This course examines the history, concepts, theories, and foundations of therapeutic recreation. It introduces the role of therapeutic recreation for disadvantaged populations and persons with disabilities and illnesses in health care and community settings. Students will examine the application of therapeutic recreation in prevention services and the link between social, psychological, and physical health. Students will also gain a basic understanding of the disabilities, impairments and illnesses most often encountered in the provision of therapeutic recreation services. Students will gain a basic understanding of the principles and techniques in therapeutic recreation programming to include: client assessment, individual programming planning, behavioral techniques, activity analysis, documentation, specific program design, and program evaluation.

Addressing physical and psychological needs of individuals with physical disabilities. This course will also provide appropriate recreational therapy techniques and methods used in providing services to individuals in clinical and community settings.

This course will examine the most recent trends in the field of Therapeutic Recreation. Topics that will be discussed will include: the current settings in which recreational therapists are typically employed, various treatment modalities, collaboration entities that are beneficial to clients treated in recreational therapy environments, and future developments within the Therapeutic Recreation field, including evaluation of current research in this area.

This course provides an opportunity to learn basic skills essential for the assessment of interpersonal relations. Students will examine interpersonal dynamics and communication in families, the workplace, community organizations, and social settings. An emphasis is placed on developing skills in listening, observation, and analysis. Case studies will be used to explore a variety of presenting problems and appropriate assessment strategies.

An introduction to the processes and techniques of therapeutic recreation to meet the unique needs of people with disabilities. This course is designed to discuss the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation strategies utilized in recreational therapy. The course will also take an in-depth look at the challenges associated with the recreational treatment process and examine the various methods used in overcoming these challenges.

This course will address psychiatric, social, behavioral, and addiction difficulties through recreational therapy interventions in behavioral and mental health settings. This course will discuss the therapeutic recreation strategies and techniques that can improve functional abilities, enhance recreation skills and attitudes, build confidence, ease fears, promote greater self-reliance, strengthen interpersonal skills, manage stress and emotional difficulties, and enrich the client’s quality of life.

This course examines multicultural competence and helps students develop awareness, knowledge, and skills that will enable them to work effectively in cross-cultural situations. The course will also discuss the challenges and ethical considerations associated with working with diverse populations in a therapeutic recreation environment and the various methods used in overcoming these challenges.

This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of systematic changes within the individual from conception through death. Unlike many studies of development, this course is structured around issues of development rather than examination of development from a chronological perspective. This structure will allow the student to more completely grasp life-span issues. Family, social roles, lifestyle, psychological disorders, mental abilities, and death and dying will be examined.

This course will examine the importance of reliable assessment and evaluation in the recreational therapy treatment planning process. There will be a focus on assessment, developing measurable treatment goals, evaluating outcomes, and documentation.

This course is a broad overview of human anatomy and physiology with comparisons to representative vertebrates (e.g., fish, amphibian, reptile, bird, and mammal). The form and function of the human body will be explored using a systems approach. Connections will be drawn between major themes including cell theory, homeostasis, evolution, hierarchy of structure, and unity of form and function for the selected vertebrates.

This course will discuss contemporary recreational therapy program organizational principles and administrative issues, such as assessment, instruction, evaluation, and supervision of staff and clients in recreational activities as part of a therapeutic/rehabilitative program.

This course presents leadership as an on going and developing set of theories and models. Recognizing these theories and models provides a basis for understanding how leadership influences the success of individuals, groups, and organizations. The development of several of these theories and models will be examined to create a current perspective on leadership.

This course focuses on conceptual frameworks and issues in human behavior and the social environment. Additionally, the interaction between the social environment and human behavior will be emphasized, applying a systems perspective across the life span. The course will also discuss substantial information on human diversity and populations at risk, including information on racial and ethnic groups, gender, and sexual orientation. Implications for practice and relationship building will be explored.

This course is designed to introduce ethical thinking and concepts regarding health care to prepare the student with the essential vocabulary and thought processes to understand, evaluate and participate in ethical decision making.

This course provides an overview of the competencies necessary to critically plan, implement and evaluate human service programs. Relevant program evaluation models are reviewed and a primer of quantitative and qualitative research methods is provided. Data collection techniques and the ethics and standards of evaluation practice are also covered. Social and human service trends relevant to program planning are also addressed in order to assist in the development of human service programs to meet future societal needs.

This course provides an overview of the rehabilitation process including historical developments and theoretical underpinnings, with an emphasis on the current operational aspects of local, state, and federal rehabilitation service delivery systems, as well as private and not-for-profit agencies. Additionally, the course will provide an understanding of how to select the services that will meet the unique needs of individuals and assisting them and their families in developing and implementing an individual rehabilitation plan. The course will also outline strategies for working with families in order to improve access and engagement in the rehabilitation process.

The field experience will be individually arranged and will provide a supervised on-site training experience (480 hours). Students will select their choice of a Community Based Organization (CBO) and will complete their field experience in this site. This experience will provide a hands-on implementation of principles and theory learned as they relate to recreational therapy settings. Students will be supervised by an onsite supervisor who is NCTRC CTRS certified on a weekly basis.

Students in this course will critically examine theories and research concerning the cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development of the typical and atypical child from birth to age eight. Emphasis will be placed on the ability to observe and describe child behavior and to understand the principles and processes that govern growth and development in the early childhood years. Implications of knowledge of child development for parental behavior, professional practices, and social policy will also be considered.

This course examines aspects of growth and development during childhood and adolescence: physiological, cognitive, personality, and social.

This course will review behavior modification techniques applied to diverse areas such as mild and severe behavior problems in children and adults, behavior medicine, organizational behavior, sports psychology, and self-management.

This course will address physical, psychological, and social needs of children and adolescents through recreational therapy. The course will also take an in depth look at assessment, treatment, and evaluation considerations when working with children and adolescents. Age-appropriate activities to provide support, pain management, and coping education for medical and therapy procedures will be discussed, as well as activities that involve families to facilitate coping skills for the child and the family.

This course explores the demography of aging and its implications for society, social structure, work and retirement, health care and housing, and the effects of an aging society on public policy.

This course examines the developmental experiences of maturity and addresses the physiological and psychological aspects of aging.

This course examines the psychosocial and cultural variations associated with maturing and aging. Topics covered will include an overview of life choices, living wills, and treatment, as well as cultural implications of senior care.

This course will address the physical, psychological, and social needs of older adults through recreational therapy. This course will also take an in depth look at assessment, treatment, and evaluation considerations when working with the older adult population.

This course provides an overview of management history and theory, schools of management thought, the functions and processes of management, and the environment within which the modern manager operates.

The class material will include both theory and practical application of Organizational Behavior in organizations. OB is the study of how individuals and groups impact the behavior within an organization. It is a field of systematic study that focuses on improving productivity and quality, and assisting practitioners to develop methods to empower people as well as to design and implement change programs. We live in a world characterized by rapid change, globalization, and diversity. OB offers insights in these areas while providing guidance for managers in creating an ethically healthy work climate.

This course prepares students to manage in the diverse work place. Emphasis is on practical, experiential classroom activities designed to help students understand the range of cultural behaviors and expectations found in the work place.

This course will examine specific management, supervision, and leadership skills when overseeing therapeutic recreation practice. Operational and program evaluation procedures specific to therapeutic recreation settings will be discussed, including components such as developing quality improvement measures, directing and advising staff, and managing conflicts with clients and staff.