Joining C-SC with many years of higher education experience, Cowden brings the expertise of C-SC’s accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission, which will be valuable as the College grows its online and graduate programs. Cowden has served on various committees, prepared materials for accreditation, and maintained compliance for online learning. She said, “I am excited for the opportunity to lead graduate and professional studies at C-SC,” Cowden said, “I am learning that innovation thrives here, and I am proud to be the individual guiding online and graduate programs for next-level thinking.”

The programs were developed by Dr. Angel Knoverek ‘93, who serves the College as an Assistant Professor of Psychology. Knoverek has a rich history as a licensed professional counselor and focused on childhood trauma for nearly 30 years before joining the Culver-Stockton faculty as an educator. Knoverek shared, “I’m very excited to have the opportunity to develop the Master of Arts in Counseling and look forward to advancing our students in their livelihoods as professionals, caring individuals, and contributors to their communities.” Graduates of the C-SC Master of Arts in Counseling program will gain unique experiences to transform their careers and the lives of clients they serve.

91ֱ�� will hold an informational session regarding the MAC program in the near future. For information regarding that event, financial aid for the degree program, or admission requirements, please contact C-SC Admission at 800-573-1883 or online at culver.edu/MAC.

Dr. Jay Hoffman, Department Chair of Athletic Training & Health Sciences at C-SC says athletic trainers will need the advanced degree to excel in their field and this partnership will financially reward the students. Hoffman stated, “Athletic Training is one of the fastest growing healthcare professions in the nation, and this partnership will allow students to matriculate even sooner into their healthcare career.”

This partnership opens the opportunity for students at Westminster College to be on the same accelerated masters track as those attending 91ֱ��. For incoming first-year students at C-SC, they complete their entire coursework in five years and graduate with a Master’s in Athletic Training (MAT). The Westminster + C-SC agreement allows Westminster students to complete three years of undergraduate courses on their campus and then transfer to C-SC to complete their studies and confer a MAT degree. These courses include a variety of clinical experiences in both athletic and hospital settings. The skill-based opportunities provided to the students at C-SC will take place within the medical communities of Canton, Hannibal and Quincy.

Culver-Stockton’s MAT is a nationally ranked program, seated at #11, where 100% of graduates passed the Board of Certification exam on their first attempt in the last three years. In addition, all MAT graduates at C-SC attend professional conferences or participate in public relations and professional advocacy events at the state, district or national levels. Graduates are entering the workforce with the degree they need to excel in their profession and their investment will pay dividends. Hoffman exclaimed, “Obtaining a master’s degree in five years represents a substantial tuition savings and an extra year of income that can be worth approximately $70,000 for these focused and conscientious students!”

HLGU will provide a stream of high quality students to a C-SC program that already boasts a 100% first-time pass-rate and job placement rate over the past three years. The quality and consistency of the program will provide excellent career prospects for these students in a booming athletic training job market. The Bureau of Labor & Statistics announced recently that there is a projected 22.8% increase in athletic training jobs over the next 10 years.

Athletic trainers, who are often confused with personal trainers, are actually certified and licensed health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions in physically active populations. Rapid growth of athletic trainers in the secondary school setting means students are much more familiar with the profession, creating a strong area of interest for students seeking careers in sport and medicine.

HLGU Chair of Exercise and Sport Science, Clay Biggs, stated, “We are excited about providing our graduates with another option to continue their education and pursue an advanced degree. The background that students receive in HLGU’s Exercise Science degree will complement the MAT program at C-SC very well.”

The Master of Athletic Training students will complete two years of graduate study, including a variety of clinical experiences in both athletic and hospital/clinical settings, that will hone their knowledge and skills in the Canton, Hannibal, and Quincy medical communities.

Contact Dr. Jay Hoffman at jhoffman@culver.edu or Clay Biggs at cbiggs@hlg.edu for additional information, and follow program updates at www.culver.edu/mat/ or on X @CulverMAT.