Captions Magazine - Bethel University

Athletic T
In spring 2012, it was decided that Bethel’s College of Health
Sciences would pursue adding an athletic training program to
its offerings.
“There were many people involved in launching this program,”
said Myra Stockdale, Director of Athletic Training at
Bethel. “Ms. Julie Miller, who had been working for Bethel as a
clinical athletic trainer, was instrumental from the beginning in
getting this major off the ground.”
Stockdale said she and Sarah Ziegler were then hired to assist
Miller in developing the curriculum.
“We had to get it approved through the University Senate,
and the curriculum was eventually approved by Bethel’s Board
of Trustees in fall 2012,” she said.
Stockdale said an initial informational meeting was held in
early October.
“We were surprised to have a couple dozen students attend
and express interest in pursuing athletic training,” she said.
“With so many interested students, we decided to offer a couple
of courses this past spring, and our first cohort applied to the
program later in the semester.
“Those students in the first cohort are on what we call the
fast track. They will be required to complete summer course
work to be eligible to graduate in spring 2015. This year’s
sophomores will be the first group to go through in the traditional
plan of three semesters of pre-professional course work
and five semesters of professional phase coursework.”
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