Students in Northeast Missouri now have more opportunities to pursue a degree and career in Athletic Training thanks to a new strategic partnership between Culver-Stockton College (C-SC) and Hannibal-LaGrange University (HLGU). In October, the two institutions agreed to terms that allow graduates from HLGU’s Exercise and Sport Science major to pursue the Master of Athletic Training degree at C-SC.
“The HLGU Athletic Training staff has served and provided superb clinical education to C-SC students for years, and we couldn’t be more pleased to collaborate with them on this next phase of the Master of Athletic Training program,” stated C-SC Department Chair of Athletic Training & Health Sciences, Dr. Jay Hoffman.
HLGU will provide a stream of high quality students to a C-SC program that already boasts a 100% first-time pass-rate and job placement rate over the past three years. The quality and consistency of the program will provide excellent career prospects for these students in a booming athletic training job market. The Bureau of Labor & Statistics announced recently that there is a projected 22.8% increase in athletic training jobs over the next 10 years.
Athletic trainers, who are often confused with personal trainers, are actually certified and licensed health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions in physically active populations. Rapid growth of athletic trainers in the secondary school setting means students are much more familiar with the profession, creating a strong area of interest for students seeking careers in sport and medicine.
HLGU Chair of Exercise and Sport Science, Clay Biggs, stated, “We are excited about providing our graduates with another option to continue their education and pursue an advanced degree. The background that students receive in HLGU’s Exercise Science degree will complement the MAT program at C-SC very well.”
The Master of Athletic Training students will complete two years of graduate study, including a variety of clinical experiences in both athletic and hospital/clinical settings, that will hone their knowledge and skills in the Canton, Hannibal, and Quincy medical communities.
Contact Dr. Jay Hoffman at jhoffman@culver.edu or Clay Biggs at cbiggs@hlg.edu for additional information, and follow program updates at www.culver.edu/mat/ or on Twitter @CulverMAT.
Contact the Marketing & Public Relations Office, at pr@culver.edu or 573-288-6000 ext. 6728 for more information.
NOTE: A number that appears immediately after a person’s name (i.e. Jane Doe ’18) is a reference to the year that person earned their bachelor’s degree from Culver-Stockton.