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RECREATION MANAGEMENT AND THERAPEUTIC RECREATION

This program is designed to provide students with individualized continuing education to develop competencies specifically related to job needs or to professional growth. The emphasis is on individualizing the student’s program. Each student will select a generalized format for this program consisting of course work appropriate to the individual’s needs. Programs leading to a master of science degree are available in two areas:

(1) Recreation Management

(2) Therapeutic Recreation.

RECREATION MANAGEMENT

The master of science in recreation management prepares students for positions in public, private, and commercial recreation agencies. The curriculum consists of learning experiences critical for assuming high level management positions in the leisure service profession.

Graduates are prepared to:

— plan, develop, and manage recreation programs in public and private agencies; commercial enterprises, and tourism business

— use diverse community, natural, institutional, and human service resources to enhance programs

— apply common and innovative management techniques for budgets, service pricing, cost analysis, business feasibility, market analysis, and promotions

— use leadership strategies to strengthen leisure experiences for all, including those with special needs— apply evaluation, survey, and research methods to ensure continued improvement in leisure services

— apply management techniques for recruitment, selection, training, and evaluation of staff and volunteers

Graduates are employed in:

— local recreation and park agencies; federal natural resource agencies

— resorts, cruise ships, ski resorts, private campgrounds, and hospitality and

travel industries

— private corporations and tourism

agencies

— health clubs and recreational fitness centers

— youth agencies

— Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, YM/YWCA

— condominium developments, convention/visitor bureaus, ice arenas,

marinas, golf courses, and theme parks

I. Admission Requirements

The minimum undergraduate prerequisite course requirements for admission to the master of science degree program in recreation management are:

			Credits
REC	100	Foundations of Recreation	3
REC	300	Program Planning in Recreation	3
		or
REC	302	Recreation Leadership and Supervision	3
REC	401	Management in Park and Recreation Resources	3
MTH	205	Elementary Statistics	4

If all the above courses have not been previously taken, the recreation graduate program director will determine program deficiencies on an individual basis. The review will be based on previously taken courses as well as prior work experience. Students will be informed if there is an option to “test out” for any existing course work deficiency. The graduate program director will also determine which deficiency courses need to be taken for credit (auditing of courses might also be recommended.)

Students accepted into this program come from a variety of backgrounds

including:

— Agronomy

— Biology

— Business Administration

— Elementary/Secondary Education

— Forestry

— Horticulture/Landscape Architecture

— Natural Resources/Resource Management

— Physical Education

— Public Administration

— Recreation Administration

— Recreation Leadership

— Therapeutic Recreation

II. Required Courses:

Degree requirements: 30 credits with a minimum of 15 credits at the graduate-only level. Required courses include:

			Credits
REC	520	Commercial Recreation Management	3
REC	701	Philosophical Foundations of Leisure, Play, and Recreation	3
REC	704	Current Issues and Problems	3
REC	711	Management of Leisure Services Organizations	3
MGT	734	Small Business Management	3
		(Prerequisite: REC 520)

III. Thesis, Graduate Project, or Comprehensive Examination:

Students are allowed to choose from three options upon being admitted to the program.

Option A — Thesis

			Credits
EFN	730	Introduction to Research	3
		Or
HED	706	Research Tools and Processes	3-6
REC	799	Research: Master’s Thesis	6

Option B — Graduate Project

			Credits
EFN	730	Introduction to Research	3
		or
HED	706	Research Tools and Processes	3-6
		or
EFN	736	Interpretation of Current Research	4
REC	761	Graduate Project in Recreation	3

Option C — Comprehensive Examination

Course work includes all required courses plus additional elective courses selected from graduate program offerings to total 30 semester credits. A comprehensive examination is written. The examination is developed and graded by the graduate faculty. This option requires completion of EFN 736 — Interpretation of Current Research (3 credits).

IV. Elective Courses:

Recommended elective graduate courses in the department of recreation management and therapeutic recreation include:

			Credits
REC	502	Risk Management in Leisure Service Organizations	3
REC	700	Internship in Guided Learning	1-3
REC	706	Public Education and Recreation	2
REC	713	Recreation Planning and Facility Development	3
REC	740	Outdoor Education	1-3
REC	780	A comparative Approach to Leisure and Society	3
REC	795	Independent Study in Recreation Management	1-3
REC	797	Special Projects in Recreation Management	1-3
RTH	562	Inclusive Recreation Program Administration	2-3
RTH	570	Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation	4

THERAPEUTIC RECREATION

The master of science in therapeutic recreation prepares students for certification as Therapeutic Recreation Specialists. Students learn to develop and implement treatment, leisure, education, and recreation programs for individuals with special needs.

Graduates are prepared to:

— assess the need for therapeutic

recreation intervention

— plan and evaluate individual and group treatment, leisure education and recreation participation programs

— supervise interdisciplinary teams and human service providers

— organize and manage services

— direct outreach, advocacy, and public relations activities

— assist individuals in the development of life-long leisure independence

— address therapeutic recreation professionalization issues

— take the national examination to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

— use advanced knowledge as a clinical administrator or consultant

Graduates are employed in:

— hospitals and physical rehabilitation facilities

— county, state, and national mental health treatment centers

— residential settings

— long-term care or nursing home facilities

— community-based centers and human service agencies

— recreation agencies, including national associations for disabled sport

competitors (i.e., Special Olympics)

— human service areas needing thera-peutic recreation consultants

I. Admission Standards

Students without a previous background in therapeutic recreation as well as those who are certification eligible as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification will be admitted into the program after fulfilling university graduate school admission requirements. Deficiencies will be determined based on the student’s educational background and work experience.

The minimum undergraduate prerequisite course and competency requirements for admission to the master of science degree program in recreation with a therapeutic recreation emphasis are:

Undergraduate Prerequisite Course Requirements

(or equivalent knowledge)

			Credits
RTH	250	Introduction to TherapeuticRecreation	3-4
RTH	326	Therapeutic Recreation Populations I	3
		Or
RTH	327	Therapeutic Recreation Populations II	3
MTH	205	Elementary Statistics	3-4
ESS	205	Human Anatomy and Physiology	3
PSY	304	Abnormal Psychology	3
PSY	212	Life Span Development	3

The above courses may be taken at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse during the first two semesters of the g raduate program.

Prerequisite Competency Requirement

Knowledge of and experience with a disability group in a therapeutic recreation setting (minimum 50 documented hours of acceptable experience).

To become eligible to sit for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) exam through the professional academic path, a total of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units of supportive course work must be successfully completed with at least three hours in the content of abnormal psychology, three hours in the content of anatomy and physiology, and three hours in the content area of human growth and development across the lifespan. The remaining semester hours or quarter hours of course work must be fulfilled in the content of “human services” as defined by NCTRC (human services is defined to include courses supportive to the practice of Therapeutic Recreation such as: psychology, sociology, related biological/ physical sciences, adaptive physical education, special education, education, ethics and other disciplines of study supportive to the practice of therapeutic recreation. Students must fulfill the most current NCTRC requirements for certification eligibility. Fulfilling the most recent NCTRC requirements for eligibility is the responsibility of the student.

II. Required Courses:

			Credits
REC	701	Philosophical Foundations of Leisure, Play, and Recreation	3
REC	704	Current Issues and Problems	3
REC	711	Management of Leisure Services Organizations	3
RTH	593	Therapeutic Recreation Trends and Issues	3
RTH	730	Advanced Clinical Aspects in Therapeutic Recreation	3

III. Research Options:Thesis, Graduate Project, or Comprehensive Examination

Students will select one of three research options to this graduate program. All three options require a minimum of 30 credits (37 credits minimum for those students who entered the program without a previous background in therapeutic recreation.)

Option A — Thesis Credits

EFN	730	Introduction to Research	3
		Or
HED	706	Research Tools and Processes	3-6
REC	799	Research: Master’s Thesis	6

Option B — Graduate Project

EFN	730	Introduction to Research	3
		Or
EFN	736	Interpretation of Current Research	3
		Or
HED	706	Research Tools and Processes	3-6
REC	761	Graduate Project in Recreation	3

Option C — Comprehensive Examination

Option C includes all required courses, plus additional elective courses from graduate program offerings to total 30 semester credits (37 credits for those entering the program without a background in thera-peutic recreation.) The additional graduate courses beyond those required must be approved by the graduate program director. A comprehensive examination is written. The examination is developed and graded by the graduate faculty in therapeutic recreation. This option requires completion of EFN 736 — Interpretation of Current Research.

IV .Program of Study

Upon admission, the student will be classified into one of two groups based upon previous academic background, certification status, and professional experience in the field of therapeutic recreation. The student will be classified either as a student without a previous background in therapeutic recreation or as a student with a previous background (certification eligible) in therapeutic recreation.

A. Program of study for a student without a previous background in therapeutic recreation:

This program of study requires a minimum of 37 credits. A program of study includes the required graduate courses, therapeutic recreation core courses, one of three research options, and electives. Additional credit(s) may be required to fulfill the sitting requirements of the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). A program of study will be developed by the student and the graduate program director.

Therapeutic Recreation core courses for the student without a previous background in therapeutic recreation —

In addition to the required courses, the following are required core courses for the student without a previous back-ground in therapeutic recreation:

Credits

RTH	556	Program Design and Administration of Therapeutic Recreation	3
RTH	570	Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation	4
RTH	576	Assessment and Treatment Planning in Therapeutic Recreation	3
RTH	580	Leisure Education	3
RTH	700	Internship in Therapeutic Recreation (Required only if NCTRC field placement requirements are not met)	6

At the discretion of the graduate program director, previously taken equivalent undergraduate courses (therapeutic recreation core courses) may not have to be repeated on the graduate level.

B. Program of Study for a student with a background (certification eligible) in therapeutic recreation:

The program of study involves a minimum of 30 credits. A program of study includes the required courses, one of three research options, and electives. The program of study will be jointly developed by the student and the graduate program director.

V. Elective Courses:

Additional elective courses may be required to fulfill the minimum (30-37) number of credits to graduate. The elective course(s) will be determined jointly by the student and the graduate program director.