Major in Therapeutic Recreation

Bachelor of Science Degree • School of Health Professions
and Education

Studying Therapeutic Recreation: The UC Advantage

One of only a handful of programs in the discipline nationwide, the therapeutic recreation major at Utica College combines liberal arts learning with professional training and real-world experiences, helping you develop the in-depth technical and theoretical skills necessary for entry level competence in this growing profession.  

Taught by an accomplished faculty with extensive experience in the field, the major in therapeutic recreation is also unique in its focus on the clinical-medical aspects of the discipline as well as the philosophical foundation of recreation. Students participate in fieldwork through area agencies, conduct projects, and are involved in organizing interventions for various populations.    

Curriculum

The therapeutic recreation major at Utica College features academic and practical work in all aspects of the discipline, including:

• History and philosophy of recreation
• Recreational services and leadership
• Leisure counseling
• Assessment and evaluation
• Organization, administration, and supervision

... as well as major-related learning in the health sciences. Students work with a variety of health sciences-related learning resources across campus, including the state-of-the-art laboratories in F. Eugene Romano Hall.

The curriculum includes a 525- to 600-hour internship experience that may be completed in professional settings across the United States.

For specific program details, see academic requirements >

Program Student Learning Goals

Career Outcomes

The therapeutic recreation major prepares you for career opportunities in:

• Physical medicine and rehabilitation
• Mental and behavioral health
• Nursing homes and other programs serving older adults
• Residential care for people with developmental disabilities
• Youth programs
• Community based programs for people with and without disabilities

...and other fields. UC therapeutic recreation alumni have taken leadership positions at:

• Beckwith Health Care (Philadelphia, PA)
• St. Lawrence NYSARC
• Bergen Regional Medical Center (Paramus, NJ)
• Masonic Care Community (Utica, NY)
• MaineHealth
• Upstate Cerebral Palsy