Note: this program is currently not accepting new students.

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.

Note: this program is currently not accepting new students.

A 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.

Required–1500 hours of practical experience–see advisor.
Required Core Courses
RCLS 201	FOUNDATIONS OF THE RECREATION EXPERIENCE INDUSTRY	4
RCLS 220	LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN RECREATION EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT	3
RCLS 240	OVERVIEW OF THERAPEUTIC RECREATION SERVICES	4
RCLS 270	DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE	2
RCLS 313	PUBLIC LANDS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION	4
RCLS 360	FACILITY PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN	4
RCLS 385	EVENT PLANNING AND EXPERIENCE DESIGN	4
RCLS 400	LIABILITY AND RISK MANAGEMENT IN RECREATION EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT	4
RCLS 425	EVALUATION AND RESEARCH METHODS IN RECREATION EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT	4
RCLS 435	PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION IN RECREATION EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT	2
RCLS 455	RESORT AND COMMERCIAL RECREATION MANAGEMENT	3
RCLS 470	ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION IN RECREATION EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT	4
RCLS 480	FINANCIAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN RECREATION EXPERIENCE	4
Required Supporting Courses
BIOL 232	HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY NON-BIOL MAJORS	5
BIOL 233	HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY NON-BIOL MAJORS	5
BIOL 234	HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY NON-BIOL MAJORS	2-5
or PHED 256	MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
PSYC 201	LIFE-SPAN DEVELOPMENT	5
PSYC 302	ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY	5
RCLS 345	THERAPEUTIC RECREATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES	4
RCLS 420	PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION IN THERAPEUTIC RECREATION	4
RCLS 440	PROFESSIONAL ISSUES IN THERAPEUTIC RECREATION	4
RCLS 445	PROCESSES AND TECHNIQUES IN THERAPEUTIC RECREATION	4
RCLS 450	ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES IN THERAPEUTIC RECREATION	4
RCLS 493	THERAPEUTIC RECREATION PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIP (Therapeutic Recreation majors have specific requirements to fulfill and must consult with their advisor)	12
Required Senior Capstone
RCLS 490	SENIOR CAPSTONE IN RECREATION	4
Total Credits		104-107

University Competencies and Proficiencies

English 
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance 
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

---

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.

Degree Works 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 BS 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.