RECREATION MANAGEMENT AND THERAPEUTIC RECREATION
Program Requirements
This program is designed to provide
students with individualized continuing education to develop
competencies specifically related to recreation career
development and professional growth. The emphasis is on
individualizing the student’s program. The Master of Science
degree in recreation is available in two emphasis 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 150 | Foundations of Recreation | 3 |
| REC 300 | Program Planning in Recreation OR | 3 |
| 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, |
3 |
| REC 710 | Entrepreneurship in Recreation | 3 |
| REC 711 | Management of Leisure Services Organizations | 3 |
| EFN 730 | Introduction to Research OR | 3 |
| HED 706 | Research Tools and Processes | |
| Research Options: Thesis, Graduate Project, or
Internship (6
credits) Students are allowed to choose from one of three options in the program. They are: |
Credits |
|
| Option A - Thesis | ||
| REC 799 | Research: Master’s Thesis | 6 |
| Option B - Graduate Project | Credits | |
| REC 761 | Graduate Project in Recreation | 6 |
| Option C - Internship | Credits | |
| REC 700 | Internship | 6 |
|
Elective Courses:
(9 credits) |
Credits |
|
| REC 502 | Risk Management in Leisure Service Organizations | 3 |
| REC 580 | Outdoor Education | 3 |
| REC 581 | Outdoor Pursuits | 3 |
| REC 706 | Public Education and Recreation | 2 |
| REC 713 | Recreation Planning and Facility Development | 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 Therapeutic Recreation are:
Undergraduate Prerequisite Course
Requirements
(or equivalent knowledge)
| Credits | ||
| RTH 250 | Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation | 3 |
| RTH 326 | Therapeutic Recreation Populations I OR | 3 |
| 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 lifespan.
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, |
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 OR | 3 |
| HED 706 | Research Tools and Processes | 3 |
|
Research Options: |
||
| 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:
| 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.