The BS degree in Recreation Management and Youth Leadership with an emphasis in therapeutic recreation provides students with a fundamental background in human anatomy, human development, disabling conditions, psychology, assessment, and program planning.
Students study both theoretical and practical issues related to recreation and leisure.
Students learn to synthesize client information in order to develop interventions using recreation as a modality to improve functioning, well-being, and quality of life. In the therapeutic recreation emphasis, courses prepare students in the areas of leadership skills, systems management, budgeting and finance, program development, facilities design, philosophy of volunteerism, and current issues in the field. Because of the nature of the profession, course work may not be limited to the Recreation Management and Youth Leadership department. Therapeutic recreation professionals work in diverse settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, drug and alcohol treatment centers, long term care facilities, retirement centers, youth and adult corrections, mental health centers, and community based recreation programs for people with disabling conditions. As the health care industry continues to change, opportunities to work within other paradigms including home health care and respite care will grow.