GREENEVILLE – Building on success it has achieved in the sport science field, Tusculum University is adopting a new major that will help address the demand for additional athletic trainers.
Dr. Suzanne Byrd
Tusculum will begin offering the Bachelor of Science in sport science pre-athletic training during the fall semester. Students will earn the degree with the mentorship of the experienced sport science program faculty, who will equip them with the knowledge they need to advance to graduation and then pursue a master’s degree in the field.
“We are constantly staying in touch with professionals and following the trends in the industry to understand how we can support the workforce needs in this field,” said Dr. Suzanne Byrd, chair of Tusculum’s Sport Science Department. “Through our research, we have identified that our Bachelor of Science in pre-athletic training would help ensure the need for additional professionals in this field is satisfied. We are pleased to meet that demand and have developed an innovative degree, rich in active and experiential learning, that will prepare our students for the next step.”
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association said the largest percentage of athletic trainers work at colleges and universities, followed closely by secondary schools. The third largest job setting is a clinic or hospital. They also work in professional sports and in emerging settings, such as the performing arts, public safety, the military and occupational health, the organization said.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook of the Bureau of Labor Statistics said the number of jobs for athletic trainers was 33,800 in 2022. By 2032, that number is expected to grow by 14%, a figure the handbook said is much faster than the average for all occupations. The handbook said about 2,700 openings for athletic trainers are projected each year, on average, during the decade.
To become an athletic trainer, a person must obtain a master’s degree in the field, pass a certification examination and become licensed, Dr. Byrd said. The median pay for an athletic trainer in 2023 was $57,930.
Tusculum already offers bachelor’s degrees in sport science and in sport science pre-physical therapy/occupational therapy. Students with these degrees have advanced to master’s programs at a number of universities in a variety of fields.
Emily Venable, who is graduating from Tusculum in May with an independent program of study degree in sport science and science, will then pursue a master’s degree in athletic training from Lee University. She is pleased to know Tusculum is adding a Bachelor of Science in pre-athletic training to its catalog.
McKinlay Bryant, assistant athletic trainer at Tusculum, helps prepare softball player Claire Smeltzer for her next game.
Students can be accepted into a master’s program for athletic training with a Bachelor of Science in sport science pre-occupational therapy/physical therapy. But some students who want to be an athletic trainer would prefer to go the pre-athletic training route at Tusculum, Venable said. Now, that will be an option.
To obtain a degree in sport science pre-athletic training at Tusculum, a student will have to complete 68 credit hours of professional preparation and theory, which includes courses such as anatomy and physiology, chemistry, athletic training evaluation and rehabilitation. Students will also have to complete an internship and a clinical class.
These courses are already offered at Tusculum, and Venable took some of them for her degree. She said the courses in which she enrolled at Tusculum enabled her to take the next step in her career path.
“I think all the courses that I have taken have helped me along the way to be accepted into Lee University’s master’s program,” Venable said. “Since athletic training is a hands-on experience, I think that the biggest classes that made me the most prepared for this master’s program to come would have to be Anatomy and Physiology I and II and also First Aid and CPR.”
Venable concluded in the fall she wanted to be an athletic trainer because of her love of sports and her status as a student-athlete. She is a member of the women’s beach volleyball team at Tusculum. She decided she wanted to complete her internship in Tusculum’s Athletic Training Department because she wants to work with college athletes after she completes her master’s degree, certification and licensure.
“I found this internship to be very helpful because I got a lot of hands-on learning and helped athletes,” Venable said.
Chris Lenker, Tusculum’s assistant athletic director for sports medicine, is excited Tusculum will now offer the Bachelor of Science in sport science pre-athletic training degree.
“Athletic training is a growing field, and Tusculum will meet the national and local need for these professionals,” Lenker said. “With our university’s focus on an active and experiential education and preparation of career-ready professionals, graduates with this new degree will be well-positioned for a master’s level program. Developing this new degree program demonstrates our responsiveness to the industry and is reflective of the caliber and forward-thinking approach of our sport science faculty.”
For additional information on the program, please email Dr. Byrd at sbyrd@tusculum.edu. To learn more about the university, please visit www.tusculum.edu.