RECREATION MANAGEMENT AND THERAPEUTIC RECREATION
Program Requirements
This program is designed to provide students with competencies specifically related to recreation career development and professional growth. The emphasis is on individualizing the student's program. Programs leading to a Master of Science degree are available in two areas:
RECREATION MANAGEMENT
The Master of Science degree 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
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 | 145 | Elementary Statistics | 4 |
If all of 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. The graduate program director also will 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:
- Biology
- Business Administration
- Elementary/Secondary Education
- Forestry
- Horticulture/Landscape Architecture
- Natural Resources/Resource Management
- Physical Education
- Public Administration
- Recreation Administration
- Recreation Leadership
- Therapeutic Recreation
| Recreation Management Curriculum | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| (30 credits) | |||
| Required Courses: | |||
| (15 credits) | Credits | ||
| REC | 520 | Commercial Recreation Management | 3 |
| REC | 701 | Philosophical Foundations of Leisure, Play, and Recreation | 3 |
| REC | 710 | Entrepreneurship in Recreation | 3 |
| REC | 711 | Management of Leisure Services Organizations | 3 |
| EFN | 730 | Introduction to Research | 3 |
| or | |||
| HED | 706 | Research Tools and Processes | 3 |
| Research Options: Thesis, Graduate Project, or Internship (6 credits) | |||
| Students are allowed to choose from one of three options in the program. They are: | |||
| Option A - Thesis | Credits | ||
| REC | 799 | Research: Master's Thesis | 6 |
| Students are allowed to choose from one of three options in the program. They are: | |||
| Option B - Graduate Project | Credits | ||
| REC | 761 | Graduate Project in Recreation | 6 |
| Students are allowed to choose from one of three options in the program. They are: | |||
| Option C - Internship | Credits | ||
| REC | 700 | Internship | 6 |
| Elective Courses: (9 credits) | |||
| 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 | 1-6 |
| 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 | 3 |
THERAPEUTIC RECREATION
(30-36 Credits)The Master of Science degree 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 therapeutic recreation consultants
Admission Requirements
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 Therapeutic Recreation | 3-4 |
| RTH | 326 | Therapeutic Recreation Populations I | 3 |
| or | |||
| RTH | 327 | Therapeutic Recreation Populations II | 3 |
| MTH | 145 | 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 graduate 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 units in the content of abnormal
psychology, three units in the content of anatomy and
physiology, and three units in the content area of human growth
and development across the life span. The remaining semester
units or quarter units 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.
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 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.
| Therapeutic Recreation Curriculum | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: (18 credits) | |||
| Credits | |||
| REC | 701 | Philosophical Foundations of Leisure, Play, and Recreation | 3 |
| REC | 710 | Entrepreneurship in Recreation | 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 |
| EFN | 730 | Introduction to Research | 3 |
| or | |||
| HED | 706 | Research Tools and Processes | 3 |
Research Options:
Thesis, Graduate Project, Comprehensive Examination Students will select one of three research options to this graduate program. The options are:
| Option A - Thesis | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| REC | 799 | Research: Master's Thesis | 6 |
| Option B - Graduate Project | Credits | ||
| REC | 761 | Graduate Project in Recreation | 3-6 |
| Option C Comprehensive Examination | |||
| Option C includes all required courses, plus additional elective courses from graduate program offerings to total 30 semester credits (36 credits for those entering the program without a background in therapeutic recreation). A comprehensive examination, developed and graded by the graduate faculty, must be written successfully. | |||
B. Program of study for a student without a previous background in therapeutic recreation:
This program of study requires a minimum of 36 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 (NCTRC). A program of study will be developed by the student and the graduate program director.
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 background in
therapeutic recreation:
| Program | Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTH | 556 | Program Design and Administration of Therapeutic Recreation | 3 |
| RTH | 570 | Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation | 3 |
| RTH | 576 | Assessment and Treatment Planning in Therapeutic Recreation | 3 |
| RTH | 580 | Leisure Education | 3 |
| RTH | 700 | Internship | 6 |
| (Required only if NCTRC field placement requirements are not met) | |||
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.
Elective Courses:
Additional elective courses may be required to fulfill the
minimum (30-36) number of credits to graduate. The elective
course(s) will be determined jointly by the student and the
graduate program director.