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Hannah Burkhart already has two degrees from East Tennessee State University: a bachelor’s in exercise science and a master’s in sport science and coach education. She’s currently working on her doctorate in physical therapy. And that’s only scratching the surface of her journey.
Discovering the ABM program
It didn’t take long for the Knoxville native to realize her passion for sport science. Professors in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science fueled her hunger to engage and learn more. So, when she heard about the Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s program (ABM), she jumped on the opportunity.
“I chose this path because I was already going to graduate from my undergraduate degree within three years,” Burkhart said. “I was falling in love with the weight room and thought the master’s in sport science would satisfy my interests.”
The ABM program also allowed her to challenge herself with graduate-level work as an undergrad, on top of saving both time and money.
Who is eligible for ABM?
The ABM Program is open to almost any undergraduate major at ETSU who is motivated and ready to get ahead in their academic and professional endeavors. Students work with their undergraduate adviser and the graduate coordinator of their chosen graduate program to develop a customized plan of study that allows them to obtain 2 degrees in less time than a traditional path. Learn more at etsu.edu/accelerated.
Making ETSU home
When Burkhart graduates, she’ll have been an ETSU student for seven years, giving her an advantage she may not have enjoyed had she gone to another institution.
“I have been privileged to establish numerous connections around campus,” she said. “Being able to continue nurturing these connections, even with moving on to physical therapy, has shown the strength of these relationships.”
From the track to the weight room
For Buccaneer fans, Burkhart may be a familiar face. She ran on ETSU’s track and field team for four years. She said the time juggling athletics and academics helped her learn invaluable skills like time management and flexibility. But there’s one thing about that experience – particularly a coach – that’s really stuck with her.
“I had a lot of ups and downs with running, mostly downs,” she reflected. “Coach (George) Watts – he always believed in me when no one else did.”
She said Watts listened to her ideas and had faith in her abilities, which pushed her beyond what she thought was possible. That included running the 800 meter in 2 minutes and 12 seconds.
“I remember the shock of seeing the time, the joy I felt when I found him after. A weight had lifted from my shoulders as I finally accomplished goals I had been concerned would never come to fruition,” Burkhart said.
That relief, Burkhart said, was exactly what she needed to close that chapter and open a new one as she began her DPT: powerlifting.
“I am learning about my personal strengths in a whole new way,” she said of her new sport.
Going beyond
Burkhart’s passion goes beyond her athleticism and the classroom. In addition to balancing sports and school, she’s served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, helping secure outreach and volunteer opportunities for all Buccaneer athletes. She also helped found Exercise is Medicine – On Campus, encouraging the ETSU and surrounding community to stay active.
Once her track eligibility was up, she even spent a semester as the sprints and jumps coach, seeing her own sport from a new angle.
“I have always been interested in the considerations required for athletic performance, the ‘whys’ behind how workouts are planned,” she said. “I love seeing the hard work from my athletes play out in real time, them hitting their goals is just as satisfying as when I was hitting my athletic goals.”
Burkhart is also making strides as a young professional. She’s a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS Certification) and a USA Track Field level 1 coach.
What’s ahead?
She isn’t slowing down once her time as a Buccaneer is over.
“I plan to attend a sports medicine residency to sit for the Sports Certified Specialist (SCS) exam,” she said. After that, she hopes to work at a Division 1 university and strengthen the connection between sports medicine and conditioning staff, where many of her experiences at ETSU will come in handy.
She also looks to continue her career with Team USA.
“I aspire to work with USA Track & Field at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to help Team USA win global medals,” Burkhart said.
East Tennessee State University is constantly pushing the value of hands-on learning from internships to undergraduate research and more.
