Therapeutic Recreation specialists are involved in helping individuals with disabilities learn the skills and attitudes necessary to develop a satisfying leisure lifestyle. Therapeutic Recreation is concerned with the treatment of conditions which are disabling and the facilitation of independent leisure functioning.

This major offers the student a track that will allow them to be eligible to take the national certification examination. The major is nationally accredited and provides a strong educational background for the student. Graduates tend to work in hospitals, state facilities, group treatment and community-based programs in the area of rehabilitation, leisure education and community integration.

Pre Major Declaration Prerequisite Requirements

• Students interested in the Therapeutic Recreation Major must apply and be accepted into the Therapeutic Recreation program to start fall quarter.
• The required prerequisites are PSYC 100 with a grade ≥C; ENGL 201 (or equivalent English course) with a grade ≥C; and a passing grade in one college Chemistry class.
• The application also requires a 2–3 page essay addressing the following points: brief autobiography including some interesting facts about yourself (interests, hobbies, etc.), how you became interested in Therapeutic Recreation and any experiences you've had in this area and a description of your overall academic and career goals. The application form is available online on the WAMS department page.
• Transcripts are required for transfer students only.
• Selection will be determined by application essay and overall grades from PSYC 100 and ENGL 201.
• Applications will be reviewed and students will be notified by the first week of May.

Notes:

• two years of a single high school foreign language or one year of a single college level foreign language is required.
• current First Aid/CPR card is required for all majors.

Major Declaration Requirement: must complete ENGL 201 with a minimum grade ≥C.

Grade Requirements

• a minimum grade ≥C must be obtained in each required RCLS course (if a lower grade is received, the course must be retaken);
• a minimum cumulative GPA ≥2.0 shall be required for all university coursework; 
• failure to comply with the above standards will jeopardize professional internship eligibility.

University Competencies and Proficiencies

English 
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance Exams 
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB

General Education Requirements (GER)

• Minimum Credits—180 cumulative credit hours 
  • 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
  • 45 credits in residence (attendance) at Eastern, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at Eastern
• Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0

Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACR)

Humanities and Arts 
Natural Sciences 
Social Sciences

University Graduation Requirements (UGR)

Diversity Course List
Foreign Language (for Bachelor of Arts)
Global Studies Course List
Minor or Certificate
Senior Capstone Course List

All admitted students must officially Declare a Major by the time they reach 90 credits (junior standing).
Application for Graduation (use EagleNET) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term you expect to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).

Use the Catalog Archives to determine two important catalog years.

SOAR calculates based on these two catalog years.

1. The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Credit Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
2. The catalog in effect at the time the student declares a major or minor is used to determine the program requirements.

Students who successfully earn a BA in Therapeutic Recreation from EWU should be able to do the following:

• demonstrate a working knowledge of technology and its various uses in the recreation profession;
• demonstrate a working knowledge of the career and entrepreneurship opportunities available upon graduation;
• demonstrate an awareness of diversity, equity, inclusion, and will demonstrate multi‐cultural competence in recreation and leisure service delivery settings;
• demonstrate an understanding and application of the therapeutic recreation process: assessment, program planning, implementation and evaluation;
• demonstrate an understanding of the history, breadth, depth, and complexity of the recreation and leisure services industry;
• demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills;
• demonstrate knowledge of and skill at research, problem solving, and critical thinking;
• demonstrate skills and techniques to assist individuals in learning to cope with the effects of their disabilities or illness;
• demonstrate the knowledge base to successfully complete the NCTRC Certification practice tests to better prepare students for the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) exam;
• demonstrate, through a variety of activities, and participate in events that give a better understanding of how an individual with a disability or illness can participate in leisure activities and apply that knowledge to their internship experience.