Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate:

  • 36 for those who hold NCTRC national certification (see Course Sequence A).
  • 36 plus 3 credits of Recreational Therapy-specific leveling coursework for those without NCTRC national certification (see Course Sequence B). Note that other supportive coursework may be required to sit for the national credentialing examination for therapeutic recreation specialist certification. Specialization electives can be used to meet advanced certification from NCTRC after one year of full-time employment as a recreational therapist.

Required Courses:

Course Sequence A (for those with NCTRC national certification)

HRPR 5001Current and Emerging Issues in Public Health and Health Professions 10
A1: Required Core Graduate Courses
RCTH 5001Graduate Research I in Recreational Therapy3
RCTH 5102Recreational Therapy: Now and Then3
RCTH 5301Evidence Based Practice in Recreational Therapy I3
RCTH 5302Evidence Based Practice in Recreational Therapy II3
RCTH 5311Conceptual and Contemporary Issues in Recreational Therapy3
RCTH 5312Leisure, Health, and Recreational Therapy Interventions3
RCTH 5402Recreational Therapy Administration and Management3
RCTH 5442Program Planning and Practice in Recreational Therapy3
A2: Electives
Select four of the following based on interests/needs:12
HRPR 8985
Teaching in Higher Education: Health Professions
RCTH 5009
Entrepreneurship in the Health Professions
RCTH 5201
Managing Dementia Care
RCTH 5204
Recreational Therapy and Assistive Technology
RCTH 5212
Play and Pediatric Development
RCTH 5213
Therapeutic Play, Recreation and Children's Health
RCTH 5214
Child Life Interventions
RCTH 5250
Special Topics in Recreational Therapy
RCTH 5314
Leisure-time Physical Activity and Community Engagement in Recreational Therapy
RCTH 5315
Social Engagement and Community Participation in Recreational Therapy
RCTH 5316
Measuring Health and Disability: The ICF Model
RCTH 5382
Independent Study
Total Credit Hours36

Course Sequence B (for those without NCTRC national certification)

HRPR 5001Current and Emerging Issues in Public Health and Health Professions 10
B1: Required Leveling/Supportive Undergraduate Courses 2
KINS 1223Human Anatomy and Physiology I4
PSY 2201Foundations of Psychopathology3
PSY 2301Foundations of Developmental Psychology3
RCTH 3096Assessment and Documentation in Recreational Therapy3
Additional credits in a variety of Health and Human Service content areas (e.g., medical terminology, public health, social work, sociology, etc.)9
B2: Required Core Graduate Courses
RCTH 5001Graduate Research I in Recreational Therapy3
RCTH 5102Recreational Therapy: Now and Then3
RCTH 5301Evidence Based Practice in Recreational Therapy I3
RCTH 5302Evidence Based Practice in Recreational Therapy II3
RCTH 5311Conceptual and Contemporary Issues in Recreational Therapy3
RCTH 5312Leisure, Health, and Recreational Therapy Interventions3
RCTH 5402Recreational Therapy Administration and Management3
RCTH 5442Program Planning and Practice in Recreational Therapy3
RCTH 5787Recreational Therapy Practicum 33
B3: Electives
Select three of the following based on interests/needs:9
RCTH 5009
Entrepreneurship in the Health Professions
RCTH 5201
Managing Dementia Care
RCTH 5204
Recreational Therapy and Assistive Technology
RCTH 5212
Play and Pediatric Development
RCTH 5213
Therapeutic Play, Recreation and Children's Health
RCTH 5214
Child Life Interventions
RCTH 5250
Special Topics in Recreational Therapy
RCTH 5261
Disability Seminar on Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Conditions
RCTH 5271
Disability Seminar on Physical and Neurological Health Conditions
RCTH 5314
Leisure-time Physical Activity and Community Engagement in Recreational Therapy
RCTH 5315
Social Engagement and Community Participation in Recreational Therapy
RCTH 5316
Measuring Health and Disability: The ICF Model
RCTH 5382
Independent Study
Total Credit Hours36

Minimum Grade to be Earned for All Required Courses: B-

Culminating Event: Successful completion of coursework constitutes the culminating event.