Recreation Therapy, MS | (Recreational Therapy)
Master Of Science In Recreation
Recreational therapy employs recreation and leisure activities as a tool to improve function and well-being for people living with disabilities or illnesses. Recreational therapists help maintain or improve a client's physical, mental, and emotional well-being through a variety of techniques, including sport, wellness forums, drama, music, dance, and community reintegration. Therapists assess individuals' needs, plan and implement specific interventions to meet those needs, and document and evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions.
The IU Online Master of Science in Recreational Therapy explores courses on measuring clinical outcomes; the delivery of therapeutic interventions; administration theory and management practices; research in health, kinesiology, and recreation; and statistics in public health. Through projects, internship opportunities, and field experiences, you learn how to execute the recreational therapy process of assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation (APIE), and gain a deeper understanding of theoretical foundations. Further, you acquire program-development and consultation skills, and learn advanced recreational therapy techniques. Both on-campus and online students have opportunities to participate in faculty research teams as well as engage with the IU Wheelchair Basketball Club.
All students graduating from the major are eligible to sit for the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) examination.
Your IU Online MSR in Recreational Therapy prepares you for such careers as:
- Recreational therapist
- Adaptive sport coordinator
- Activities director
- Activity coordinator
- Therapeutic recreation specialist
- General activities therapist
Degree Requirements
To graduate with the MSR in Recreational Therapy, you must complete 35 credit hours.
Requirements are broken down as follows:
- Recreational therapy foundation courses (15 credit hours)
- Recreational therapy emphasis courses (12 credit hours)
- Recreational therapy capstone project (3-5 credit hours)
- Elective courses (3 credit hours)