THERAPEUTIC RECREATION (RTH)
Course Descriptions

RTH 400/500 Cr. 3
Child Life Theory and Practice

This course introduces future certified child life specialists and others to theories and techniques of providing services to reduce anxiety of children and families in hospitals and alternative settings. This course develops understanding and affirmation of the values of supporting individual development, family-centered care, play, therapeutic relationships, developmentally appropriate communication, professional collaboration, defined clinical competencies, and research findings that examine the practice of child life. Prerequisite: PSY 210 or 212 or CYC 210. Offered annually.

RTH 401/501 Cr. 2
Child Life Facilitation of Psychosocial Support

This course introduces future certified child life specialists and others to providing psychosocial support and intervention techniques that help children and families cope with stress from hospitalization or life events that disrupt normal development. Techniques for using play, recreation, creative arts modalities, and supportive activities including volunteer provision are explored. Prerequisite: PSY 210 or 212 or CYC 210. Offered Annually.

RTH 456/556 Cr. 3
Program Design and Administration of Therapeutic Recreation

This course is designed to present a rationale and foundation for systematic program design, program implementation and program evaluation in various therapeutic recreation settings. Prerequisite: MTH 145; RTH 326 or 327.

RTH 462/562 Cr. 2-3
Inclusive Recreation Program Administration

This course is designed to provide the student with information relating to recreation in inclusive settings. General administrative concepts, management concepts, advocacy, legislation, and therapeutic recreation as a related service in the schools will receive special emphasis in this course. Prerequisite: RTH 456/556. Offered Fall and Spring.

RTH 470/570 Cr. 3
Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation

This course presents an overview of concepts and interaction techniques used in the provision of goal-oriented therapeutic recreation services. Included are counseling techniques, leadership and instructional techniques appropriate for use in treatment, leisure education, and recreation participation. Prerequisite: MTH 145, RTH 326 or 327 and RTH 456 or concurrent enrollment.

RTH 474/574 Cr. 3
Experiential Education: Facilitation Techniques for a Ropes Course

This course is designed to present in-depth information, skills and knowledge of the concepts and facilitation techniques used in experiential education. This course is primarily designed using the ropes and challenge course on the UW-L campus. Prerequisite: students must provide a statement of health and complete an assumption of risk/waiver. Offered occasionally.

RTH 476/576 Cr. 3
Assessment and Treatment Planning in Therapeutic Recreation

Overview of individual client assessments used in therapeutic recreation practice; development of individualized treatment/program plans in a therapeutic recreation context; review resources, standards and issues related to client assessment and program planning in therapy, leisure education and recreation participation programs. Prerequisite: RTH 456/556, 470/570.

RTH 480/580 Cr. 3
Leisure Education

This course is designed to provide a philosophical understanding and overview of leisure education as well as to emphasize the approaches and strategies that can be utilized in enabling people to enhance the quality of their own lives in leisure. The focus will be leisure education as a major component of therapeutic recreation services. Topics included are leisure theory, leisure education conceptual models, leisure education programming techniques, facilitation of leisure education groups for various ages. Prerequisite: RTH 456/556, 470/570. Gerontology students should have completed one core gerontology course and have permission from the director of therapeutic recreation.

RTH 483/583 Cr. 3
Leisure Counseling in Therapeutic Recreation

A course designed to demonstrate how leisure counseling has become an important phase of therapeutic recreation services. Students will practice intermediate level counseling skills. They will be able to conceptualize and implement leisure counseling services from assessment stage, implementation stages (both individual and group), to evaluation and referral stages. Students will learn strategies for dealing with different types of leisure-related problems. Prerequisite:  RTH 470/570 and RTH 480/580.

RTH 491/591 Cr. 1-3
Workshops in Therapeutic Recreation

Group study of varying therapeutic recreation topics. University professors as well as visiting lecturers will be invited to address the students and conduct specialized phases of the workshops. Repeatable for credit under different subtitles. No student may earn more than six credits in REC/RTH 591.

RTH 493/593 Cr. 3
Therapeutic Recreation Trends and Issues

This course provides an examination of current issues, trends and professionalization concerns in therapeutic recreation, including professional organizations, ethics, current legislation, professional development, professional standards, credentialing, accreditation standards, improving organizational performance, and current professional controversies. Course should be taken last fall semester prior to internship. Prerequisite: MTH 145 and RTH 456/556.

RTH 700 Cr. 1-3 or 6
Internship in Therapeutic Recreation

Application of therapeutic recreation leadership and administration methods/techniques through an on-the-job or laboratory experience. Study of a significant problem, development of professionally related competencies, and/or acquisition of job-related knowledge. Conducted on or off-campus under the direction of a faculty member. Prerequisite: therapeutic recreation graduate student, RTH 456/556, 470/570, 476/576, 480/580, or equivalents and/or approval of graduate program director and internship coordinator. Repeatable for credit — maximum 6.

RTH 730 Cr. 3
Advanced Clinical Aspects in Therapeutic Recreation

An investigation of the concepts and techniques utilized by the experienced and advanced Therapeutic Recreation Specialist including clinical issues, comprehensive program concerns, administrative functions and trends in the practice of therapeutic recreation service.

RTH 790 Cr. 1-3
Advanced Seminar in Therapeutic Recreation

Various current professional and theoretical topics will be presented in workshop format. Visiting scholars will supplement faculty presentations. Repeatable for credit — maximum 6. Offered occasionally.

RTH 795 Cr. 1-3
Independent Study in Therapeutic Recreation

Individualized study of areas not available in existing courses. Prerequisite: consent of department chairperson and instructor. Repeatable for credit — maximum 6.

RTH 797 Cr. 1-3
Special Projects in Therapeutic Recreation

Students pursue individualized study areas not available in existing courses or independent study. These projects will be completed under the supervision and direction of a faculty member within the department of recreation management and therapeutic recreation. Examples include: wheelchair sports/coaching, special recreation programs, Special Olympics, development of professional materials/programs, and other topics. Prerequisite: consent of instructor and student’s adviser, REC 300 or RTH 456/556. Repeatable for credit — maximum 6.