Recreational Therapy

Focus your career on improving health, wellbeing and quality of life.

• Overview

  The goal of the undergraduate CURT (Clemson University Recreational Therapy) program is to prepare competent, entry-level recreational therapists with requisite cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behaviors) learning domains to improve functional outcomes and increase participation in life activities for individuals with varying disabilities or health conditions.

  Students who complete the B.S. program will be eligible to sit for certification from the NCTRC to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS).

• What is Recreational Therapy?

  Recreational therapy is a cost-effective healthcare profession that uses active treatments such as recreation, leisure, sport, play and community participation to increase the well-being and functional outcomes for individuals with varying disabilities or health conditions.

  Recreational therapy was defined by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (2009) as, “A treatment service designed to restore, remediate and rehabilitate a person’s level of functioning and independence in life activities, to promote health and wellness as well as reduce or eliminate the activity limitations and restrictions to participation in life situations caused by illness or disabling condition.” 

  More simply stated, recreational therapy improves functional outcomes for people with health conditions using active treatments such as leisure, recreation, sport, play, and community participation. Recreational therapists are nationally certified and use the clinical process of assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, and documentation. 

  Did you know that:

  • In 2012, Kiplinger Magazine ranked recreational therapy as the #4 college major for having a lucrative career.
  • CNN reported that recreational therapists have the #9 best job to save the world.
  • Forbes magazine reported that recreational therapists are the least likely to be replaced by automation (Yes, it’s true! We won’t be replaced by robots!)
• Admission Requirements

  Visit Clemson University Admissions to learn more about admission requirements, how to apply and important dates.

• Program Requirements

  Recreational Therapy program goals are met through the following course work:

  • PRTM 2600 Foundations of Recreational Therapy Practice
  • PRTM 2650 Terminology in Recreational Therapy Practice (online course)
  • PRTM 3220 Facilitation Techniques in Recreational Therapy
  • PRTM 3230 Professional Preparation for Recreational Therapy Practice
  • PRTM 3240 Assessment and Planning in Recreational Therapy
  • PRTM 3260 Recreational Therapy Implementation and Evaluation: Physical Health Conditions
  • PRTM 3270 Recreational Therapy Implementation and Evaluation: Mental Health Conditions
  • PRTM 3280 Preceptorship in Recreational Therapy
  • PRTM 4220 Management of Recreational Therapy Services
  • PRTM 4230 Adaptive Sports and Recreation (elective)
  • PRTM 4240Evidence-Based Lifestyle Interventions for Older Adults (elective)
  • PRTM 4250 RT Internship
  • PRTM 4260 Trends and Issues in Recreational Therapy

  Download the undergraduate program map for details.

  Course selections must be made in consultation with your academic advisor. Visit the Course Catalog for details about program requirements.

• CURT Program Goal and Outcomes

  Goal:

  To prepare competent, entry-level recreational therapists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to improve clients’ functional outcomes and increase participation in life activities for individuals with health conditions.

  Objectives:

  1. By graduation, 90% of students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of physical and mental health conditions through the completion of PRTM 3260 and PRTM 3270 with a grade of C or better.
  2. By graduation, 90% of students will demonstrate skills to improve clients’ functional outcomes and increase participation in life activities through successful completion of PRTM 3220, PRTM 3260, PRTM 3270, PRTM 3280, and PRTM 4050 with a grade of C or better.
  3. By graduation, 90% of students will demonstrate behaviors to improve clients’ functional outcomes and increase participation in life activities through successful completion of PRTM 3280 and PRTM 4050 with a grade of C or better.

  Upon graduation from the CURT Program, students will be able to:

  • Identify and describe the recreational therapy process (assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, and documentation).
  • Demonstrate skills related to implementation of the recreational therapy process (assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, and documentation).
  • Describe the roles and scope of practice of recreational therapy within an interprofessional treatment team.
  • Demonstrate professional behaviors appropriate for a variety of health and recreation settings.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and skill related to inclusive excellence by being effective advocates for the profession of recreational therapy and the clients we serve.
  • Understand intersectionality and cultural competence as they relate to recreational therapy practice.
  • Demonstrate broad understanding of various client populations and service settings.
  • Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and abilities that are integral to the utilization of evidence- and theory-based practice.
• Internships

  All undergraduate recreational therapy students are required to complete two practicums, a preceptorship (i.e., RT clinical rotations) in health care and human service agencies in the Clemson/Anderson/Greenville area, and a 14-week, 560-hour internship under a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS).

  Our interns are well-prepared when they go on internship. Our recent interns scored 3.57/4 on overall professionalism and competency on their final internship evaluation. In fact, 100% of internship supervisors reported they would hire their CURT intern if they had an opening.

  Learn more about Recreational Therapy program internships, including requirements and forms.

• Links of Interest

  • A Matter of Balance

  • National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification

  • The American Therapeutic Recreation Association

  • I am a Recreation Therapist

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics

• Find Out More

  For more information about the recreational therapy track, please contact:

  • Jasmine Townsend, Coordinator, Recreational Therapy Program (for RT undergraduate program questions)
  • Carmen Hawkins, Program Internship Coordinator (for RT internship questions)
  • Daniel Anderson, Advisor/Coordinator, Undergraduate Student Services
  • Lauren Duffy, Coordinator, PRTM Undergraduate Program (for curriculum questions)