Recreation Therapy, M.S.

COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

About the Program

The M.S. in Recreation Therapy is designed for individuals who want to advance their knowledge and skills related to evidence-based practice within healthcare and human services. The curriculum teaches from a conceptual model of health promotion and rehabilitation and maintains a lifespan perspective in three core areas: health, disability, and leisure. The primary focus of academic and clinical preparation is on training recreation therapists to use play, recreation, and leisure to achieve and maintain goals related to health promotion, rehabilitation, and full participation in active, meaningful life. Specialization coursework can be used to meet advanced certification with National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) or certification as a Child Life Specialist.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 4 years

Campus Location: Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The degree program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis.

Interdisciplinary Study: Interdisciplinary study is encouraged and may be geared toward the student's personal interests (e.g., counseling, exercise science, or special education). The diversity of departments and programs in the College of Public Health presents abundant opportunities for cross-disciplinary learning.

Affiliation(s): Numerous healthcare and human service agencies in Philadelphia and the surrounding Delaware Valley region cooperate with the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and offer opportunities for student training and research. These include nationally recognized rehabilitation facilities such as Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, MossRehab, the Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports, the Princeton Medical Center, Shriner's Hospital, the Temple University Hospital and Health System, United Cerebral Palsy of Philadelphia, and the Variety Club Camp and Developmental Center. 

Additionally, graduate students are encouraged and supported to complete internships/clinical practicums in an extensive network of agencies cultivated by the program over the years. These include placements across the country, including California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Montana, and Virginia.

Ranking: The faculty and the program are nationally recognized for excellence and have received numerous national and state awards for their contributions. Graduates of the program consistently perform well on the national credentialing examination for certified recreation therapists.

Accreditation: The academic program meets or exceeds all current curriculum standards issued by professional organizations and the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).

Areas of Specialization: Faculty members specialize and offer learning opportunities in adapted sport and inclusive recreation, behavioral health, disability studies, geriatrics, health promotion and rehabilitation, pediatrics, and physical rehabilitation.

Job Prospects: Graduates of the program are highly sought for advanced clinical/management positions in adult day programs, assisted living facilities, community settings providing specialized services to individuals with disabilities, hospitals, nursing homes, and pediatric facilities. Graduates who use the degree to enter this field are also highly sought after to begin practicing as recreation therapists. 

Certification: Professional recognition is granted by NCTRC to individuals who apply and meet established standards for certification, including education, experience, and continuing professional development. The Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential is offered to qualified individuals when they meet the agency's stringent standards.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Students are allowed to take up to 9 credits of graduate coursework before matriculation. Selection of courses must be made in conjunction with the department's Graduate Program Director.

Financing Opportunities: Limited funding is available in the form of select assistantships and externships:

• Research Assistants are expected to devote up to 20 hours per week to research obligations. Availability depends on whether faculty have externally funded research grants. Assignments vary depending on the nature of the grant. A Research Assistantship carries a stipend and partial or full tuition remission.
• Graduate Externships are available through other divisions of the university. For example, Temple University's Recreation Services hires externs to conduct student recreation events, and the Institute on Disabilities hires externs to assist with various projects. Externs do not receive tuition remission. Externship positions are handled directly by the units offering them.

Applying for a position as a Research Assistant or Graduate Extern is done in the form of a letter outlining relevant qualifications and experience. Students are notified as opportunities become available.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall:  March 1
Spring: November 1

Late applications may be considered for admission.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 2

From Whom: One letter of recommendation should be obtained from a faculty member familiar with the applicant’s academic competence. One reference letter may be from a professional who can address work-related competencies.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: If admitted, students lacking NCTRC national credentialing are required to take leveling and supportive undergraduate courses in addition to the M.S. degree requirements, as shown in Course Sequence B under "Program Requirements."

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A baccalaureate degree from an accredited post-secondary school is required. All undergraduate majors are considered. A GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required, but applicants with a GPA below 3.0 may be considered for admission based on scores at or above the 65th percentile on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogy Test (MAT) or a GPA of 3.25 in 9 credits of graduate-level coursework.

Statement of Goals: In 500 to 1,000 words, describe why your background and interests make you suitable for a career in Recreation Therapy, your future career goals, and your academic and research interests and accomplishments. Please note that as with many graduate degree programs, the Recreation Therapy M.S. requires scholarly writing. The statement of goals is also reviewed, therefore, as an example of your writing.

Standardized Test Scores:
GRE or MAT: Test scores are considered, along with the undergraduate GPA.

TOEFL: 79 iBT or 550 PBT minimum.

Clearances: The Recreation Therapy M.S. program requires students to complete clinical/field education experiences at facilities both on and off Temple University’s campuses. These placements require criminal background checks, Act 33/34 clearances, and perhaps a drug screen. Placements may also require the student to maintain personal health insurance and/or to submit proof of a physical and immunization records. The results of these requirements may limit and potentially eliminate placement options for the student, thus resulting in her/his inability to meet graduation requirements. Additionally, conviction of a misdemeanor, felony, or felonious or illegal act may prevent the individual from becoming credentialed and/or licensed to practice in the field of therapeutic recreation.

Resume: Current professional resume required.

Transfer Credit: Graduate credits from an accredited institution are considered for transfer into the M.S. in Recreation Therapy degree program. Such courses are reviewed by the M.S. Program Coordinator to determine whether they are equivalent to coursework offered at Temple and fulfill any degree requirements. The grade must be a "B" or better in order to transfer. The maximum number of credits that may be transferred into the M.S. program is 6. These credits must have been earned within five years of applying to the program.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate:

• 30 for those who hold NCTRC national certification (see Course Sequence A).
• 36 plus 6 credits of Therapeutic Recreation-specific leveling coursework for those without NCTRC national certification (see Course Sequence B). Note that other supportive coursework may be required to sit for the national credentialing examination for recreation therapist certification. Specialization electives can be used to meet advanced certification from NCTRC after one year of full-time employment as a recreation therapist.

Required Courses:

Course Sequence A (for those with NCTRC national certification)

Course Sequence B (for those without NCTRC national certification)

Culminating Events:
Master's Project:
The master's project is undertaken during THRC 9995 Master's Project in Therapeutic Recreation and is designed as the final exit requirement for the M.S. in Recreation Therapy. In these credits, students complete a field-based/field-informed project on evidence-based recreation therapy. The project is approved by the student’s faculty advisor and THRC 9995 instructor before it is implemented. Several options exist based on individual student interests and career goals. However, the final project is frequently prepared for presentation at a professional meeting/conference or publication.

Contacts

Department Contacts: