Program Overview

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Bachelor of Science in Recreation Therapy

The Bachelor of Science in Recreation Therapy is a program that prepares individuals to plan, organize, and direct recreational activities designed to promote health and well-being for individuals with disabling conditions and other limitations. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to take both state (CA) and national recreation therapy certification.

Program Overview

The program requires 120 units and includes coursework in recreation therapy, psychology, biology, and anthropology. Students will learn to assess and document patient progress, develop comprehensive programs, and evaluate the effectiveness of recreation therapy interventions.

Careers

Recreational therapists hold about 20,000 jobs in the states, with the largest employers being hospitals, government agencies, nursing care facilities, and ambulatory healthcare services. Recreational therapists work with diverse populations, including individuals with physical disabilities, older adults, and people with developmental or mental disabilities.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for freshman admission, applicants must:

• Complete each of the courses in the comprehensive pattern of college preparatory subject requirements with a grade of C or higher prior to high school graduation.
• Graduate from high school by the end of the Spring term prior to Fall enrollment.
• Have a minimum "Eligibility Index" to be considered.

To be considered for transfer admission, applicants must demonstrate a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. To be considered for admission to the major, applicants must demonstrate a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.4 and complete specific lower-division preparation courses.

Degree Requirements

The program requires 65 units, including:

• Recreation Therapy (REC) Courses (18 units)
• Non-Recreation Therapy Requirement Courses (32 units)
• Recreation Therapy (RT) Fieldwork and Internship (9-18 units)
• Elective Courses (6 units)

Recreation Therapy (REC) Courses

Students must take all of the following courses:

• REC 351 - Foundations of Inclusive Recreation and Recreation Therapy (3 units)
• REC 451 Management and Administration of Recreation Therapy (3 units)
• REC 452 Assessment and Documentation in Recreation Therapy (3 units)
• REC 453 Comprehensive Programming and Evaluation in Recreation Therapy (3 units)
• REC 458 Clinical Techniques in Recreation Therapy (3 units)

Students must also take one of the following courses:

• REC 455 Recreation Therapy for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (3 units)
• REC 456 Recreation Therapy for Individuals with Psychiatric Disorders (3 units)

Non-Recreation Therapy Requirement Courses

Students must take the following courses:

• PSY 100 General Psychology (3 units)
• ANTH 319 Human Growth and Development (3 units)
• BIOL 207 - Human Physiology (4 units)
• BIOL 208 - Human Anatomy (4 units)
• PSY 370 - Abnormal Psychology (3 units)
• REC 141 Introduction to Leisure Services (3 units)
• REC 341 Evaluation and Research in Leisure Studies (3 units)
• REC 469 Disability, Culture, and Intervention (3 units)
• REC 473 Aging and Leisure (3 units)
• REC 480 Philosophy of Recreation and Leisure (3 units)

Recreation Therapy (RT) Fieldwork and Internship

Students must take the following courses:

• REC 485 Fieldwork (200 hours) (3 units)
• REC 498 Internship (600 hours) (6 - 12 units)

Elective Courses

Students must take advisor-approved elective courses from social sciences and humanities, such as Anthropology, Biology, Communication, Dance, Educational Psychology, Gerontology, Health Science, Human Development, Psychology, Social Work, or Sociology.

Program Details

• Plan: REC_BS01U1
• Career: Undergraduate
• CIP: 51.2309
• CSU Code: 12125
• College: 15, College of Health and Human Services
• Department: Recreation and Leisure Studies
• Delivery: Hybrid
• Non-STEM

Effective: Fall 2023