Thomas G Bowman1, Stephanie M Mazerolle2, William A Pitney3, Thomas M Dodge4, Jay Hertel5. 1. Department of Athletic Training, Lynchburg College, VA. 2. Department of Kinesiology, Athletic Training Program, University of Connecticut, Storrs. 3. College of Education, Northern Illinois University, Dekalb. 4. Department of Exercise Science and Sport Studies, Springfield College, MA. 5. Department of Kinesiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville.
Abstract
CONTEXT: The debate over what the entry-level degree should be for athletic training has heightened. A comparison of retention and career-placement rates between bachelor's and master's degree professional athletic training programs may inform the debate. OBJECTIVE: To compare the retention rates and career-placement rates of students in bachelor's and master's degree professional programs. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Web-based survey. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 192 program directors (PDs) from bachelor's degree (n = 177) and master's degree (n = 15) professional programs. INTERVENTION(S): The PDs completed a Web-based survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We instructed the PDs to provide a retention rate and career-placement rate for the students in the programs they lead for each of the past 5 years. We also asked the PDs if they thought retention of students was a problem currently facing athletic training education. We used independent t tests to compare the responses between bachelor's and master's degree professional programs. RESULTS: We found a higher retention rate for professional master's degree students (88.70% ± 9.02%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 83.71, 93.69) than bachelor's degree students (80.98% ± 17.86%, 95% CI = 78.30, 83.66) (t25 = -2.86, P = .008, d = 0.55). Similarly, PDs from professional master's degree programs reported higher career-placement percentages (88.50% ± 10.68%, 95% CI = 82.33, 94.67) than bachelor's degree professional PDs (71.32% ± 18.47%, 95% CI = 68.54, 74.10) (t20 = -5.40, P < .001, d = 1.14). Finally, we observed no difference between groups regarding whether retention is a problem facing athletic training (χ(2)1 = 0.720, P = .40, Φ = .061). CONCLUSIONS: Professional master's degree education appears to facilitate higher retention rates and greater career-placement rates in athletic training than bachelor's degree education. Professional socialization, program selectivity, and student commitment and motivation levels may help to explain the differences noted.
CONTEXT: The debate over what the entry-level degree should be for athletic training has heightened. A comparison of retention and career-placement rates between bachelor's and master's degree professional athletic training programs may inform the debate. OBJECTIVE: To compare the retention rates and career-placement rates of students in bachelor's and master's degree professional programs. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Web-based survey. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 192 program directors (PDs) from bachelor's degree (n = 177) and master's degree (n = 15) professional programs. INTERVENTION(S): The PDs completed a Web-based survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We instructed the PDs to provide a retention rate and career-placement rate for the students in the programs they lead for each of the past 5 years. We also asked the PDs if they thought retention of students was a problem currently facing athletic training education. We used independent t tests to compare the responses between bachelor's and master's degree professional programs. RESULTS: We found a higher retention rate for professional master's degree students (88.70% ± 9.02%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 83.71, 93.69) than bachelor's degree students (80.98% ± 17.86%, 95% CI = 78.30, 83.66) (t25 = -2.86, P = .008, d = 0.55). Similarly, PDs from professional master's degree programs reported higher career-placement percentages (88.50% ± 10.68%, 95% CI = 82.33, 94.67) than bachelor's degree professional PDs (71.32% ± 18.47%, 95% CI = 68.54, 74.10) (t20 = -5.40, P < .001, d = 1.14). Finally, we observed no difference between groups regarding whether retention is a problem facing athletic training (χ(2)1 = 0.720, P = .40, Φ = .061). CONCLUSIONS: Professional master's degree education appears to facilitate higher retention rates and greater career-placement rates in athletic training than bachelor's degree education. Professional socialization, program selectivity, and student commitment and motivation levels may help to explain the differences noted.
Entities:
Keywords:
attrition; persistence; professional education
Authors: Stephanie M Mazerolle; Kerri E Gavin; William A Pitney; Douglas J Casa; Laura Burton Journal: J Athl Train Date: 2012 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 2.860