Purdue launches MS athletic training fall 2026

Purdue University is adding two graduate options that widen the post-baccalaureate menu for kinesiology students: a Master of Science in Athletic Training and a Master of Science in Sport Management. The athletic training program is set to launch in Indianapolis in fall 2026, while the sport management degree is already being marketed for fall 2026 entry across Purdue’s West Lafayette and Indianapolis locations. Purdue’s Department of Health and Kinesiology houses both programs, according to university program pages. The additions give students a clearer split between a clinical credential in athletic training and a management-focused route into the sports industry. ### Where is the new athletic training program being launched? Purdue said on Feb. 26, 2026 that its athletic training program would expand to Indianapolis with a new Master of Science in Athletic Training degree starting in fall 2026. The university said the Indianapolis program is expected to open with a cohort of 25 to 30 students. (purdue.edu) The athletic training degree is housed in the Department of Health and Kinesiology and supported by Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics, Recreational Sports and the Purdue University Student Health Center, according to the program page. Purdue said it plans to add three faculty members in Indianapolis to train the new graduate students. (purdue.edu) ### What kind of degree is the athletic training path? Purdue describes the MS in Athletic Training as a professional graduate program for students entering athletic training education after completing an undergraduate degree. The university says the program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, or CAATE. (hhs.purdue.edu) The curriculum page says the MSAT requires 69 credit hours over five semesters, beginning in August and running through the following summer. Purdue’s admissions page says entry is competitive, applications are submitted through ATCAS, and applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree and at least 75 observation hours under a certified athletic trainer. (hhs.purdue.edu) ### How does the sport management degree differ? Purdue’s Master of Science in Sport Management is an interdisciplinary program aimed at students who want roles in the business and administrative side of sports. The university says courses are taught at both Indianapolis and West Lafayette, with electives drawn from business, science, technology, communication and other fields. (purdue.edu) The admissions page for sport management lists a 3.0 GPA requirement for the most recently conferred degree and an April 30 fall application deadline. Program contact information on Purdue’s graduate admissions site names Patrick Tutka. ### How does this fit Purdue’s kinesiology pipeline? Purdue’s kinesiology major page says undergraduates can use the degree as preparation for graduate study in athletic training, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medicine and related fields. (hhs.purdue.edu) The same page says kinesiology students may choose to apply to Purdue’s MS in Athletic Training program. The Health and Kinesiology department also offers a separate 4+1 combined BS/MS in health and kinesiology, giving Purdue students another graduate option alongside the new sport management and athletic training pathways. (purdue.edu) That means the new programs sit inside a broader effort to build internal graduate routes for students already studying human movement, sports medicine and related subjects. (hhs.purdue.edu) ### What should prospective students watch next? Purdue’s athletic training page says admissions for the fall 2026 start are still open. The sport management page says it is accepting limited applications for fall 2026. The next concrete milestones are on Purdue’s own program pages: ATCAS submission for athletic training applicants, and Purdue Graduate School deadlines for sport management applicants. (hhs.purdue.edu) Both programs are listed through the College of Health and Human Sciences and the Department of Health and Kinesiology. (purdue.edu 1) (purdue.edu 2)