Therapeutic Recreation

Therapeutic Recreation, also referred to as recreation therapy, is a service that provides treatments and recreation activities to individuals with illnesses or disabling conditions to improve or maintain physical, mental, and emotional well-being and help reduce depression, stress, and anxiety. Recreational therapies help patients recover basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities, build confidence, and socialize more effectively. Treatments may incorporate arts and crafts, animals, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music and community outings.

Courses typically cover areas such as treatment and program planning, human anatomy, physiology, and professional ethics. Most employers prefer to hire candidates who are Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS). Therapists become certified through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). To qualify for certification, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, pass a written exam, and complete an internship under a CTRS supervisor.

Course Requirement Definitions:
Elective Requirement: Additional courses necessary to earn enough credits for a degree outside of Major and STAGE requirements.
First Year Seminar (FYS): Introductory course to the academic experience, emphasizing the skills necessary for academic success.
Major Requirement: Courses are core to this major and are subject matter-specific.
Stage Requirement: Courses are part of our STAGE General Education program, and must be taken to earn a degree. Learn more here>

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Fall One – first year

Course Code	Course Name	Credit Hours
TR 101	Foundations of Recreation & Leisure Major Requirement	3 CR
Foundations Course	Quantitative Literacy OR Scientific Reasoning Stage Requirement	3 CR
Breadth & Proficiency 1	Stage Requirement	3 CR
STAC 101	Elective Requirement	1 CR
FYS 101	First Year Seminar Stage Requirement / Foundations 1	3 CR
WRT 101	Academic Writing I Stage Requirement	3 CR
		16 FALL CREDITS

Spring One – first year

Course Code	Course Name	Credit Hours
TR 201	Intro to Therapeutic Recreation Major Requirement	3 CR
Foundation Course	Quantitative Literacy OR Scientific Reasoning Stage Requirement	3 CR
PSYC 103	Stage Requirement	3 CR
Breadth & Proficiency 2	Stage Requirement	3 CR
WRT 102	Academic Writing II Stage Requirement	3 CR
STAC 102	Elective Requirement	1 CR
		16 SPRING CREDITS

Fall Two – sophomore

Course Code	Course Name	Credit Hours
TR 309	TR in Gerontology Major Requirement	3 CR
PSYC 206	Child Psychology Major Requirement	3 CR
Breadth & Proficiency 3	Stage Requirement	3 CR
Elective	Free Elective Requirement	3 CR
SOC, CJ or PSYC 1	Major Requirement	3 CR
STAC 201	Elective Requirement	1 CR
		16 FALL CREDITS

Spring Two – sophomore

Course Code	Course Name	Credit Hours
TR 302	Assessment & TR Process w/ Special Populations Major Requirement	3 CR
TR 344	Therapeutic Recreation: Methods, Materials, & Process Major Requirement	3 CR
PSYC 208	Adolescent Psychology Free Elective Requirement	3 CR
Gateway 1	Stage Requirement	3 CR
Gateway 2	Stage Requirement	3 CR
		15 SPRING CREDITS

Fall three – junior

Course Code	Course Name	Credit Hours
TR 402	TR Principles & Practices Major Requirement	3 CR
PSYC 301	Abnormal Psychology Major Requirement	3 CR
SOC, CJ or PSYC 2	Major Requirement	3 CR
Breadth & Proficiency 4	Free Elective Requirement	3 CR
TR 404	Conceptual & Contemporary Issues in TR Major Requirement	3 CR
		15 FALL CREDITS

Spring three – junior

Course Code	Course Name	Credit Hours
TR 403	TR Techniques Major Requirement	3 CR
PSYC 316	Adult Development Major Requirement	3 CR
Gateway Course 3	Stage Requirement	3 CR
Breadth & Proficiency 5	Free Elective Requirement	3 CR
Elective	Free Elective Requirement	3 CR
		15 SPRING CREDITS

Fall four – senior

Course Code	Course Name	Credit Hours
TR 407	Research Methods Major Requirement	3 CR
Elective	Free Elective Requirement	3 CR
Elective	Free Elective Requirement	3 CR
Elective	Free Elective Requirement	3 CR
SOC, CJ or PSYC Course	Major Requirement	3 CR
		15 FALL CREDITS

Spring Four – senior

Course Code	Course Name	Credit Hours
TR 411	TR Internship Major Requirement	12 CR
Elective	Free Elective Requirement	3 CR
		15 SPRING CREDITS