Graduate Certificate in Recreational Therapy

Coursework covers foundational concepts such as theories of recreation, leisure, play, and recreational therapy programming. The Graduate Certificate in Recreational Therapy (RT) is designed to meet the needs of the field of Therapeutic Recreation (TR) by preparing future Recreational Therapists (RT) to meet the qualifications of the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) exam. Therapeutic Recreation is a helping profession providing recreation services to people from all backgrounds and abilities to improve their quality of life. Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS®) are the qualified providers and are also referred to as Recreational Therapists. Practitioners are found in communities working in not-for-profit, for-profit, and public agencies. This includes but is not limited to, schools, primary, acute, and tertiary hospitals, behavioral health facilities, juvenile halls and prisons, outdoor and adventure programs, independent and assisted living facilities, and long-term and skilled nursing centers. The content of the program aligns with the ten job analysis task domains found on the NCTRC exam which include professional relationships and responsibilities, assessment, plan interventions andor programs, implementation of interventions andor programs, evaluation outcomes of the interventions andor programs, document intervention services, treatment teams andor service providers, develop and maintain programs, manage RT services, and awareness and advocacy.

Admission requirements include the following: Transcripts. Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 out of a 4.0 scale to be considered for regular admission. Admitted students are expected to have undergraduate educational experiences, including general education studies, that are similar to those required for a baccalaureate at Northern Arizona University. Applicants who have earned their degree(s) from an international institution must submit official transcripts directly from the university or college. The transcripts must be in the original language of the country accompanied by an English translation.