Enrollment now open for UW-Green Bay’s new Master of Athletic Training Program
Classes begin in June 2019 for career path that is experiencing double-digit growth
GREEN BAY – The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay has begun enrollment in a brand-new Master of Athletic Training program. Classes for the first cohort of students begin in June 2019.
Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in preventing, recognizing, managing and rehabilitating injuries resulting from physical activity. As part of the complete healthcare team, the certified athletic trainer works under the direction of a licensed physician, and in cooperation with other healthcare professionals, athletics administrators, coaches and parents. Athletic trainers may be found in a variety of settings such as: high school, collegiate, professional athletics, rehabilitation or industrial clinics and military instillation. Using a medically based education model, athletic training students learn to provide comprehensive patient care in five domains of clinical practice:
- Injury and Illness Prevention and Wellness Promotion
- Examination, Assessment and Diagnosis
- Immediate and Emergency Care
- Therapeutic Interventions
- Healthcare Administration and Professional Responsibility
There is a projected 18% increase in the number of athletic training jobs in Wisconsin from 2012-2022. State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (2016). Retrieved from http://wisconsinjobcenter.org/labormarketinfo/). According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for athletic trainers across the nation is anticipated to grow by as much as 21.3% from 2014-2024, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2016) (Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/athletic-trainers.htm).
Strong regional healthcare partners — Prevea Health, Bellin Health and Aurora Healthcare — are all potential supporters of the program, while teams such as the Green Bay Packers, Green Bay Blizzard and Green Bay athletics — UW-Green Bay’s Division I athletics program — could provide hands-on opportunities for students to work with professional, semi-professional and college athletes. Partnership agreements are still being worked out with local sports organizations and healthcare providers.
“Currently, there are more than 35 high school, collegiate, pre-professional and professional teams in Brown and Outagamie Counties alone, which are regularly in need of athletic training expertise for their programs,” said UW-Green Bay Associate Prof. Amanda Nelson, who worked alongside Chair of Human Biology James Marker to bring the program to fruition. “The sports-rich nature of Northeast Wisconsin makes this an excellent training ground for future athletic trainers.”
Those entering the program with a bachelor’s degree and appropriate prerequisites, will complete the degree in two years (including summers). Students interested in the program can see more at the program website at www.uwgb.edu/athletic-training or contact Program Director William Gear, gearw@uwgb.edu or 920-465-2266.
William Gear named Master of Athletic Training Program Director
With more than two decades of experience as an athletic trainer and educator, UW-Green Bay Assistant Professor William Gear, Ph.D., LAT, ATC, leads the program. Gear comes to UW-Green Bay from New Mexico State University where he was the program director for athletic training. He has prior experience as a program director for athletic training at Marywood University, the University of Minnesota-Duluth and California Lutheran University. Gear’s research interests include examining the effect various lower extremity taping techniques have on balance and stability in injured and non-injured populations, and joint proprioception changes due to increasing muscular fatigue and how this relates to joint injury. Originally from Sacramento, Calif., Gear carries a Ph.D. in exercise physiology from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Science in exercise physiology from California State University and a bachelor’s degree in physical education (athletic training) from California State University, Long Beach.
About the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a comprehensive public institution offering undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs to nearly 8,000 students with campus locations in Green Bay, Marinette, Manitowoc and Sheboygan. Established in 1965 on the border of Green Bay, the University and its campuses are centers of cultural enrichment, innovation and learning. The Green Bay campus is home to one of the Midwest’s most prolific performing arts centers, a nationally recognized 4,000-seat student recreation center, Division I athletics, an award-winning nine-hole golf course and a five-mile recreational trail and arboretum, which is free and open to the public. This four-campus University transforms lives and communities through student-focused teaching and research, innovative learning opportunities, powerful connections and a problem-solving approach to education. UW-Green Bay’s main campus is centrally located, close to both the Door County resort area and the dynamic economies of Northeast Wisconsin, the Fox Valley region and the I-43 corridor. UW-Green Bay offers in-demand programs in science, engineering and technology; business; health, education and social welfare; and arts, humanities and social sciences. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.
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