About

Do you have an interest in working with people who have a disability, are recovering from a serious illness or accident, or are struggling with mental health issues? Do you have a calling that is urging you to reach out to those who are dealing with physical, social, emotional, or cognitive challenges to help them reach a better quality of life?

Students studying recreational therapy learn the skills needed to work with people in allied health-care settings such as hospitals, psychiatric clinics, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation clinics, substance abuse centers, and similar settings. You might work with returning injured service-members, seniors, children, adolescents, and individuals from all walks of life. The BS degree in recreational therapy at ECU has a strong clinical focus, which means that graduates will work side-by-side with physicians, occupational and physical therapists, nurses, and other members of an individual's treatment team wherever they work. The goal is always to help the patient/client achieve the highest level of functioning possible so as to experience life to the fullest. ECU recreational therapy students learn in the classroom, through practicum experiences, and they spend 15 weeks in a full-time internship where they learn to work with a variety of clientele in various settings. Upon graduation, students are eligible to sit for the national certification exam and become credentialed to work in the field. In North Carolina, both national certification and state licensure are required to practice recreational therapy.

ECU Advantage

Currently, ECU's recreational therapy program is one of only a handful of such programs recognized for its excellence through national accreditation. The BS in recreational therapy is an excellent choice for those interested in helping others, working in an allied health profession, and improving the lives of people who have a variety of physical, psychological, cognitive, or social disorders.

The recreational therapy faculty are a student-oriented, professionally involved, and award-winning group of professionals who share a common goal to provide students with the very best educational experience possible to ready them for the workforce of tomorrow. You will find these faculty members highly committed to your success, the craft of teaching, and remaining on the cutting edge of the profession.

As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: Cari Autry (2403 Carol G. Belk Building; 252-737-1511; autryca18@ecu.edu)

The Recreational Therapy, BS program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) through the Committee on Accreditation for Recreational Therapy Education (CARTE).

Any student wishing to declare a major in recreational therapy (RT) must, at the time of entrance into the curriculum, possess a minimum 2.5 GPA; have completed ENGL 1100, ENGL 2201; MATH 1065 or MATH 2127 or MATH 2228; BIOL 2130, BIOL 2131 and RCTX 2230; have submitted a recorded interview and application; have a personal interview with a RT faculty member; and have completed a sequencing form (timetable) in consultation with a RCTX advisor in the HHP Advising Center.

Prior to registering for 4000 level RCTX courses, all recreational therapy students are required to complete the fieldwork experience. This requires a minimum of 25 documented hours of directed experience in recreational therapy programs and recreation-based activities for individuals with disabilities. Information relating to this process is provided via recreational therapy faculty members, via the department website, and via the College of Health and Human Performance Advising Center.

Admission to recreational therapy is competitive and limited due to space availability. Majors must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA and a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA in all cognate courses to remain in good standing. Majors must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all required RCSC and RCTX courses. A student wishing to appeal should contact the RCSC chair within two weeks of notification of academic deficiency. Graduates are eligible to apply to sit for the examination to become nationally credentialed as a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS) and licensed recreational therapist (LRT) in North Carolina.

The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:

1. General education requirements including those listed below - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

  • BIOL 1050 - General Biology
  • BIOL 1051 - General Biology Laboratory
    • OR
  • BIOL 1100 - Principles of Biology I
  • BIOL 1101 - Principles of Biology Laboratory I
    • OR
  • BIOL 1150 - Principles of Biology: A Human Approach
  • BIOL 1151 - Principles of Biology: A Human Approach Discussion

  • MATH 1065 - College Algebra OR
  • MATH 2127 - Basic Concepts of Mathematics OR
  • MATH 2228 - Elementary Statistical Methods I

  • PHIL 2275 - Professional Ethics OR
  • PHIL 3281 - Introduction to Philosophical Ethics in the Health Care Professions

  • PSYC 1000 - Introductory Psychology
  • PSYC 3206 - Developmental Psychology
  • RCSC 2601 - Leisure in Society
2. Core - 44 s.h.
  • RCSC 3003 - Recreation and Sport Event Programming
  • RCSC 4000 - Research Methods and Techniques
  • RCTX 2230 - Recreational Therapy Foundations
  • RCTX 3240 - Disability Survey for Recreational Therapy Services
  • RCTX 3254 - Assessment and Measurement in Recreational Therapy
  • RCTX 3255 - Recreational Therapy Clinical Assessment and Measurement Lab
  • RCTX 4255 - Clinical Application of Recreational Therapy Skills
  • RCTX 4260 - Recreational Therapy Senior Practicum
  • RCTX 4263 - Cognitive and Psychosocial Interventions in Recreational Therapy
  • RCTX 4267 - Program Design and Management for Recreational Therapy Services
  • RCTX 4272 - Physical and Movement Interventions in Recreational Therapy
  • RCTX 4900 - Recreational Therapy Professional Development
  • RCTX 4902 - Recreational Therapy Internship Pre-Placement Seminar
  • RCTX 4990 - Recreational Therapy Internship
3. Cognates - 15 s.h.
  • BIOL 2130 - Survey of Human Physiology and Anatomy
  • BIOL 2131 - Survey of Human Physiology and Anatomy Laboratory
  • HIMA 3000 - Medical Terminology for Health Professionals
  • KINE 2850 - Structural Kinesiology

  • PSYC 3225 - Psychology of Learning OR
  • PSYC 3226 - Cognitive Psychology

  • PSYC 3375 - Abnormal Psychology
4. Restricted electives - 9 s.h.

Choose from the following courses: 

  • RCSC 2400 - Adventure-Based Program Leadership
  • RCSC 3131 - Recreation for Diverse Populations
  • RCSC 3900 - Advocacy and Practice in Recreation and Park Management
  • RCTX 3202 - Camping and Adventure Programming for Individuals with Disabilities
  • RCTX 4004 - Disability and Adaptive Sport
  • RCTX 4100 - Leisure, Aging, and Health
  • RCTX 4125 - Study Abroad in Disability and Inclusion
  • RCTX 4200 - Advanced Stress Management
  • RCTX 4210 - Introduction to Biofeedback
  • RCTX 4211 - Biofeedback Lab
  • RCTX 4252 - Recreational Therapy Leadership and Group Dynamics
  • RCTX 5000 - Theoretical Foundations of Aquatic Rehabilitation
  • RCTX 5001 - Applied Techniques in Aquatic Rehabilitation
  • or courses approved by the program director
  • or courses approved by the program coordinator
5. Electives to complete requirements for graduation.
    For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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