These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2023-2024. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2023 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

A Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Recreational Therapy is awarded to students upon satisfactory completion of a minimum of 121 semester hours of credit with a minimum GPA of 2.00 overall and a minimum GPA of 2.5 for classes in the major. Students completing this degree are eligible to sit for the national credentialing examination for recreational therapists. 

Summary of Requirements

University Requirements

  • All students are required to complete the General Education (GenEd) curriculum. Please note that the University GenEd curriculum has specific rules regarding the completion of this university requirement (for example, the number of courses a student may take in one department to satisfy GenEd Requirements), so careful review of the GenEd section of this Bulletin is encouraged. 
  • MATH 0701 (4 credits) and/or ENG 0701 (4 credits), if required by placement testing. 
  • All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. Writing Intensive classes in Recreational Therapy include:
    RCTH 3096Assessment and Documentation in Recreational Therapy3
    RCTH 4196Recreational Therapy Clinical Procedures3
  • Students are also encouraged to review university requirements for successful progression through their academic careers. Knowledge of course repeat policies, including the withdrawal policy, academic standing, and rules on taking courses elsewhere can be found in the Academic Policies section of this Bulletin.

College Requirement

All College of Public Health undergraduates must successfully complete the College Core Course, HRPR 1001 Public Health: The Way We Live, Work and Play.

Clearance Requirements

Please note the Recreational Therapy program requires students to complete clinical/field education experiences at facilities both on and off the University campus. These placements will require criminal background checks, Act 33/34 clearances and perhaps a drug screen. Placements may also require the student to maintain personal health insurance and/or submit a physical and immunization records. The results of these requirements may limit and potentially eliminate placement options which can, in turn, result in an inability to meet graduation requirements. Additionally, conviction of a misdemeanor, felony, or felonious or illegal act may prevent you from becoming credentialed and/or licensed to practice in recreational therapy. Please see https://www.atra-online.com/page/CertandLicense for more information about certification and licensure.

Recreational Therapy Program Requirements

Students must complete a set of specific courses in the major, including Health Related Professions Core, Cognate Core, Recreational Therapy major courses, and two credit-earning field-based clinical internships (RCTH 3185 and RCTH 4185). Students must also complete other non-credit earning requirements as part of the major, including 70 hours of professional development / volunteer experiences relevant to the major, criminal and child abuse clearances, health immunization and physical documentation, and certification in First-Aid/CPR.

All Recreational Therapy courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher. 

Health Related Professions Core 1
HRPR 1001Public Health: The Way We Live, Work and Play3
SBS 2103Health Psychology and Human Behavior3
Cognate Core 1
EPBI 2219Biostatistics and Public Health3
or PSY 1003 Statistics for Psychology
or SOC 1167 Social Statistics
KINS 1223Human Anatomy and Physiology I 23-4
or KINS 1221 Principles of Anatomy and Physiology I
KINS 1224Human Anatomy and Physiology II 23-4
or KINS 1222 Principles of Anatomy and Physiology II
KINS 2204Motor Behavior3
PSY 1001Introduction to Psychology3
PSY 2201Foundations of Psychopathology3
PSY 2301Foundations of Developmental Psychology3
Lower-Division Recreational Therapy Coursework
RCTH 1102Inclusive Recreation and Sports Services3
RCTH 2103Foundations of Recreational Therapy Practice3
Upper-Division Recreational Therapy Coursework
RCTH 2104Recreational Therapy Modalities3
RCTH 3096Assessment and Documentation in Recreational Therapy3
RCTH 3111Health Promotion through Leisure Education3
RCTH 3801Physical and Neurological Health Conditions Across the Lifespan3
RCTH 3802Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Conditions Across the Lifespan3
RCTH 4102Research and Evaluation in Recreational Therapy3
RCTH 4103Professional Issues in Recreational Therapy3
RCTH 4111Administration of Recreational Therapy3
RCTH 4196Recreational Therapy Clinical Procedures3
Internship Experience
RCTH 3185Internship I in Recreational Therapy3
RCTH 4185Internship II in Recreational Therapy12
Recreational Therapy Electives
Select two of the following:6
RCTH 2201
Recreational Therapy and Developmental Disabilities
RCTH 2203
Assistive Technology in Recreation
RCTH 2205
Adventure Challenge/Programming
RCTH 3201
Health, Activity, and Aging
RCTH 3202
Recreational Therapy and Mental Health
RCTH 4205
Recreational Therapy in Geriatric Service Settings
RCTH 4211
Recreational Therapy and Physical Disabilities
RCTH 4213
Therapeutic Play, Recreation and Children's Health
Total Credit Hours81-83
1

Students must successfully pass all Health Related Professions courses and Cognate Core courses with a minimum grade of C. Students not demonstrating the ability to meet this academic requirement will not be permitted to progress to the upper-division Recreational Therapy Core and related electives in the curriculum.

2

Students should consult with their advisor for information on the distinctions between Anatomy and Physiology selection sequence and its implication for the degree and career goals. Satisfactory completion of KINS 1221 and KINS 1222 sequence or KINS 1223 and KINS 1224 sequence will meet the two-course GenEd Science and Technology requirement. The courses are similar, but not interchangeable, and must be taken in the correct sequence. Students choosing the KINS 1221 and KINS 1222 sequence may need to take an additional 2-credit elective to meet the minimum 121 credit hour degree requirement. Please see a departmental advisor for clarification.