COURSE CURRICULUM

The Therapeutic Recreation option at University of New Hampshire provides specialized training for students who want to help individuals improve their physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being through recreation-based therapeutic interventions. The program combines healthcare, psychology, rehabilitation, recreation management, and counseling skills with extensive practical experience. All students complete a recreation management core that includes courses in Recreation & Tourism in Society, Diversity and Inclusion in Recreation Services, Program and Event Design, Recreation Management Practicum, Professional Development and Ethics, Research and Data-Driven Decision Making, and a major internship capstone. The required 560-hour supervised internship, completed under a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, allows students to gain direct professional experience in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, mental health facilities, assisted living centers, schools, and community recreation programs. Specialized therapeutic recreation courses focus on rehabilitation methods, therapeutic communication, treatment planning, mental health interventions, aging services, adaptive recreation, and physical rehabilitation settings. Students learn how to assess client needs, create treatment plans, facilitate therapeutic activities, and evaluate program effectiveness for individuals with disabilities, illnesses, injuries, or emotional and cognitive challenges. Support courses in anatomy and physiology, human development, psychopathology, and statistics strengthen students’ understanding of human behavior, health conditions, and evidence-based care. Electives such as Adaptive Sport Facilitation and Community Therapeutic Recreation Services allow additional specialization. The curriculum emphasizes leadership, empathy, communication, inclusion, and practical problem-solving skills while preparing students for certification and careers as therapeutic recreation specialists, recreation therapists, adaptive sports coordinators, rehabilitation program leaders, activity directors, and community inclusion professionals. Graduates may also continue into advanced studies in occupational therapy, counseling, rehabilitation sciences, social work, psychology, healthcare administration, or public health.