Requirements for an Undergraduate Major in Therapeutic Recreation (for students entering major Fall 2021 and beyond)

The Bachelor of Science with a major in therapeutic recreation requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 61-63 s.h. of work for the major, which varies by track.   Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in all courses for the major and in all UI courses for the major. They also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core.

The Therapeutic Recreation curriculum consists of two tracks designed to allow students to acquire in-depth knowledge in their chosen area of interest. The courses comprising each track provide opportunities for students to tailor their degree to best fit their career goals and academic interests. The Inclusive Recreation track (61-63 SH) allows students to gain knowledge in a variety of domains related to adaptive recreation and inclusion. Students can choose to focus on a certain population or diversify their experience through their curriculum design. The NCTRC Certification track (63 SH) focuses on developing therapeutic recreation competencies necessary to sit for the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) examination and successfully pursue a career in clinical or community therapeutic recreation. 

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

CORE COURSEWORK IN THERAPEUTIC RECREATION:

Students earn 33 s.h. by taking the following 11 core courses.  These courses are required for both tracks within the major.

Core Coursework:

PSY:1001 Elementary Psychology

SOC:1010 Introduction to Sociology OR PSY:2501 Intro to Social Psychology

HHP:1400 Human Anatomy and Physiology OR separate courses in Anatomy and Physiology

TR:1070 Perspectives on Leisure and Play

TR:2160 Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation

TR:2061 Recreation Leadership & Programming

TR:2077 Introduction to Child Life

TR:1800 Aging Matters:  Intro to Gerontology

HHP:2130 Human Development Through the Life Span OR NURS:1030 Human Development and Behavior

TR:3162 Therapeutic Recreation: Clientele (spring only)

TR:3261 Inclusive Recreation

Inclusive Recreation Track Requirements

Students earn a minimum of 27 s.h. of specific coursework within this track. Coursework is selected around several themes relevant for foundational comprehension and practice in the field of inclusion and diversity in recreation.

**Students who complete this track WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE for the NCTRC examination or CTRS credential.

Inclusive Recreation Coursework (24 s.h.)

SOCIAL JUSTICE

ONE OF THESE:

• GWSS:2250/HIST:2250/SJUS:2250 The History of Social Justice Movements
• SOC:1022/SSW:1022 Social Justice and Social Welfare in the United States
• SOC:1030 Contemporary Social Problems
• SPST:1074/AMST:1074/GWSS:1074 Inequality in American Sport

ONE OF THESE:

• GWSS:3100 LGBTQ/Queer Studies
• GWSS:3154 Sexuality in the United States
• NURS:3712/SSW:3712 Human Sexuality, Diversity, and Society
• CSED:4130 Human Sexuality

CULTURE

ONE OF THESE:

• CCCC:2220 Foundations Critical Cultural Competence
• HHP:2280 Cultural Competency in Health 

CHARACTERISTICS OF DISABILITY

BOTH OF THESE:

DST:1101 Introduction to Disability Studies

EDTL:4900 Foundations of Special Education

ADMINISTRATION & NONPROFIT

ONE OF THESE:

• TR:3262 Therapeutic Recreation Administration
• SRM:3150 Recreation Administration
• ENTR:3595/MGMT:3500/MUSM:3500/NURS:3595/RELS:3700/SSW:3500 Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness I

HUMAN INTERACTION & HEALTH BEHAVIOR

THIS COURSE:

HHP:2200 Physical Activity and Health

ONE OF THESE:

• HHP:3200 Health Behavior and Health Promotion (pre-requisites HHP:2200 & HHP:2310)
• CSED:4175 Motivational Interviewing
• CSED:4199 Counseling for Related Professions

Field Experience (3-6 s.h.) - choose from the following:

• TR:4197  Practicum in Therapeutic Recreation (1-3 s.h.)
• HHP:3820 Community Wellness Guided Practicum (3 s.h.)
• ASP:3920 Service Learning in Aging Studies (1-3 s.h.)
• ASP:4190/SSW:4190 Aging Studies Internship and Seminar (3 s.h.)
• CCP:1201 Academic Internship (1-3 s.h.)
• CSI:1410 Life Design (2 s.h.)

NCTRC Certification Track Requirements

This is a selective track.  Students must complete 24 s.h. at the University of Iowa (or 12 s.h. for transfer students) and must have a University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 2.50 and a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 2.50 to enter the track. Entrance to the track can occur after completion of HHP:1400 Human Anatomy and Physiology, TR:1070 Perspectives on Leisure and Play, and TR:2160 Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation. Students earn 30 s.h. of coursework within the NCTRC Certification track. Students who complete this track, including the therapeutic recreation internship, are eligible to sit for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification exam. Successful completion of the exam confers the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential.

NCTRC Coursework (17 s.h.)

TR:3161 Assessment and Evaluation in Therapeutic Recreation (fall only)

TR:3163 Concepts & Issues in Therapeutic Recreation (fall only)

TR:3164 Therapeutic Recreation:  Rehabilitation

TR:3262 Therapeutic Recreation Administration

CLSA:3750 Medical, and Technical Terminology

PSY:2930 Abnormal Psychology:  Health Professions

Field Experience (13 s.h.)

TR:4190 Pre-internship Seminar (1 SH)

TR:4191 Therapeutic Recreation Internship [fall, spring, or summer semesters] (12 SH)