The Profession

Therapeutic recreation is one of the fastest growing professions today. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that there will be more jobs than graduates to fill them over the next decade. Therapeutic recreation offers a unique career opportunity for individuals who value leisure experiences and enjoy working with people with disabilities. Practiced in clinical, residential, and community settings, the profession of therapeutic recreation uses treatment, education, and recreation services to help people with illnesses, disabilities, and other conditions to develop and use their leisure in ways that enhance their health, independence, and well-being. Therapeutic recreation makes a difference in the quality of life for people with disabilities! 
 

 
The Nationally Accredited Curriculum

This degree is accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association Council on Accreditation. The courses, which integrate theory and practice, build on a solid liberal arts foundation.

Recreation Core Courses

• Foundations of Recreation
• Programming in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Services
• Leadership in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Services
• Outdoor Education Practicum
• Diversity and Inclusive Recreation Services
• Management of Recreation Resources
• Evaluation and Research
• The Law of Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Services
• Administration of Recreation
• Senior Seminar
• Internship
  

Therapeutic Recreation Courses

• Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation
  
• The Therapeutic Recreation Process
• Therapeutic Recreation Interventions
  
• Design and Administration of Therapeutic Recreation Services
  
• General Psychology
  
• Developmental Psychology
  
• Abnormal Psychology
  
• Human Anatomy & Physiology
  
• Human Services Support Courses
  
• Internship
   

 
Internship

A key component of the curriculum in the recreation degree is the internship. This semester-long, capstone experience provides students the opportunity to integrate theory with practice under the supervision of a faculty supervisor and a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist in the field. Students complete their internship experiences in a wide variety of agencies: rehabilitation hospitals, treatment centers, long-term care facilities, community agencies, psychiatric facilities, parks and recreation agencies, and more.
 

 
National Certification

Upon graduation, students are qualified to sit for the national certification exam in therapeutic recreation, administered by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. SUNY Cortland graduates have consistently scored significantly higher than the regional and national average on the certification exam.
 

 
Careers in Therapeutic Recreation

• Therapeutic recreation specialist in health care and human services facilities, such as rehabilitation hospitals, psychiatric centers, long-term care facilities, children's hospitals, adult day programs, and more
• Therapeutic recreation manager of health or human services agencies or programs
• Inclusion specialist in nonprofit agencies or parks and recreation departments

If you would like a career with an unmatched variety of exciting and meaningful opportunities, including the chance to improve the quality of life for individuals and society, and if you would like to study with the best, then we invite you to apply to SUNY Cortland.