McPherson College and Wichita State University are expanding their academic partnership by offering a new Guaranteed Admission program for eligible McPherson College students seeking admission to Wichita State’s Master of Science in Athletic Training program.
The new program builds on a growing relationship between the two institutions. Last spring, McPherson College and Wichita State announced a streamlined academic pathway enabling qualifying McPherson College students to earn up to nine credit hours toward a Master of Business Administration degree at Wichita State.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our students,” said Molly Brown, director of healthcare initiatives. “It’s a validation of the quality education students experience in all our academic areas, particularly in the exercise science program. And further evidence of the commitment McPherson College and Wichita State have to providing opportunities, access, and success for students.”
The new partnership will give McPherson College’s top five students who meet the Master of Science in Athletic Training program criteria guaranteed acceptance into the program. McPherson College students will complete the same application and admission process as other applicants to the program.
“We are excited to be partnering with McPherson College on this agreement, which will help bridge opportunities for students to pursue a career in athletic training,” said Richard Bomgardner, athletic training program director at Wichita State. “The academic foundation students received at McPherson College will set them up for success in the MSAT program and as clinical practitioners.”
Wichita State’s Master of Science in Athletic Training program prepares students for careers in athletic training through a combination of classroom learning, hands-on clinical education, and professional practice. Students gain experience in a variety of healthcare and athletic settings, working alongside practicing professionals and diverse patient populations.
Beginning in summer 2027, the program will be housed in the new Wichita Biomedical Campus, a 350,000-square-foot facility in downtown Wichita that will serve as a hub for healthcare education, research, and workforce development.
McPherson College’s exercise science degree is designed to meet the growing demand among college-bound students for careers in health, fitness, and sports-related fields. It offers two areas of emphasis: strength and conditioning or exercise physiology.
Students in the program benefit from significant enhancements to the lab spaces in Melhorn Science Hall, made possible by $2.1 million in congressionally directed funding secured by Sen. Jerry Moran, aligning with the college’s mission to foster advances in rural and community health.
