Therapeutic Recreation (BA)

When you study Therapeutic Recreation, your passion for people shapes you into an agent for change. As a therapeutic recreation specialist, you assess individual leisure needs in order to design specialized programs for individuals with physical, social, intellectual, or emotional disabilities. You may work alongside a team of occupational and physical therapists and social workers to maintain or improve a client’s quality of life and enhance his or her independence.

The curriculum bridges the classroom and the outside community, giving you real-life experiences that hone your leadership and teamwork skills. You’ll also:

• Understand individual and societal influences on leisure behaviour in the practice of therapeutic recreation and administration
• Learn to assess individual and community needs in order to develop, coordinate and implement special events and programs for diverse populations
• Engage in fieldwork with community organizations to evaluate the success of therapeutic recreation programs

Concordia’s hands-on approach provides a solid foundation for future graduate studies in such fields as recreation and leisure studies, organization or community development or public or business administration. Students graduate with practical skills that let them flourish in the health-care services sector.

A Bachelor of Arts or Science degree takes a minimum of three or four years (90 – 120 credits) of full-time study, depending on your academic background.

Program option

• Specialization in Therapeutic Recreation (60 credits)
  The program's curriculum is designed for students interested in planning and implementing Recreation and Leisure Services for people with compromised health conditions, disabilities and other disadvantaged social conditions.

Courses

Therapeutic Recreation alumni establish careers the health-care sector. They often collaborate with other health-care professionals in hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, private business and community programs that provide services to marginalized individuals.