Recreation Therapy, A.A.S.
A.A.S. Degree—63 credit hours
Curriculum Code 1259
Prepares graduates for professional careers in recreation therapy. Graduates are eligible for employment in physical rehabilitation centers, medical rehabilitation centers, hospitals, long-term care, skilled care, adult day care, alcohol and drug treatment centers, special recreation associations, and mental health agencies. The program includes instruction in program planning, disability information, leadership techniques, and public relation skills.
Employment of recreation therapists is expected to grow because of anticipated expansion of long-term care, physical and psychiatric rehabilitation, and services for the disabled. Hospitals will provide a large number of recreation therapy jobs, with additional jobs provided by long-term rehabilitation and psychiatric hospitals. The rapidly growing number of older persons is expected to spur job growth for activity directors in nursing homes, retirement communities, adult day care programs and social service agencies. Continued growth is expected in community residential facilities, park districts and day care programs for people with disabilities.
Required General Education Courses
26 credit hours as follows:
Select 3 credit hours from Humanities and Fine Arts:
ARB, ART, FRE, GER, HUM, LIT, MUS, PHI, SPA, THE
MTH-120: A minimum level of competency in mathematics is required for graduation for all A.A.S. degrees. This minimum competency may be demonstrated in one of two ways:
- Placement into MTH-120 or higher; or
- Successful completion with an earned grade of “C” or better in BUS-120, MTH-102, or MTH-109 for designated career programs or higher level mathematics course, or
- An equivalent transfer course from another college with an earned grade of “C” or better.
Required Career Courses
27 credit hours as follows:
| REC-101 | Introduction to Wellness Careers | 3 |
| REC-102 | Older Adult Recreation and Wellness | 3 |
| REC-180 | Perceptual Motor Development | 3 |
| REC-182 | Recreation for Special Populations | 3 |
| REC-201 | Applied Leadership Essentials | 3 |
| REC-205 | Professional Issues | 2 |
| THR-150 | Recreation Therapy Techniques I | 3 |
| THR-152 | Recreation Therapy Techniques II | 3 |
| THR-233 | Recreation Therapy Practicum | 3 |
| THR-237 | Recreation Therapy Seminar | 1 |
Electives
Select 10 credit hours of electives to enhance skills identified to be important in the field.
| ADC-101 | Introduction to Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| CRJ-107 | Juvenile Delinquency & Procedures | 3 |
| MRT-110 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| PEH-160 | Fundamentals of Human Movement | 3 |
| PEH-170 | First Aid | 3 |
| PEH-171 | A Healthy Lifestyle and You | 3 |
| PEH-190 | Outdoor Recreation & Nature Study | 3 |
| PSR-120 | Survey of Psychiatric Rehabilitation | 3 |
| PSR-125 | Psychiatric Rehabilitation Skills | 3 |
| PSR-130 | Health Skills for Psychiatric Rehab. | 3 |
Select 1 credit hour from the following PEH courses:
Electives to ease transfer for those interested students.
Suggested Schedule
Semester 1 (15 credit hours)
| COM-101 | Composition I | 3 |
| PSY-101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| REC-101 | Introduction to Wellness Careers | 3 |
| THR-150 | Recreation Therapy Techniques I | 3 |
| ___-___ | Career Elective | 3 |
Semester 2 (16 credit hours)
| COM-102 | Composition II | 3 |
| SOC-101 | General Sociology | 3 |
| REC-102 | Older Adult Recreation and Wellness | 3 |
| THR-152 | Recreation Therapy Techniques II | 3 |
| REC-180 | Perceptual Motor Development | 3 |
| PEH-___ | PEH 105, 107, 108, 120, or 140 | 1 |
Semester 3 (15 credit hours)
| COM-103 | Speech Fundamentals | 3 |
| MTH-120 | General Education Mathematics | 3 |
| REC-182 | Recreation for Special Populations | 3 |
| REC-201 | Applied Leadership Essentials | 3 |
| ___-___ | Career Elective | 3 |
Semester 4 (17 credit hours)
| BIO-115 | Anatomy and Physiology | 5 |
| REC-205 | Professional Issues | 2 |
| THR-233 | Recreation Therapy Practicum | 3 |
| THR-237 | Recreation Therapy Seminar | 1 |
| ___-___ | Humanities and Fine Arts Elective | 3 |
| ___-___ | Career Elective | 3 |