This page is to be used as a planning tool. Your degree audit is the official record of degree requirements. Updated August 2022.
Therapeutic Recreation 61-63 sh
Health and Human Physiology Department, E102 Field House 319-384-4664
clas-hhp@uiowa.edu, https://clas.uiowa.edu/hhp/undergraduate/bs/therapeutic-recreation
Therapeutic Recreation Requirements
There are 2 tracks within this major. The Inclusive Recreation Track is open to all students. The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) Track can be declared after prerequisites are successfully completed and is designed for students seeking licensure as Certified Recreation Therapists. Prior to completing the prerequisites, students may declare NCTRC Interest if this track is their intended path.
| Courses required of both tracks (minimum 30 sh) |
|---|
| TR:1070 Perspectives on Leisure and Play, 3sh GE SS (Prereq for NCTRC track declaration) |
| PSY:1001 Elementary Psychology1, 3sh GE SS |
| One of the following options: |
| SOC:1010 Introduction to Sociology *1, 3-4sh GE SS |
| SOC:1220 Principles of Social Psychology1, 3sh GE SS (spring only) |
| PSY:2501 Intro to Social Psychology, 3sh (prereq: PSY:1001) |
| One of the following options: (Prereq for NCTRC track declaration) |
| HHP:1400 Human Anatomy and Physiology*#, 3sh |
|
One Anatomy1 and one Physiology1 course, credits vary GE NS; check MyUI
|
| TR:2077 Introduction to Child Life#, 3sh |
| TR:1800 Aging Matters: Intro to Gerontology*, 3sh GE SS |
| HHP:2130 Human Development through the Lifespan*# 1 , 3 sh (online only) Nursing students who are changing majors may count NURS:1030 |
| TR:2061 Recreation Leadership Programming, 3sh |
| TR:2160 Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation, 3sh (Prereq for NCTRC track declaration) |
| TR:3261 Inclusive Recreation, 3sh |
| TR:3162 Therapeutic Recreation: Clientele, 3sh (spring only) |
Inclusive Recreation Track
This track does not prepare students for the Certified Recreation Therapist Specialist credential.
| Social Justice |
|---|
| Choose one: (each 3 sh) |
| GWSS:2250 History of Soc. Just. Mvts (spring only) |
| SOC:1022 Soc. Just. & Soc. Welfare - US GE VC |
| SOC:1030 Contemp. Social Problems GE DI |
| SPST:1074 Inequality in American Sport GE DI |
| Choose one: (each 3 sh) |
| GWSS:3154 Sexuality in the United States (spring only) |
| GWSS:3100 LGBTQ/Queer Studies |
| NURS:3712 Human Sexuality, Div., & Soc. |
| CSED:4130 Human Sexuality |
| CULTURE |
|---|
| Choose one: (each 3 sh) |
| CCCC:2220 Fdns. of Crit. Cultural Comp.GE DI |
| HHP:2280 Cultural Competency in Health Promo.*GE VC(online only) |
| CHARACTERISTICS OF DISABILITY |
|---|
| Take both: (each 3 sh) |
| DST:1101 Intro. to Disability Studies GE DI |
| EDTL:4900 Fdn. of Special Ed.*GE DI |
| ADMINISTRATION & NONPROFIT |
|---|
| Choose one: (each 3 sh) |
| TR:3262 Ther. Rec. Admin. (prereq: TR:3160) |
| SRM:3150 Recreation Administration |
| ENTR:3595 Nonprofit Org. Effectiveness* |
| HUMAN INTERACTiON AND HEALTH BEHAVIOR |
|---|
| HHP:2200 Physical Activity & Health*, 3sh GE VC |
| One of these: (each 3 sh) |
| HHP:3200 Health Behavior & Health Promo. (prereqs: HHP:2200 & 2310) |
| CSED:4175 Motivational Interviewing (fall only) |
| CSED:4199 Counseling for Related Professions*(online only) |
| FIELD EXPERIENCE |
|---|
| Choose from the following: (3-6 sh required) |
| CCP:1201 Academic Internship* (1-3 sh) |
| CSI:1410 Life Design (2sh) |
| TR:4197 Practicum in Ther. Rec. (1-3sh) |
| HHP:3820 Community Wellness Guided Pract. (3sh) |
| ASP:3920 Service Learning: Aging Studies (1-3sh) |
| ASP:4190 Aging Studies Internship* (3sh) |
NCRTC Track
This track prepares students for the Certified Recreation Therapist Specialist credential.
| All of the following: each 3 sh unless noted – all TR classes have TR:3160 as a prereq |
| TR:3161 Assessment & Eval. in TR (fall only) |
| TR:3163 Concepts & Issues in TR (fall only) |
| TR:3164 Ther. Rec.: Rehabilitation |
| TR:3262 Ther. Rec.: Administration |
| CLSA:3750 Medical Term.*# 1, 2sh (online only) |
| PSY:2930 Abnormal Psych. Health Prof.1 |
| TR:4190 Pre-Internship Seminar, 1sh |
| TR:4191 TR Internship*, 12 sh |
- Students must complete an independent field experience (560-hour 14-week minimum that meets NCTRC criteria).
- 300+ hours of pre-internship experience prior to the field experience required.
- What qualifies as pre-internship experience?
- Work with individuals with disabilities; at least three different settings; at least three different population groups
- At least 50 hours in clinical settings
- At least 50 hours in community settings
- At least 25 hours shadowing a TR Specialist
- Additional hours may also be earned through approved student organizations, Dance Marathon, practicum experiences. Contact department for approval.
- Only volunteer and work experiences since high school may be used to fulfill this requirement.
- For details, see Internship Manual on Therapeutic Recreation website. https://clas.uiowa.edu/hhp/undergraduate/bs/therapeutic-recreation/internships
- What qualifies as pre-internship experience?
Declaring NCTRC track:
Students begin as TR-NCTRC Interest. Once students have completed the NCTRC prerequisite courses, and have a 2.5 U.I. & Cumulative GPA, they can declare the NCTRC track with their advisor.
* May be offered during summer
# Fulfills a Pre-Child Life prerequisite; not all Pre-Child Life prerequisites are completed through this major
1 Fulfills requirements for Pre-OT. Students should also check to see if OT schools of interest have additional specific requirements. Not all Pre-OT requirements are fulfilled in this major.
Career Information
What is a Recreation Therapist?
Examples of Inclusive Recreation: