
Master of Science in Therapeutic Recreation
DURATION
18 up to 24 Months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
USD 9,552 / per semester
STUDY FORMAT
Blended, Distance Learning, On-Campus
Key Summary
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
Online or on campus, the M.S. degree’s concentration in therapeutic recreation prepares you to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist® (CTRS).
Regardless of their undergraduate major — anything from art to English to the natural sciences — students can pursue their 34-credit master’s degree.
Our M.S. concentration in therapeutic recreation, which can be pursued in person or fully online, prepares students to become Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist® (CTRS). We also offer a six-course online certificate for professionals who require the necessary coursework to become a CTRS. Those courses can be applied to the M.S. if students wish to continue their studies at SUNY Cortland.
Students finish their studies with an internship that integrates theory with practice. They choose from an array of clinical or community-based settings and work under the guidance of a CTRS and faculty supervisor.
NCTRC, the national certifying body for therapeutic recreation, offers the NCTRC scholarship. Individuals may apply for an NCTRC Scholarship for full or partial reimbursement of funds associated with successful completion (earned grade of C or better) of academic credit generating course(s) completed within the past 12 months. Academic courses must lead to an application for Professional Eligibility, recertification of their CTRS® credential, Area of Specialization Designation, progress toward advancing a degree in TR/RT, or enhanced recreational therapy knowledge to provide improved quality of care.
Exceptional Faculty
Lynn Anderson, Susan Barnett, Jackie Dyke, and Susan Wilson serve as professors for most therapeutic recreation courses. They all are award-winning, nationally-recognized experts in the fields of outdoor, therapeutic, and inclusive recreation who boast impressive records of scholarship and service. Because our classes are small and our student-centered approach, you will get the guidance you need.
Program Outcome
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the nature and scope of the recreation profession and its associated service delivery systems, and the foundations of the recreation profession in history, theory, science, and philosophy.
- Demonstrate the ability to assess, plan, implement, document, and evaluate recreation services that facilitate targeted human experiences and outcomes, and that embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity.
- Demonstrate entry-level knowledge about management/administration of recreation services.
- Demonstrate the sustained ability to apply the recreation process, use diverse, structured ways of thinking to solve problems related to different facets of professional practice, engage in advocacy, and stimulate innovation.
Career Opportunities
You’ll learn how to help people with disabilities and other differences achieve a state of well-being. You’ll also qualify to sit for the national certification exam to become a CTRS. Therapeutic recreation specialists work in clinical settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers and nursing homes. They also work in community settings such as parks and recreation departments, retirement centers, camps and schools.
Therapeutic recreation is one of the fastest-growing health and human services professions, where graduates can pursue a career that provides a powerful sense of purpose. CNN Money listed it as one of the ten best jobs to save the world, and Forbes chose it as one of the top 25 meaningful college majors.
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