Recreational Therapy
College of Health
19
Average
Class Size
Courses
Getting Started
Begin required prerequisite courses:
- PSY 1010 - General Psychology
- BIOL 1210 - General Biology
- Complete AI, WR2, & QA requirements in the first year
- Familiarize yourself with Canvas
Making Progress
Find classes that fulfill U graduation & RT requirements:
- H EDU 5300 - Diversity & Health
- ANTH 4110 - Women Cross Culturally
- FSC 3770 - Parenting Across Cultures
Enhance knowledge of specific populations, groups, or disabilities:
- CSD 4100 - Understanding Children with Autism and their Families
- PSY 3700 - Drugs & Behavior
- H EDU 5350 - Eating Disorders: Prevention & Treatment
- PRT 5730 - Program for Positive Youth Development
Finishing Up
- Finish RT courses
- Meet with your advisor to ensure you're on track for graduation
- Find & complete an RT internship
Community
Getting Started
- Join the RTSA
- Take a U-Explore class choosing between land-based, snow-based, & water-based courses
- Get involved with a learning community like LEAP or BlockU
- Like the RT Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/uofu.rectherapy/
Making Progress
- Take on a leadership role in RTSA
- Participate in an Alternative Spring/Fall Break
- Volunteer with an agency that supports individuals with disabilities like Salt Lake County Adaptive Recreation, the Special Olympics, group homes, care centers, U-Fit, Wasatch Adaptive Sports, or South Davis Community Hospital
- Check out the U events calendar to find events that interest you
- Organize a service project
- Cheer for one of the U of U sport teams
Finishing Up
- Attend an RT professional conference - URTA or ATRA
- Activate your Forever Utah account through CPDC at the U
Knowledge & Skills
Getting Started
- Complete a personality profile
- Visit your advisor to explore Gen Ed courses that complement RT
- Strengthen your writing skills by visiting the Writing Center
Making Progress
- Join the RT research lab
- Consider adding a minor focused on your intended practice area
- Evaluate your interests to better determine the population or conditions you would like to explore
- Develop your communication skills by taking a COMM course
- Seek clinical experiences to advance your career goals
Finishing Up
- Present at a professional conference and/or the Undergraduate Research Symposium
- Start studying for the NCTRC exam
Transformation
Getting Started
- Meet with your advisor & customize your undergraduate experience to meet your goals
- Attend PlazaFest or visit the ASUU website to explore clubs on campus
- Form study groups
Making Progress
- Actively participate in RT clinical rotations
- Think about your future practice area & visit potential RT Internship sites
- Explore diversity experiences at the U at www.utah.edu/diversity
- Explore career options & visit the Career & Professional Development Center
- Attend a seminar hosted by U Health Office of Health Equity & Inclusion
Impact
Getting Started
- Join the URTA
- Map out your academic plan
Making Progress
- Participate in the College Council
- Actively engage with your professors - attend office hours & RT events
- Attend the URTA internship fair & URTA annual conference
- Visit a Career Coach to find summer jobs or part-time work in health care
- Visit the Bennion Center to explore volunteer opportunities
Finishing Up
- Complete a community service project
- Form professional relationships with individuals at your internship site
Careers
Getting Started
- Meet with a Career Coach to identify your strengths, interests, personality, & values
- Activate & customize your Handshake account
Making Progress
- Learn how to develop your resume
- Practice interviewing skills with a Career Coach
- Explore internship opportunities
- Find a part-time job to build your professional skills
- Network at your clinical rotation sites
- Use career events (Career Fairs/Meet & Eats) & resources (Handshake/Forever Utah) to get connected
Finishing Up
- Visit a Career Coach & learn to weigh offers & negotiate salary
- Apply for jobs
- Visit the Financial Wellness Center & create a budget for after graduation
Start Your Career Journey
Find support at the Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC)
About the Major
If you are interested in helping individuals with injury, illness, and/or disability improve their overall well-being and quality of life, a Recreational Therapy major at the U is a great fit for you! Recreational Therapy (RT) is a health and human service profession that promotes individuals' physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual well-being through individual and group counseling techniques combined with recreation-based activities. You will learn about intervention activities such as creative expression with art, music, and dance; physical activity through sports, recreation, and games; challenge/ropes courses; experiential learning; and therapeutic education group processes such as stress management, problem solving, and social skills.
The RT program at the U addresses all the requirements for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) and prepares you for the exam. Coursework covers knowledge of the body and its systems, health, psychology, recreational therapy assessment, and interventions and techniques for working with individuals with a variety of conditions. In addition to coursework, you'll gain first-hand clinical experience with four condition-specific clinical rotations culminating in a 14-week internship. You will acquire the theoretical and practical skills necessary for a career in recreational therapy and be able to support clients in developing skills, knowledge, and behaviors to promote overall well-being and life satisfaction.
The RT program at the U addresses all the requirements for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) and prepares you for the exam. Coursework covers knowledge of the body and its systems, health, psychology, recreational therapy assessment, and interventions and techniques for working with individuals with a variety of conditions. In addition to coursework, you'll gain first-hand clinical experience with four condition-specific clinical rotations culminating in a 14-week internship. You will acquire the theoretical and practical skills necessary for a career in recreational therapy and be able to support clients in developing skills, knowledge, and behaviors to promote overall well-being and life satisfaction.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain health conditions common to clients receiving recreational therapy services, including those that impact cognitive, physical, sensory, and/or psychological functioning.
- Accurately assess client treatment needs using various assessment procedures and instruments relevant to recreational therapy practice.
- Design and facilitate individual and group treatments that meet the assessed needs of clients using evidence-based recreation and leisure interventions.
- Communicate treatment outcomes both orally and in writing.
- Create written reports justifying staff, programs, and quality assurance/improvement initiatives in recreational therapy using outcome data and research evidence.
- Discuss the professional role of recreational therapists and the requirements for gaining and maintaining credentialing as a recreational therapist.
Plan & Prepare
At the U, we plan for our students to have an exceptional Educational Experience identified by four broad categories we call the Learning Framework: Community, Knowledge & Skills, Transformation, and Impact. This major map will help you envision, explore, design, and plan your personalized Exceptional Education Experience with the Learning Framework at the core. In addition to assisting you in planning your coursework and navigating the requirements of your major, this map will help you incorporate other kinds of experiences to expand your knowledge, support your development, and prepare you for the future you want.