Thesis Research

As part of Ouachita Baptist University’s Carl Goodson Honors Program, I researched educational opportunities for young aquatics professionals entering the industry. I conducted interviews with 10 established professionals spanning various areas of the aquatics field over the summer of 2022, and completed this research in December of 2022.

Educational Opportunities for the Aspiring Aquatic Professional: A Qualitative Analysis of Experience-Based Building Blocks for Success

Abstract:

While recent growth in the aquatics industry requires professionals to be more skilled and knowledgeable than ever before, educational opportunities for students pursuing this career are limited. There is not an all-encompassing course or degree program titled, “How to be an Aquatic Professional.” This study utilizes interviews from 10 aquatic professionals regarding their experiences and opinions on this topic to explore the need for promoting aquatics education to students and to help outline a series of building blocks that students could potentially take to pursue a career as an aquatic professional. It attempts to answer the question: How do educational opportunities for college students who want to pursue a career in the aquatics field compare with industry growth and is more education and/or outreach needed?