Therapeutic Recreation.

Therapeutic Recreation Degree - Bachelor of Science (BS) 

Earn a degree in Therapeutic Recreation and help improve the abilities of and the quality of life for special populations.

If you are empathetic and caring, if you want to see people thrive regardless of their limitations or special needs, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Catawba College will help you achieve that goal. Knowledgeable and inspiring faculty and small class sizes create maximum personal attention for Recreational Therapy majors at this North Carolina institution named #4 among Best Regional Colleges in the South by U.S. News.

Catawba College is one of only a handful of colleges that offer a program of study in Therapeutic Recreation. This program’s curriculum includes extensive courses in psychology, anatomy, leadership, and medical terminology, with an emphasis on experiential learning through a required 80-hour practicum in the sophomore or junior year, as well as a full-time internship in Therapeutic Recreation in the senior year.

Catawba College Therapeutic Recreation majors benefit from exposure to all types of special needs populations — from veterans, to geriatric citizens, to those who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. Plus, strong community partnerships between Catawba College and area schools, camps, hospitals, special population settings, equine therapy facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, psychiatric hospitals, schools for the deaf, recreation and park facilities, senior centers, and correctional institutions provide many opportunities for hands-on experiences.

Therapeutic Recreation Program Highlights

Upon completion of Catawba College’s Therapeutic Recreation bachelor’s degree program, students have met the requirements to sit for the National Council of therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) exam. Once a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation degree graduate passes the exam, they are able to practice as Recreational Therapists. Recreation Therapists use a variety of interventions to improve the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social needs of their clients and help these clients develop skills, knowledge and behaviors for daily living and community involvement.

Some Therapeutic Recreation graduates continue their education by completing a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy since Catawba’s Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation meets most of the admissions requirements for that particular program. Other common master’s degree programs that Therapeutic Recreation bachelor’s degree graduates may pursue, and which only require a few additional undergraduate classes to meet entry requirements, include Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, Speech and Language Pathology, or Health Administration.

Practicums for Therapeutic Recreation Majors.

Therapeutic Recreation majors at Catawba College are required to complete an 80-hour practicum in their sophomore or junior year. The therapeutic recreation practicum requirement affords students the opportunity to gain practical experience and observation in a variety of careers in the medical profession and allied health services, including Therapeutic Recreation, Occupational Therapy, Equine Therapy, Physical Therapy, Kinesiotherapy, Pet Therapy, Social Work, and Activity Directing.

Therapeutic Recreation Internships.

Students can polish their professional skills while they build experience on their resumes through a Therapeutic Recreation internship. One hundred percent of Catawba College’s Therapeutic Recreation majors complete a full-time internship during their senior year. Internship placements can be local to Salisbury, in students’ hometowns, or at a variety of unique locations throughout the country.

Related Bachelor Degree Programs

• Exercise Science
• Psychology
• Pre-Med
• Pre-Health