Post-Bac in Recreation Therapy
The post baccalaureate certificate in Recreation Therapy is designed for students who have a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field who want to become certified Recreation Therapists. Upon completion of the certificate, students are eligible to sit for the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) exam or the California State Board of Recreation Therapy certification exam. Eligibility is determined by the classes taken and also by the certifying agency.
Recreation Therapy classes are offered on campus, in-person. Classes taken at other universities can be waived off of the student's degree plan and the overall required units removed. A culminating internship is required by the certifying agencies. Internship placement assistance is provided.
* A baccalaureate degree, which may be completed concurrently, is required for the completion of the certificate program. State and National Certificate Exam requirements are varied and can change; it is the student's responsibility to ensure that their program of study meets the exam certificate requirements of the agency governing the certificate they wish to pursue.
* This certificate program is eligible for Financial Aid. Students are responsible for Graduate and Post Baccalaureate Tuition and Fees found on the University Tuition and Fees website.
Recreational therapists hold about 20,000 jobs in the states. The largest employers of recreational therapists are hospitals (e.g., state, local and private), government (e.g., VAs, Correctional Systems, etc.), nursing care facilities (e.g., skilled nursing, assistive living, daily living facilities, etc.), ambulatory healthcare services, and other social and human services. Lately, there is a growing trend for recreational therapists to work in private practice providing services in the home and community as well. Depending on the settings, recreational therapists will be working with diverse populations such as individuals with physical disabilities, older adults, individuals with psychiatric disorders, pediatric patients, youth at risk, and people with developmental or mental disabilities.
- A baccalaureate degree in progress or completed with a GPA of 3.0 or above or explain why the GPA is lower in the Statement of Purpose
- Submit Application and Supporting Documents by Deadline: November 1 and June 1
- Official Transcripts uploaded to Cal State apply from all relevant degree programs
- CV/resume
- Statement of Purpose that describes any experience in Recreation Therapy, explains interest in Recreation Therapy and the reason for seeking admission to the post bac certificate program.
Recreation Therapy Coursework (18 units)
Take All of the Following (15 units):
- REC 351 - Foundations of Inclusive Recreation and Recreation Therapy (3 units)
- *”C” or better required.
- REC 451 - Management and Administration of Recreation Therapy Services (3 units) /
- REC 551 - Management and Administration of Recreation Therapy Services (3 units)
- REC 452 - Assessment and Documentation in Recreation Therapy (3 units) /
- REC 552 - Assessment and Documentation in Recreation Therapy (3 units)
- REC 453 - Comprehensive Programming and Evaluation in Recreation Therapy (3 units) /
- REC 553 - Comprehensive Programming and Evaluation in Recreation Therapy (3 units)
- REC 458 - Clinical Techniques in Recreation Therapy (3 units) /
- REC 558 - Clinical Techniques in Recreation Therapy (3 units)
Choose One of the Following (3 units):
- REC 455 - Recreation Therapy for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (3 units)
- *”C” or better required
OR
- REC 456 - Recreation Therapy for Individuals with Psychiatric Disorders (3 units)
- *”C” or better required
General Recreation Coursework (9 units)
Below are recommended courses, but not limited to:
- REC 469 - Disability, Culture and Society: Issues and Intervention (3 units) /
- REC 569 - Disability, Culture and Society: Issues and Intervention (3 units)
- REC 473 - Aging and Leisure (3 units) /
- REC 573 - Aging and Leisure (3 units)
- REC 340 - Leisure in Contemporary Society (3 units)
*The courses need to be approved by the advisor.
Supportive Coursework (18 units)
*In addition to the aforementioned courses, take a minimum of 5 units of upper-division courses related to the field of Recreation Therapy or related fields (e.g., Psychology, Sociology, Biological Sciences, Special Education, Adaptive P.E.,& Human Services).
* A minimum of 18 units (with a minimum of 14 units in upper-division courses) are required. ANTH 319 (3 units), PSY 370 (3 units), REC 455 or REC 456 (3 units) count towards the 14 units of upper-division courses.
* If you take (or took) the equivalent courses below from other institutions (e.g., community college), such courses can be transferred with advisor’s approval. Otherwise, a student needs to take it at CSULB.
- ANTH 319 - Human Growth and Development (3 units)
- BIOL 207 - Human Physiology (4 units)
- BIOL 208 - Human Anatomy (4 units)
- PSY 100 - General Psychology (3 units)
- PSY 370 - Abnormal Psychology (3 units)
Fieldwork/Internship (6-12 units)
To be eligible for both National and State Certifications, students must complete the required hours as listed below:
*600 hrs for the National Certification and 1,000 hrs for the State Certification.
1) 600 hrs - REC 498 - Internship in Leisure Services (6-12 units) (Internship in Leisure Services)
* Needs to be supervised by a National Certified Recreational Therapist.
* If a student is supervised by a State Certified Recreational Therapist, the student will only be eligible for the State Certification.
2) 200 hrs - Either REC 485 - Field Work (3 units) (*Can be repeated up to 6 units OR on your own) and or Sociology Non-Academic Fieldwork
* Fieldwork needs to be related to RT/TR experiences - with an advisor’s approval.
