My university is eliminating Athletic Training & Exercise Science

[markelmarcel]

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The university I went to for my undergrad, prereqs (and now work for until I start school) just sent out another email about all the impending doom that is upon us and what programs are up for elimination.

I was surprised to see that Athletic Training was on the list as well as the Master's programs in Exercise Science. Both are due to low enrollment.

Such a shame they're going to do away with athletic training here...

Anyone else seeing these types of things pop up at their universities due to the crappy economy??

 

[TheOx777]

Yes! I just finished my M.S. in Exercise Science, and I swear every semester it was a threat of the program being shut down because of low enrollment. I was like..... It makes sense in the grand scheme of university economics, but I feel for the students who just started and the few professors there. My graduate adviser is one of the brightest ppl I have ever had to meet. Dude has three PhDs in Physiology, Nutrition, and Pharmacology yet has to supplement his income by teaching at multiple programs throughout the city.

The same is true for other programs I know of. Unless the Kinesology or Exercise Science program is connected to a huge university with a strong track record and athletic department, then I worry that this will happen to a lot more programs.

 

[atstudent]

Many athletic training are fairly low in numbers for a variety of reasons. One being that people want to make the big bucks and expect to do it right out of school. Look around here to see that. Athletic Training does not pay all that well really.. Also, schools are limited on the number of students based on the number of faculty and staff dedicated to athletic training.

At my alma mater, they increased fees drastically on the athletic training students this past year. They added a $30 fee per credit hour on top of the tuition and fees we were already paying. Meanwhile, we were providing approximately 20 hours of free labor to the university per week per student.

Athletic training programs are often abused like that by the university. Many programs are required to teach out of the athletic training rooms in the athletic department rather than having a dedicated space for education.

Athletic Training as a profession has done itself a great disservice IMO, but I still love what I do.

 

[markelmarcel]

Had I known I was so interested in PT, I probably would've done my undergrad in AT, but I didn't know it and your past leads you to where you are, so it's ok 😉

But, one of my very good friends graduated from the AT program here, so it made me a little sad to see that it'll soon be gone! And you are right about the low salaries; my friend loves her job, but it's a good thing she's married because that second income sure does help!

 

[atstudent]

The problem is most have no idea what an athletic trainer even is. Here is what Salary.com has to say about athletic trainers..

Assists a physical therapist with a patient's rehabilitation activities to help reduce pain and improve mobility. Assists in exercise instruction and demonstration, patient evaluation and testing. Requires an associate's degree from an accredited program and First Aid and CPR/AED Instructor certification. Requires a high school diploma or its equivalent and 2-4 years of related experience. Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. A limited degree of creativity and latitude is required. Typically reports to a physical therapist.

It so wrong it's crazy!

 

[BASuperman]

The problem is most have no idea what an athletic trainer even is. Here is what Salary.com has to say about athletic trainers..



It so wrong it's crazy!

That is absolutely ridiculous! I am a sophomore athletic training major and this is not even in the LEAST bit credible to what we as athletic trainers provide to our patients nor is it representative of our actual scope of practice. That career profile sounds more along the lines of an exercise physiologist or a PT Aide.

I've found that athletic training as a career and as a major is VERY much so one that isn't well known or understood. I get all the time "athletic training, what's that?" or "you mean you train athletes?" and the easiest way to describe to these people who we are as a career is "you know those guys that run onto the field during a football game when a player is injured? ...that's us" hahaha

 

[markelmarcel]

It so wrong it's crazy!

WOW😱😱😱😱

Can't believe how off-base that is and that no one at that company can recognize this is wrong??