Therapeutic Recreation and Leisure Services

Linda A. Heyne, Associate Professor and Chair

The Department of Therapeutic Recreation and Leisure Services offers two majors --- one in therapeutic recreation and one in leisure services. These majors lead to a broad range of leisure service careers. Both programs are accredited by the Council on Accreditation sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the American Association for Leisure and Recreation (AALR). In addition to a general core of professional studies, the therapeutic recreation major and the leisure services major allow students to specialize in recreation program areas and settings of particular interest. Two minors are also available --- one in recreation and one in outdoor recreation.

B.S. in Leisure Services

This program prepares students for diverse career opportunities within the recreation, parks, and leisure service field. Leisure service professionals work in a variety of settings. In commercial recreation and tourism, opportunities exist in theme parks, resorts, hotels, convention centers, and visitors bureaus. In outdoor recreation, opportunities exist in state and federal land management agencies and a variety of outdoor adventure companies. In community recreation, opportunities exist in nonprofit youth service organizations, public parks and recreation programs, and a variety of governmental agencies.

Special Academic Status Policy for Leisure Services Majors

1. A student in this major must receive a semester grade of at least C- in all required 661-xxxxx courses.

2. A student who fails to complete a required 661-xxxxx course with a grade of at least C- must repeat the course. The Ithaca College policies on repeating courses stated on p. 705 must be followed.

3. A student who receives less than a C- after repeating a required 661-xxxxx course will be subject to dismissal from the program. A student dismissed from the program may be eligible to enter other Ithaca College degree programs.

4. A student dismissed from a professional practicum is subject to receiving a failing grade and in that case must complete a prescribed program of remediation prior to a second placement. The student must register again for the practicum. A student dismissed from a professional practicum a second time is subject to dismissal from the program.

5. In exceptional cases, a student may be readmitted to the program upon satisfying conditions determined by the faculty.

At least 60 credits of liberal arts are required to graduate with a B.S. degree. All candidates for the B.S. degree in leisure services must complete a minimum of 124 credits in the components described below.

Requirements for the Major in Leisure Services --- B.S.

General requirements (LA) Credits

303-xxxxx	Biology course or
663-12000	Anatomy and Physiology I (4)	3-4
311-xxxxx	History elective	3
313-xxxxx	Mathematics elective	3-4
319-xxxxx	Speech communication elective (319-11000, 319-11500, 319-14000, or 319-14900)	3
330-10400	Introduction to Developmental Psychology or
330-20400	Principles of Developmental Psychology	3
331-xxxxx	Sociology elective	3
377-10600	Academic Writing I or
377-10700	Academic Writing II	3
377-xxxxx	Applied writing elective (not 377-10100)	3

Cultural diversity elective

Select one of the following courses

310-12900	Introduction to Global Studies (3)
331-11600	Introduction to Multicultural Studies (3)
331-13000	Youth and Youth Cultures (3)
331-20700	Race and Ethnicity (3)
331-22600	Sociology of Hispanic Americans (3)
331-30300	Global Race and Ethnic Relations (3)
339-10400	Cultural Anthropology (3)
339-12900	Introduction to Global Studies (3)	3
	Fine arts elective	3
	Liberal arts electives	19-21
	Total, general requirements (LA)	51

Professional core

661-10300	Challenge of Recreation and Leisure	3
661-10400	New Games	1
661-10500	Leadership	3
661-12500	Introduction to Special Populations	3
661-13900	Computer Applications in Recreation	3
661-23200	Program Planning	3
661-23500	Design and Operation of Areas and Facilities	3
661-33000	Administration and Supervision	3
661-33200	Research Methods	3
661-34000	Inclusive Community Leisure Services	3
661-45300	Seminar: Professional Development	3
662-12200	Emergency Health Care	1
	Total, professional core	32

Leisure services electives

A minimum of 15 credits is required. Three credits must be completed in each of the three groupings below. The other 6 credits can be in Groups I, II, and/or III, or can be 3-credit leisure services electives not listed under those groups.

Group I --- commercial recreation and tourism

661-13700	Leisure Travel (3)
661-33600	Entrepreneurial Recreation (3)
661-33700	Tourism Systems and Policies (3)
661-43100	Feasibility Studies in Commercial Recreation (3)
661-xxxxx	Experimental or new course related to commercial recreation or tourism (3)	3-9

Group II --- outdoor recreation and resource interpretation

661-21600	Outdoor Adventure Skills (3)
661-22100	Wilderness Travel (3)
661-25100	Foundations of Outdoor Adventure Pursuits (3)
661-25300	Project Adventure (3)
661-35200	Outdoor Education (3)
661-35400	Leadership Techniques in Outdoor Recreation (3)
661-xxxxx	Experimental or new course related to outdoor recreation and resource interpretation (3)	3-9

Group III --- general recreation

661-21500	Youth at Risk (3)
661-23800	Leisure and Aging (3)
661-24300	Interventions and Protocols in Therapeutic Recreation (3)
661-xxxxx	Experimental or new course related to general recreation (3)
661-33400	Leisure Education (3)
661-45000	Independent Study (1-3)	3-9
	Total, professional electives	15

Professional practicum

A minimum of 6 credits must be earned in either 661-34900 or 661-44100, both of which can be taken for variable credit. The total number of practicum credits earned for the degree may not exceed 15, including those earned in fieldwork courses outside the major. Practicum credits beyond the 12 required may be counted as free electives.

Internships must be approved by the department chair. To be eligible for an internship (661-44100), a leisure services major must meet the following prerequisites:

A GPA of at least 2.50 in Department of Therapeutic Recreation and Leisure Services courses

A minimum average of 3.00 in 661-24800 and 661-34800, Fieldwork I and II

Cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 and at least 24 credits earned in the last 12 months

Completion of at least 24 credits of required recreation (661-xxxxx) courses and at least 6 credits of leisure services electives (661-xxxxx)

661-24800	Fieldwork I	3
661-34800	Fieldwork II	3
661-34900	Advanced Fieldwork or
661-44100	Internship in Recreation and Leisure Studies	6-9
	Total, professional practicum	12-15

Free electives

Total

11-14

Summary

	General requirements (LA)	51
	Professional core	32
	Leisure services electives	15
	Professional practicum	12-15
	Free electives	11-14
	Total, B.S. in leisure services	124

B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation

Therapeutic recreation offers career opportunities for those who are interested in working with individuals with disabling conditions and who enjoy involvement in recreation and leisure-based activities. Therapeutic recreation specialists assess physical, social, emotional, and cognitive functioning to determine the individual's needs, interests, and abilities. With this information, they develop individualized treatment plans and intervention strategies to address the individual's functional deficits and enhance quality of life.

Therapeutic recreation specialists utilize medically approved activities to rehabilitate, maintain, or enlarge their clients' functional abilities. These activities can include arts, crafts, music, dance, drama, horticulture, adventure programs, interaction with pets, sports, games, and community-based outings and field trips. These activities help individuals build their self-esteem, interact effectively with others, develop physical and cognitive abilities, and learn new skills.

Therapeutic recreation specialists work in a variety of settings. In clinical settings, such as hospitals and rehabilitation centers, they treat or rehabilitate individuals with specific medical problems in cooperation with an interdisciplinary team of physicians, social workers, occupational and physical therapists, etc. In nursing homes and residential facilities, they utilize activities to enhance general health and quality of life. In the community, therapeutic recreation specialists work with recreation departments, special education programs, correctional facilities, programs for youth at risk, and centers for older adults. In these settings, therapeutic recreation specialists develop programs and provide activities that promote exercise, cognitive stimulation, creativity, enjoyment, and quality of life.

Special Academic Status Policy for Therapeutic Recreation Majors

1. A student in the therapeutic recreation major must receive a semester grade of at least C- in all required 661-xxxxx courses.

2. A student who fails to complete a required 661-xxxxx course with at least a C- grade must repeat the course. The Ithaca College policies on repeating courses stated on p. 705 must be followed.

3. A student who receives less than a C- after repeating a required 661-xxxxx course will be subject to dismissal from the program. A student dismissed from the program may be eligible to enter other Ithaca College degree programs.

4. A student dismissed from a professional practicum is subject to receiving a failing grade and in that case must complete a prescribed program of remediation prior to a second placement. The student must register again for the practicum. A student dismissed from a professional practicum a second time is subject to dismissal from the program.

5. In an exceptional case, a student may be readmitted to this program upon satisfying conditions determined by the faculty.

Requirements for the Major in Therapeutic Recreation --- B.S.

At least 60 credit hours of liberal arts courses are required to graduate with a B.S. degree. All candidates for the B.S. degree in therapeutic recreation must complete a minimum of 125 credits in the various components described below.

General requirements Credits

311-xxxxx	History elective	3
313-xxxxx	Math elective	3-4
314-23000	Medical Ethics	3
319-xxxxx	Speech Communication (319-11000, 319-11500, 319-14000, or 319-14900)	3
330-10400	Introduction to Developmental Psychology or
330-20400	Principles of Developmental Psychology	3
330-32100	Abnormal Psychology	3
331-xxxxx	Sociology elective	3
377-10600	Academic Writing I or
377-10700	Academic Writing II (by placement)	3
377-xxxxx	Writing elective (not 377-10100)	3

Cultural diversity elective

Select one from the following

310-12900	Introduction to Global Studies
331-11600	Introduction to Multicultural Studies
331-13000	Youth and Youth Cultures
331-20700	Race and Ethnicity
331-22600	Sociology of Hispanic Americans
331-30300	Global Race and Ethnic Relations
339-10400	Cultural Anthropology
339-12900	Introduction to Global Studies	3
	Total, general requirements	30-31

Required health science courses

620-10900	Sign Language I	3
640-10200	Medical Terminology	3
640-20500	Critical Health Issues	3
662-12200	Emergency Health Care	1
663-12000	Anatomy and Physiology I	4
663-12100	Anatomy and Physiology II	4
	Total, required health science courses	18

General recreation courses

661-10300	Challenge of Recreation and Leisure	3
661-10400	New Games	1
661-10500	Leadership	3
661-12500	Introduction to Special Populations	3
661-13900	Computer Applications in Recreation	3
661-23200	Program Planning	3
661-23500	Design and Operation of Areas and Facilities	3
661-33000	Administration and Supervision	3
661-33200	Research Methods	3
661-xxxxx	Recreation elective: any recreation course not required in the major	3
	Total, general recreation courses	28

Therapeutic recreation professional core courses

661-23300	Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation	3
661-24300	Interventions and Protocols in Therapeutic Recreation	3
661-33400	Leisure Education	3
661-34000	Inclusive Community Leisure Services	3
661-34400	Programming and Evaluation in Therapeutic Recreation	3
661-35600	Assessment and Documentation in Therapeutic Recreation	3
661-43300	Administration of Therapeutic Recreation	3
661-45300	Seminar: Professional Development	3
	Total, therapeutic recreation professional core courses	24

Professional practicum

A minimum of 6 credits must be earned in either 661-34900 or 661-44100, both of which can be taken for variable credit. The total number of practicum credits earned for the degree may not exceed 15, including those credits earned in fieldwork courses outside the major. Practicum credits beyond the 12 required credits may be counted as free electives. Students must complete a minimum of 480 hours over a period of no less than 12 consecutive weeks. No less than 20 hours can be completed in any week.

Internships must be approved by the department chair. To be eligible for an internship (661-44100), a therapeutic recreation major must meet the following prerequisites:

A GPA of at least 2.50 in Department of Therapeutic Recreation and Leisure Services (661-xxxxx) courses

Minimum average of 3.00 in 661-24800 Fieldwork I and 661-34800 Fieldwork II

Cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 and at least 24 credits earned in the last 12 months

Completion of a majority of the therapeutic recreation professional core.

661-24800	Fieldwork I	3
661-34800	Fieldwork II	3
661-34900	Advanced Fieldwork or
661-44100	Internship in Recreation and Leisure Studies	6-9
	Total, professional practicum	12-15

Liberal arts electives

Total

7-8

Free electives

Total

2-5

Summary

	General requirements	30-31
	Required health science courses	18
	General recreation courses	28
	Therapeutic recreation professional core courses	24
	Professional practicum	12-15
	Liberal arts electives	7-8
	Free electives	2-5
	Total, B.S. in therapeutic recreation	125

Minors

Recreation Minor

Open to students majoring in all disciplines except leisure services and therapeutic recreation.

The academic minor in recreation is designed to increase the student's awareness of the importance and extent of leisure and recreation in modern society and to prepare the student to plan, organize, and lead a recreation program of limited scope in a variety of settings.

In addition to the minimum credit requirements for this minor, students must either provide documented evidence that they have had at least 200 hours of work or volunteer experience in the areas of recreation programming or leadership with a leisure service agency, or complete the course 661-24800 Fieldwork I as space permits. Experience from other course requirements or before admission to the minor program will not satisfy the experiential requirement.

Requirements Credits

661-10300	Challenge of Recreation and Leisure or
661-10100	Leisure and Society	3
661-10500	Leadership	3
661-23200	Program Planning	3
662-12200	Emergency Health Care	1
661-xxxxx	Recreation electives	6
	Total, recreation minor	16

Outdoor Recreation Minor

Open to students majoring in all disciplines except leisure services and therapeutic recreation.

Outdoor recreation is being utilized in many settings. Businesses support "high adventure" programs for their executives. Social service agencies offer camping and outdoor adventure programs for clients. Schools use outdoor education and camping programs as part of their curriculum. This academic minor prepares students to plan, organize, and lead outdoor recreation programs of limited scope.

Requirements Credits

661-10500	Leadership	3
661-25100	Foundations of Outdoor Adventure Pursuits	3
661-21600	Outdoor Adventure Skills or
661-35400	Leadership Techniques in Outdoor Recreation	3
662-12200	Emergency Health Care	1

Recreation electives

A minimum of 6 credits selected from the following

661-21600	Outdoor Adventure Skills (3)
661-22100	Wilderness Travel (3)
661-25000	Rock Climbing (1)
661-25300	Project Adventure (3)
661-35200	Outdoor Education (3)
661-35400	Leadership Techniques in Outdoor Recreation (3)
661-35500	Outdoor Adventures for Special Populations (3)
661-xxxxx	Experimental or new course related to outdoor recreation (1-3)	6
	Total, outdoor recreation minor	16

In addition to the minimum credit-hour requirements to complete the minor, students must provide documented evidence verifying that they have had at least 200 hours of work or volunteer experience in outdoor recreation leadership or programming, or complete the course 661-24800 Fieldwork I. Experience obtained as a result of other course requirements or prior to admission to the minor program will not satisfy the experiential requirement.

A maximum of 6 credits will be accepted in transfer for this minor. These credits may be obtained from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Outward Bound, or other experiential programs giving academic credit. In most cases these credits will be substituted for 661-21600 Outdoor Adventure Skills or 661-22100 Wilderness Travel.