新罕布什尔大学

Therapeutic recreation is rooted in the belief that purposeful activities can improve the well-being of people of all ages who are facing physical, mental, cognitive or emotional challenges. Working in this rewarding field, you may find yourself helping others through activities as varied as outdoor excursions, sports, arts and craft projects, and dance or community events. The therapeutic recreation degree program at UNH will prepare you for work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, assisted living facilities, schools, mental health programs, and community-based recreation programs that serve children and adults with disabilities.

You’ll have unique opportunities for fieldwork and research in the therapeutic recreation program at UNH. Our faculty is nationally recognized and the curriculum places an emphasis on observation and applied experiences, including a full-time clinical internship. You’ll also have opportunities to work with Northeast Passage, UNH’s therapeutic recreation program. After completing the program, you’ll be prepared to take the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification examination to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. The therapeutic recreation program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education and received the 2017 American Therapeutic Recreation Association Excellence in Education award.

Potential Careers

• Assisted living activities coordinator
• Morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) director
• Recreation therapist
• Rehabilitation counselor
• Therapeutic recreation coordinator
• Veteran services provider
• Youth program coordinator

Program Objectives

Therapeutic recreation utilizes recreation to assist people with disabilities or illnesses to develop and use their leisure in ways that enhance health, independence, and well-being. Therapeutic recreation recognizes the importance of quality of life and uses activities to remediate or rehabilitate functional abilities. Therapeutic recreation services are provided in a variety of settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, residential treatment facilities, schools, home health care, community recreation, correctional facilities, rehabilitation centers, camp and outdoor education centers, and adult day programs. Observation and applied experience is a component of several courses. Students complete a 14-16-week full-time clinical internship under the supervision of a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS).