections with professors now — by getting involved and seeking out opportunities. Actively participating in class and being a positive role model will help them craft your letters of recommendations.

It is highly recommended you start looking for experiential learning opportunities and get involved. It is never too early to volunteer, shadow or secure an internship/research opportunity.