Pacific offers a new graduate program leading to a Master of Science in Athletic Training.

Pacific has offered a highly successful accredited bachelor's degree in athletic training since 2003 in the College of the Pacific Department of Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences. Recently, the national accrediting body recommended that all candidates sitting for the certification exam have a master's degree.

To ensure Pacific graduates have the best preparation in the field, in April 2018, Pacific launched the Master of Science in Athletic Training in the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. The program is led by Program Director Thomas "TK" Koesterer PhD, ATC, associate clinical professor of athletic training. Koesterer brings more than 30 years of experience as a certified athletic trainer, including 15 years as program director for athletic training at SUNY Cortland and Humboldt State University, and head athletic trainer at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Deadline May 1

The full-time, two-year graduate program prepares students to become highly qualified health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnoses, therapeutic interventions and rehabilitation for athletes and active patients. The first cohort began in July 2018.

Chris Pond, director of athletic training for Pacific Intercollegiate Athletics, has been at the university for more than 25 years and provides exceptional hands-on experiential learning opportunities for athletic training students.

"We are one of a few institutions to offer this program, which puts us at the forefront of this change," said Pond.

Pacific's athletic training alumni continue to thrive. Of the bachelor of science in athletic training graduates in the class of 2018, 100 percent passed the national certification exam on their first attempt. Pacific's athletic training graduates have gone on to secure positions with the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, Oregon State University, Washington State University and other universities.

University of the Pacific is currently seeking accreditation for our new master of science in athletic training (MSAT) program and is not accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. The institution will be submitting a self-study to begin the accreditation process by Oct. 1, 2019, with a projected accreditation date in spring 2020, with our first graduating class.

about the author

Dua Her  

Dua Her is the Director of External Relations and Professional Development at Pacific's Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy.