Recreational Therapy and Rehabilitation
Major
Recreational therapy major at CMU
Forget lectures! This program gets you moving. You'll learn hands-on how to facilitate activity-based therapy for people with disabilities. Imagine:
- Using a therapy dog with children at a hospital.
- Helping a recently injured patient to get involved with an adapted sports clinic.
- Teaching stress management techniques through virtual reality.
- Exploring journaling as a therapeutic tool.
Our program is designed to prepare you with not just knowledge but also practical clinical skills and experiences. The goal is to prepare you for national certification as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist CTRS, making you a qualified healthcare professional with the ability to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities.
AT A GLANCE
Why pursue our recreational therapy major?
You'll gain expertise in delivering tailored treatment interventions and adapted recreational activities for clients with diverse challenges, including intellectual disabilities, psychiatric conditions, physical disabilities and chemical dependency issues. Your patients could range from pediatric patients to older adults with disabilities.
To finalize your training and kickstart your career as a recreational therapy specialist, a comprehensive clinical internship will be included in our program. After graduation, you'll be well-prepared to begin a fulfilling career as a recreational therapist in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation units, mental health facilities, pediatric care, long-term facilities and community programs. Graduates are also very successful at pursuing occupational therapy graduate school or other allied health graduate programs to continue their career advancement in recreational therapy.
What will you learn while majoring in recreational therapy?
- Become a certified specialist: Receive your degree from one of the most successful programs in the U.S., known for its commitment to producing certified therapeutic recreation specialists.
- Exceed national standards with high NCTRC pass rates: Achieve an impressive 94.9% pass rate on the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) exam, significantly exceeding the national average.
- Travel the world: You'll also have the opportunity to participate in a unique faculty-led study abroad program to Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. Take part in our CMU Inclusive Recreation Student Club leading programs for adults with intellectual disabilities on campus
- Gain real-world experience: Finish up your academic career with a 15 or 30-week clinical internship, helping prepare you for success in the field of recreational therapy.
Careers as a recreational therapy major
Recreational therapy graduates work in diverse organizations, such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, psychiatric agencies and more. The field of recreational therapy is set to grow at a rate of 8%, exceeding the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Career | Projected Salary |
|---|---|
| Recreational Therapist | $57,120 |
| Occupational Therapist | $96,370 |
| Social and Human Services Manager | $77,030 |
Discover CMU's RTR major
Our recreational therapy and rehabilitation (RTR) major, Michigan's first nationally accredited program, equips you with vital skills under experienced faculty guidance for diverse healthcare settings.
Preparation to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) ensures readiness for careers in hospitals, clinics and more. Our graduates have a high acceptance rate into OT graduate schools, supported by the Pre-OT Student Club, where RTR faculty advise and RTR students lead. Join us for a rewarding path to a healthcare career.
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