Program Overview

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Therapeutic Recreation, Bachelor of Science

The Therapeutic Recreation program at the University of Iowa prepares students for professional work with persons in various populations and as advocates for participant inclusion. The major emphasizes the use of a systematic process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation to provide opportunities for recreation, leisure, and play.

Overview

Therapeutic recreation is a professional field that involves providing recreation programs designed to improve or maintain the physical, emotional, mental, and social functioning of patients and consumers. Therapeutic practice involves a continuum of services that use recreational activities to improve functional abilities; leisure education to help individuals acquire skills, knowledge, and attitudes that facilitate an independent lifestyle; and other programs to enhance health, growth, development, and independence through intrinsically rewarding leisure activities.

Requirements

The Bachelor of Science with a major in therapeutic recreation requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 58–66 s.h. of work for the major, which varies by track. Students must maintain a grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.00 in all courses for the major and in all UI courses for the major. They must also complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core.

Tracks

The curriculum consists of two tracks designed to allow students to acquire in-depth knowledge in their chosen area of interest. The courses in each track provide an opportunity for students to tailor the degree to best fit their career goals and academic interests.

• Inclusive Recreation Track: This track allows students to gain knowledge in a variety of domains related to adaptive recreation. Students may choose to focus on a certain client population or vary their experience through their curriculum design. Students who complete this track are not eligible for the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification exam or for the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist credential.
• NCTRC Certification Track: This track focuses on developing therapeutic recreation competencies necessary to sit for the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification examination and successfully pursue a career in clinical or community therapeutic recreation.

Core Courses

Students in both tracks are required to complete the following core courses, as well as additional courses required specifically for their track.

• PSY:1001 Elementary Psychology
• One of the following: HHP:2130 Human Development Through the Life Span or NURS:1030 Human Development and Behavior
• One of the following: PSY:2501 Introduction to Social Psychology or SOC:1010 Introduction to Sociology
• One of the following: HHP:1400 Human Anatomy and Physiology or HHP:2100 and HHP:2400 Human Anatomy and Fundamentals of Human Physiology
• One of the following: TR:1800/ASP:1800/CSD:1800/NURS:1800/SSW:1800 Aging Matters: Introduction to Gerontology or TR:3175/HHP:3175 Physical Activity and Recreation for Aging Populations
• All of the following: TR:1070 Leisure, Play, and the Human Experience, TR:2061/HHP:2061 Recreation Leadership and Programming, TR:2077 Children and Families in Healthcare, TR:2160 Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation, TR:3162 Therapeutic Recreation: Clientele, TR:3261/HHP:3261 Inclusive Recreation

Inclusive Recreation Track Requirements

Students earn a minimum of 25–27 s.h. in this track. Coursework is selected around several themes relevant for foundational comprehension and practice in the field.

• Social Foundations: Two of the following courses: GWSS:3100 LGBTQ/Queer Studies, GWSS:3138/SJUS:3138 Writing to Change the World, HIST:2250/GWSS:2250/SJUS:2250 The History of Social Justice Movements, SOC:1030 Contemporary Social Problems, SPST:1074/AMST:1074/GWSS:1074 Inequality in American Sport, SSW:1022/SOC:1022 Social Justice and Social Welfare in the United States, SSW:3712/NURS:3712 Human Sexuality, Diversity, and Society
• Culture: One of the following courses: HHP:2280 Cultural Competency and Health, HHP:4280 Applied Cultural Safety and Healthcare, CCCC:2220 Foundations of Critical Cultural Competence
• Disability Studies and Inclusive Interventions: Both of the following courses: TR:3300/HHP:3361 Animal-Assisted Interventions in the Helping Professions, DST:1101 Introduction to Disability Studies
• Administration and Nonprofit: One of the following courses: TR:3262 Therapeutic Recreation Administration, MGMT:3500/ENTR:3595/MUSM:3500/NURS:3595/RELS:3700/SSW:3500 Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness I, SRM:3150 Recreation Administration
• Human Interaction and Health Behavior: This course: HHP:2200 Physical Activity and Health, and one of the following courses: TR:1010 Adapted Recreation and Physical Activity, HHP:4420 Planning and Evaluating Health Interventions, CSED:4175 Motivational Interviewing, CSED:4199 Counseling for Related Professions
• Field Experience: 3 s.h. from the following courses: TR:3164 Clinical Practice in Therapeutic Recreation, TR:4100 Practicum in Therapeutic Recreation, TR:4197/DST:4198/HHP:4197 Therapeutic Recreation: Experiences in Adaptive and Inclusive Sports, ABRD:3712 Child Life Experiential Learning Program, CCP:1201 Academic Internship

NCTRC Certification Track Requirements

This is a selective track; students earn 30 s.h. of coursework for the NCTRC certification track. To enter the track, they must complete 24 s.h. at the University of Iowa (or 12 s.h. for transfer students) and must have a University of Iowa GPA of at least 2.50 and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50.

• All of the following courses (17 s.h.): TR:3161 Assessment and Evaluation in Therapeutic Recreation, TR:3163 Concepts and Issues in Therapeutic Recreation: Advancement of the Profession, TR:3164 Clinical Practice in Therapeutic Recreation, TR:3262 Therapeutic Recreation Administration, CLSA:3750 Medical and Technical Terminology, PSY:2930 Abnormal Psychology: Health Professions
• Field Experience: Both of the following courses (13 s.h.): TR:4190 Preinternship Seminar, TR:4191 Therapeutic Recreation Internship

Combined Programs

The combined program allows qualified students to begin work toward a master's degree while they complete their bachelor's degree. It permits students to count certain courses toward both degrees, completing them in less time than they would need to complete each degree separately.

Honors in the Major

Students have the opportunity to graduate with honors in the major. Departmental honors students must maintain an overall grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.33 in work for their major and a cumulative University of Iowa GPA of at least 3.33.

GE CLAS Core

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core requirements provide students with a broad foundation of knowledge and a focused practice of transferable skills necessary for a lifetime of learning.

Career Advancement

Graduates find jobs in a variety of settings. Therapeutic recreation professionals are employed in settings such as skilled nursing facilities, community recreation centers, state and community mental health institutions, general medical hospitals, physical rehabilitation centers, special recreation districts, the Special Olympics, correctional facilities, senior living communities, facilities for persons with intellectual disabilities or mental illness, substance abuse programs, and camp programs as inclusion specialists.

Academic Plans

The following checkpoints list the minimum requirements students must complete by certain semesters in order to stay on the university's Four-Year Graduation Plan. Courses in the major are those required to complete the major; they may be offered by departments other than the major department.

• Before the fifth semester begins: eleven courses.
• Before the seventh semester begins: two more major requirement courses, 3 s.h. of supporting coursework, and at least 90 s.h. earned toward the degree.
• Before the eighth semester begins: two more major requirement courses and the remaining supporting coursework.
• During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining coursework in the major, all remaining GE CLAS Core courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate.