Therapeutic Recreation
Emphasis
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Overview
The Therapeutic Recreation emphasis prepares students for supervisory and leadership positions in various hospital, private, and community-based organizations delivering care as recreation therapists to individuals with various disabilities and ability levels. Recreational therapists work with a variety of individuals requiring health services such as: physical medicine and rehabilitation, pediatrics, geriatrics, mental and behavioral health, addictions, veterans, and developmental disabilities. Students completing the Therapeutic Recreation emphasis allows them to sit for the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) Exam.
Additional information
- About Emphasis
- Career Options
Pittsburg State University is the only Therapeutic Recreation collegiate program in the state of Kansas. The Ability Lab at Pittsburg State University serves as an experiential classroom that helps prepare Therapeutic Recreation and Recreation students for their chosen fields. The lab is equipped with tools to help further the educational experience for Therapeutic Recreation majors. Equipment includes but not limited to, a custom designed hand-cycle to give Therapeutic Recreation students hands-on experience with operating the cycle and an understanding of specific skills needed in order to ride; goal balls and beeper ball, both sports for individuals with visual impairments; and wheelchairs to provide students opportunities to simulate sports such as wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby. Community residents are also welcomed to the lab in order for Therapeutic Recreation students to implement various interventions to gain valuable hands-on experience.
Students completing the emphasis area in Therapeutic Recreation will have the knowledge and ability to work in agencies such as:
- Hospitals
- Retirement Communities
- Rehabilitation
- Community Recreation Departments
- VA Hospitals
- Residential Settings
- Outpatient Services
- School Systems
- Behavioral Health Hospitals
- Mental Health
About Health, Human Performance, and Recreation Department
The Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation (HHPR) is located in the new Student Recreation Center. The HHPR faculty possess a wide array of specializations. The department offers undergraduate degree programs in Exercise Science, Recreation Services, Sport and Hospitality Management, and Physical Education, seven minors and certificates in Dance, Coaching, and Hospitality Management, as well as a graduate program in HHPR. Within each of the degree programs, there are emphases/concentration areas from which students select the professional paths that best fit their needs.
Learn more about our program objectives.