Mar 28, 2024  
2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG - Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Therapeutic Recreation (B.S.)


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(Bachelor of Science Degree)

The Therapeutic Recreation (TR) program trains students to achieve two goals to: (a) use recreation, leisure, and play to improve or maintain physical, intellectual, emotional, and social functioning and (b) to optimize independence and satisfaction in recreation, leisure, and play for people with disabilities. The program is unique in that it is housed in the School of Health Professions and Education, which reflects the clinical-medical aspects of the major as well as the philosophical recreation foundation. The Utica College offers one of the very few programs in the nation that issues a Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation (instead of a degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies with a specialization or concentration in Therapeutic Recreation) so students have greater preparation. Graduates of this program meet the requirements of the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) and are eligible to take the certification examination and become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). Therapeutic Recreation graduates work in physical medicine and rehabilitation, mental/behavioral health, nursing homes and other programs serving older adults, residential care for people with developmental disabilities, youth programs, as well as community based programs for people with and without disabilities.

Students in Therapeutic Recreation are required to achieve a minimum of C in each major course, a C average in major-related courses except BIO 101  and BIO 102 , and at least a B in the internship experience. Throughout their education, students are required to follow the American Therapeutic Recreation Association Code of Ethics (see: https://www.atra-online.com/welcome/about-atra/ethics). During fieldwork and internships, they are also required to follow site policies and procedures including those related to physical examinations and immunizations. Malpractice insurance is required for internships. Students who do not meet the grade, ethics, or fieldwork/internship site requirements may be removed from the Therapeutic Recreation program. Such decisions are made by the program’s full-time faculty and Chair. Students who wish to appeal the decision of the Therapeutic Recreation program may do so to the Academic Standards Committee. Students who wish to appeal the decision of the Academic Standards Committee may do so to the Provost.

Total credit hours required for degree: 124

Learning Objectives

  • Be able to use recreation and leisure interventions to improve clients’ physical, intellectual, emotional, and social health.
  • Be able to teach people the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to become more independent in their recreation and leisure.
  • Be able to provide people with limiting conditions opportunities to engage in organized recreation and leisure.
  • Be confident and effective in their work as a result of over 100 hours of volunteer work and a fifteen week, 560 hour internship.
  • Meet the criteria necessary to sit for the certification exam given by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC), thus enabling them to become Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS).
  • Know the seven broad competencies of a therapeutic recreation specialist and be able to evaluate their own competence in each area prior to their internship experience
  • Demonstrate proficiency in reading and summarizing research articles.

Academic Requirements


See Core  section of this catalog.

Core: 34-55 Credit Hours


47 Credit Hours


26 Credit Hours


Electives


The student must complete sufficient elective courses to earn at least the minimum credit hours required for this degree, and at least 60 credit hours of the 124 required must be in the liberal arts and sciences.

Note:


* Students wishing information about the therapeutic recreation retention policy should consult with their academic adviser.

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