Otterbein University's undergraduate athletic training program will convert to a master's of athletic training program by fall of 2022. The existing athletic training program will be removed by 2023. Senate discussed this bill at their meeting on Feb. 6.
Students currently in the athletic training program can apply for the master’s program and still graduate with bachelor of science in athletic training.
This conversion was accompanied by a separate proposal that would allow students to add a pre-athletic training concentration to the existing bachelor of science in allied health degree program.
“The best part about how we developed this is that students will have options,” said Joan Rocks, professor in the health and sport sciences department.
Students are presented with three options. They can apply for graduation from the existing bachelor of science in allied health program. Students could also complete year one of the master's program to fulfill the requirements for the concentration in pre-athletic training, or complete both years of the program and graduate with a master of science in athletic training.
Rocks said surrounding schools, like Marietta College also recently approved a master’s program in athletic training, starting 2020-22. Rocks also said there is still work to do before the new program can be implemented.
“We do have a couple of resource needs," said Rocks. "According to our accreditation standards, we do need to add a third full-time faculty line that has to be in place by 2020. We also have a need for a larger bio-mechanical lab. There are some limitations in our current space.”
The department of health and sport sciences hopes to admit the first class for the program in 2020.
