DSU, UD Partner for Athletic Trainer Program

Delaware State University and the University of Delaware recently expanded upon their partnership relationships through a new agreement in connection with UD’s Master of Athletic Training Program.

The agreement establishes a collaboration that will annually enable one selected student from DSU’s Kinesiology Degree Program within the Department of Public and Allied Health Sciences to, upon graduation, enroll in UD’s Master of Science Athletic Training Degree Program.

Each year a graduating DSU student will be selected by the Department of Public and Allied Health Sciences. To be eligible, the student must have maintained a 3.0 GPA throughout his or her undergraduate journey and have 100 hours of observation under a licensed athletic trainer.

Dr. R. Christopher Mason, chair of the DSU Department of Public and Allied Health Sciences, Dr. Cara Gomez, assistant professor of kinesiology, and Dr. Thomas W. Kaminski, director of the UD Athletic Training Program, took part in the Sept. 20 signing ceremony.

 Dr. Mason said the partnership will be beneficial to both institutions and for the kinesiology students.

“Increasing the quantity and quality of viable graduate school and professional placement options for our students is one of my top priorities,” Dr. Mason said. “Establishing this pipeline with UD’s Athletic Training program is a positive step in the direction of achieving that goal.”

Dr. Thomas W. Kaminski, director of the UD Athletic Training Program, called it a “terrific” collaboration.

“Cara is one my former students at UD, so she understands the rigor and the prestige associated with our Athletic Training Education Program,” Dr. Kaminski said. “For us to gain one student a year from DSU’s Kinesiology Program is a great partnership.”