Recreational Therapy Assistant A.A.S.
A45150
The recreational therapy assistant curriculum prepares individuals to plan, implement, and document therapeutic recreation interventions, according to national standards of practice. The curriculum emphasizes the use of recreation as treatment designed to (re)habilitate a client’s level of functioning and independence.
Coursework includes facilitating adaptive, inclusive and universal activities (ropes courses, creative arts, water sports, etc.) and leading or co-leading recreational therapy sessions (social skills, team building, problem solving, leisure education etc.) for people with disabilities and their families.
Graduates should qualify for a LRTA license from the North Carolina Board for Recreational Therapy Licensure. Employment opportunities include group homes, retirement facilities, agencies serving people with developmental disabilities, psychiatric or mental health agencies, and other rehabilitation facilities. Students should consult their advisor for information about course scheduling.
Upon successful completion of this program, the student should be able to:
- Utilize systematic procedures for collection of patient/client information
- Identify activities and activity adaptations that may be included in the individual treatment plan
- Plan and implement group and individual recreational therapy
- Observe response to activity/intervention and clearly report observations in written form
- Work effectively and appropriately with others through collaboration and teamwork
Admission Policy
Program Information
Clinical facilities may require students to submit a physical and emotional health form. Students must submit a completed criminal background check and drug screen to the clinical facility for approval to participate in clinical training in the facility. If a clinical facility denies admission to a student for any reason, the student will not be able to complete the program.
Also see Career and College Promise for additional options for high school students.
General Education
Required Courses
| BIO 163 | Basic Anatomy & Physiology | 5 | FA, SP |
| ENG 111 | Writing and Inquiry | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| PSY 150 | General Psychology | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
Communications
Select 6 semester hours credit from the following
| COM 110 | Introduction to Communication | 3 | FA, SP |
| COM 120 | Intro Interpersonal Com | 3 | |
| COM 231 | Public Speaking | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| ENG 114 | Prof Research & Reporting | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
Humanities/Fine Arts
Select 3 semester hours credit from the following
| ART 111 | Art Appreciation | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| DRA 111 | Theatre Appreciation | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| DRA 126 | Storytelling | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| HUM 115 | Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| HUM 230 | Leadership Development | 3 | |
| MUS 110 | Music Appreciation | 3 | FA, SP |
| PHI 240 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| REL 110 | World Religions | 3 | FA, SP |
Major Courses
Core Required Courses
Other Major Required Courses
| MED 120 | Survey of Medical Terminology | 2 | FA, SP |
| PSY 241 | Developmental Psychology | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| PSY 281 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| TRE 121 | Creative Expressive Arts I | 2 | FA |
| TRE 170 | Recreational Therapy Psych Lab | 1 | FA |
| TRE 220 | Initiatives/Challenge Course | 2 | FA |
| TRE 270 | Intellectual Dev Dis Lab | 1 | FA |
| TRE 271 | Rec Therapy Geriatrics Lab | 1 | SP |
| TRE 282 | Rec Ther Internship III Superv | 1 | SP |
Physical Education Elective
Select 2 semester hours credit from the following courses
Total Credit Hours: 69