Recreational Therapy

DR. TAKEYRA COLLINS, CTRS DR. DOUGLAS KENNEDY, CPRP, Department Chair

DR. WAYNE POLLOCK, CTRS DR. JILL STURTS, RCRSP

Within the framework of the liberal arts, the mission of the Sport and Recreation Professions Department is to educate students as informed consumers, skilled professionals, and advocates of sport, recreation and leisure services throughout their personal and professional lives. By providing two Majors, the course offerings in Sport and Recreation Professions allow students to investigate the larger discipline and focus upon one of two Majors: Sport and Recreation Management, and Recreational Therapy. The course offerings in the Recreational Therapy Major are designed to provide practical “hands-on” learning experiences with local recreation and health care agencies such as community therapeutic recreation programs, behavioral health centers, veteran’s medical centers, assisted living facilities and rehabilitation centers. By combining the concepts, skills, and perspectives of Recreational Therapy courses with carefully selected elective courses, students may expect both to become focused in their chosen major and receive practical experience. The major not only provides a Junior Internship but also culminates in a semester-long Senior Internship, allowing students to continue their learning while applying their knowledge to “real-life” practice in a community or health care agency of their choice locally, nationally or internationally. The Department has been nationally accredited since 1984 by the National Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions. All students completing the Recreational Therapy Major are eligible to take the national examination to be recognized as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS).

*See also Recreation and Sport and Recreation Management. Major Requirements: Recreational Therapy

COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE

REC 101: Introduction to Sport, Recreation and Leisure REC 207: Leadership and Management of Sport, Recreation and Leisure Services REC 406: Historical, Cultural and Professional Dimensions of Sport, Recreation and Leisure REC 408: Research Methods in Sport and Recreation SW 336: Lifespan Development and Behavior RT 210: Introduction to Recreational Therapy RT 311: Disabilities & Recreational Therapy RT 312: Recreational Therapy Management & Organization RT 313: Recreational Therapy Analysis & Assessment RT 314: Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating Recreational Therapy RT 407: Internship Prep in Recreational Therapy RT 409: Senior Internship in Recreational Therapy

TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED: SEMESTER HOURS

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 12 54

Students wishing to sit for the CTRS Certification Examination must also complete the following courses:

COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE

PSY 102: Introduction to Psychology II PSY 256: Abnormal Psychology BIO 221: Anatomy & Physiology I Two additional supportive courses approved by Advisor

TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED: SEMESTER HOURS

4 4 4 8 20

210 Introduction to Recreational Therapy (4)

Provides an overview of the profession of recreational therapy, including the philosophy, practice, procedures, and foundation of services for individuals with disabilities. Students develop an understanding of professional preparation, service settings, and consumer groups that utilize recreational therapy services. Fieldwork required. Prerequisite: first-year or sophomore status only; juniors and seniors by consent. Offered every semester.

217 Topics in Recreational Therapy (4)

An in-depth study of a Recreation Therapy focused topic, including the study and investigation of related themes of interest. A sophomore-level topics course to provide those students who possess an understanding of the foundations of recreational therapy an opportunity to delve into more diverse and related themes of interest. Prerequisites: Sophomore/Junior/Senior Status. Course may be repeated as topics change. Offered intermittently.

309 Junior Internship in Recreational Therapy (4) W

Offers the opportunity to investigate the leader ship, programming, operation, and management of leisure service agencies while gaining paid or volunteer experience. Through a comprehensive focus on individual areas of administration, the course is tailored to the individual needs of the student and agency to maximize experience and reflection. Prerequisites: REC 207. Offered every semester and summer.

311 Disabilities and Recreational Therapy (4)

Introduces students to the various disabling conditions that typically receive recreational therapy services. Explores adaptive, corrective and progressive recreational therapy techniques for a variety of disabling conditions. Emphasizes treatment interventions and leisure skills as they relate to specific disorders and habilitative or rehabilitative goals. Offered every spring.

312 Recreational Therapy Management and Organization (4)

Provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to organize, conduct, and evaluate recreational therapy programs in healthcare agencies. Students develop a written plan of operation for an agency providing recreational therapy services. Field experience is required. Prerequisite: RT 210. Offered every spring.

313 Recreational Therapy Analysis and Assessment (4)

Provides the rationale, procedural methods for, and applications of assessment in recreational therapy. Students examine and use standardized instruments and develop a functional assessment based on the use of activity/task analysis. They learn methods of clinical assessment, establishing client rapport, and interpretation and documentation of assessment results. Prerequisite: RT 210. Offered every fall.

314 Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating Recreational Therapy (4)

Prepares students in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of recreational therapy services. Includes the selection of appropriate treatment techniques and clinical skills to be used with various client populations, intervention strategies, and methods of evaluating client and program outcomes. Prerequisite: REC 210.

407 Internship Preparation in Recreational Therapy (2)

Provides guidance and direction in all phases of internship procurement for all students majoring in Sport and Recreation Professions and enrolling in REC 409 the following semester. Emphasizes each student’s self-assessment, documentation of personal/professional goals, strengths, and areas for improvement in relation to the agency’s attributes and compatibility with the student’s goals. Graded pass/fail. Prerequisite: senior and eligible to complete REC 409 the following semester. Offered every semester.

409 Senior Internship in Recreational Therapy (12)

Field placement in an approved recreation or therapeutic recreation setting. Students intern under a trained recreation professional and participate in all phases of agency operation. Prerequisite: RT407. Offered every semester on request.