Online Bachelor of Science Recreation and Sport Management: Pre-Recreational Therapy/Adaptive Recreation Track

Our program is recognized for its educational excellence, and our graduates are well prepared to begin an enormously rewarding career. The Florida International University Recreational Therapy Program was the 2011 recipient of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association Education Excellence Award.

The American Therapeutic Recreation Association has recognized our program for excellence, so you will be well prepared to work in a variety of community and clinical settings.

Degree Objectives

The FIU Recreational Therapy program will provide students with the theoretical and practical knowledge in the following areas:

• Recreational therapy

• Recreational therapy facilitation techniques

• Program planning in recreational therapy

• Trends, issues and managerial aspects of recreational therapy

• Client assessment, document, & evaluation in recreational therapy

Industry Statistics

The demand for recreational therapists is expected to grow by 17 percent from 2010 to 2020. This anticipated growth is fueled in part by an aging baby-boomer generation, which will need recreational therapists to help treat age-related injuries and illnesses. Other factors contributing to higher employment is an increase in the need for services for disabled students in the education setting, and a shift toward therapist services in outpatient facilities rather than more costly hospital stays (Occupational Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unemployment rates within the industry are some of the lowest, compared to other industries. For recent grads, the current unemployment rate is as low as 5.2 percent; 4.5 percent for experienced grads. For treatment services it is even lower: 2.1 for experienced grads, (Georgetown University).

Students in our online undergraduate program enjoy tremendous student engagement through interactive technology that offers 24/7 access and support, real-time faculty feedback and a personal success coach to provide 1-on-1 guidance.

Pre-Recreational Therapy/

Adaptive Recreation Track Courses

Prerequisite Supportive Courses

Anatomy and lab⁺⁺(4)
Physiology⁺⁺(3)
Human Growth & Dev (3)

++ or combined anatomy and physiology course and lab (4)

Recreational Therapy Courses

* Recommended to take first when in the Pre-Recreational Therapy/Adaptive Recreation Track in order to learn more about Recreational Therapy 

LEI 3703* Introduction to Recreational Therapy. History, philosophy, and current principles of recreational therapy processes and application. Emphasis will be given to role of recreational therapy services.

LEI 4711 -  Client Assessment, Documentation, and Evaluation in Recreational Therapy. An overview of the theory, concepts and techniques used in client assessment, evaluation and documentation for recreational therapy treatment. Prerequisite

LEI 4724* - Recreational Therapy Facilitation Techniques. Designed to provide an in-depth examination of RT facilitation techniques as they are implemented with individuals with various disabling conditions or limitations

Recreational Therapy Labs

(Students are required to complete three one-credit lab courses for a total of three (3) credits)

LEI 3723L* - Recreational Therapy Facilitation Techniques and Modalities Lab. Provides an in-depth, "hands-on" experience in the area of RT facilitation technique implementation.

Core Courses

LEI 3001 - Leisure and Recreation in America. An introduction to the fundamental concepts of leisure and recreation and their roles in American culture. The class will be structured around a lecture-discussion format

LEI 3542 - Principles of Parks, Recreation and Sport Management. An exploration of the field of recreation, parks and sport, including career areas, management responsibilities and supervisory levels and principles and theory. 

LEI 3707* - Introduction to Recreational Therapy. History, philosophy, and current principles of recreational therapy processes and application. Emphasis will be given to role of recreational therapy services

LEI 3800 - LEI 3800 Liability and Law in Leisure, Recreation and Sports. Legal issues related to leisure service management including legal foundations, legal liability, land use policy, employment regulations, handicapped services, and current issues

Required Supportive Courses

HSC 3537 - Medical Terminology. Provides the student with basic medical language skills including, pronunciation, spelling, and definitions as a foundation for developing the degree of competency required to read and understand medical reports and communicate with physicians and other medical professionals. 

CLP 4146 - Abnormal Psychology. Various forms of behavior pathology are examined in the light of traditional and current concepts of mental health and illness. Problems of diagnosis and treatment are discussed. The role of social mores is examined

Minor/Electives

18 credits required (9 can be upper and 9 can be lower; can include a minor; advisor approved)

Required Internship

LEI 4940: Internship I - 160 hours x two rotations = 320 hours total)

Combined BS/MS Degree

(4+1) Recreational Therapy Track Courses

Undergraduate Courses

Prerequisite Supportive Courses

Anatomy and lab⁺⁺(4)
Physiology ⁺⁺ (3)
Human Growth & Dev (3)

++ or combined anatomy and physiology course and lab (4)

Recreational Therapy Courses

* Recommended to take first when in the Pre-Recreational Therapy/Adaptive Recreation Track in order to learn more about Recreational Therapy 

LEI 3703 - Introduction to Recreational Therapy. History, philosophy, and current principles of recreational therapy processes and application. Emphasis will be given to role of recreational therapy services.

LEI 4711 -  Client Assessment, Documentation, and Evaluation in Recreational Therapy. An overview of the theory, concepts and techniques used in client assessment, evaluation and documentation for recreational therapy treatment. Prerequisite

LEI 4724 - Recreational Therapy Facilitation Techniques. Designed to provide an in-depth examination of RT facilitation techniques as they are implemented with individuals with various disabling conditions or limitations

Recreational Therapy Labs

(Students are required to complete three one-credit lab courses for a total of three (3) credits)

LEI 3723L - Recreational Therapy Facilitation Techniques and Modalities Lab. Provides an in-depth, "hands-on" experience in the area of RT facilitation technique implementation.

Core Courses

LEI 3001 - Leisure and Recreation in America. An introduction to the fundamental concepts of leisure and recreation and their roles in American culture. The class will be structured around a lecture-discussion format

LEI 3542 - Principles of Parks, Recreation and Sport Management. An exploration of the field of recreation, parks and sport, including career areas, management responsibilities and supervisory levels and principles and theory. 

LEI 3707* - Introduction to Recreational Therapy. History, philosophy, and current principles of recreational therapy processes and application. Emphasis will be given to role of recreational therapy services

LEI 3800 - LEI 3800 Liability and Law in Leisure, Recreation and Sports. Legal issues related to leisure service management including legal foundations, legal liability, land use policy, employment regulations, handicapped services, and current issues 

Required Supportive Courses

HSC 3537 - Medical Terminology. Provides the student with basic medical language skills including, pronunciation, spelling, and definitions as a foundation for developing the degree of competency required to read and understand medical reports and communicate with physicians and other medical professionals. 

CLP 4146 - Abnormal Psychology. Various forms of behavior pathology are examined in the light of traditional and current concepts of mental health and illness. Problems of diagnosis and treatment are discussed. The role of social mores is examined

Required Internships

LEI 4940: Internship I - 160 hours x two rotations = 320 hours total)

LEI 4941: Internship II - 560 hours total w/ CTRS agency supervisor (SUM) completed after LEI 6726, LEI 5716, LEI 6816** & before starting the MS 5^th (+1) year

Graduate Courses

Recreational Therapy Courses

LEI 6726** (SP) - Trends, Issues, and Managerial Aspects of Recreational Therapy
LEI 5716** (SP) - Program Planning in Recreational Therapy
LEI 6816** (SP) - Advanced Recreational Therapy Facilitation Techniques
LEI 6725 - Administrative Aspects of Therapeutic Recreation

**Taken in Spring semester of senior year as an undergraduate

Core Courses

LEI 5510 - Program Administration in Parks and Recreation

LEI 5605 - Philosophical and Social Bases of Parks and Recreation Planning

EDF 5481 - EDF 5481 Foundations of Educational Research 

EDF 6472 OR approved grad level research (Prerequisite: EDF 5481)

LEI 5907 Directed Study OR LEI 6970 Thesis (3-6 credits)

Electives

3 credits: RT graduate advisor approved

To ensure every student’s success, we have certain admissions requirements for each of our programs. To help you through the application process, our enrollment advisors are here to answer your questions and guide you every step of the way.


FIU Admission Requirements

4+1 Combined BS/MS Recreational Therapy Track 

• Application and Admission requirements

• Applications are accepted for Spring and Fall terms

Pre-Recreational Therapy/Adaptive Recreation Track

• Applications are accepted for Spring, Fall and Summer terms.

Steps to Apply

Freshman Students

Please submit the following:

• Online application

• $30 application fee.

• Official SAT or ACT scores.

• Official high school transcripts.

Transfer Students

Please submit the following:

• Online application

• $30 application fee.

• Official college transcripts.

• If you have less than 60 transferable college credits, you must also submit official high school transcripts and SAT or ACT scores in addition to any transcripts from postsecondary schools to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

International Students

 In addition to the above requirements, international applicants should submit:

• Official English Language Proficiency exam scores (TOEFL or IELTS).

• NACES official course-by-course evaluation and translation of college transcripts.

• If you have less than 60 transferrable college credits, you must also submit official high school transcripts with translation.

Program Admission Requirements

Pre-Recreational/Adaptive Recreation Track 
A minimum lower-division GPA of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale.
Either 60 credit hours of lower division coursework or an AA degree from an accredited institution.

Admission Documents

To complete the online undergraduate programs admissions form, select your program from the application form. You may complete the online application and submit it, even before taking any entrance exams. All supporting admission documents may be sent to:


Florida International University

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

P.O. Box 659003

Miami, FL 33265-9003

USA



FIU also accepts transcripts electronically via:

• Faster (All FL public institutions)

• Naviance (Typically used by private high schools)

• SMART/Joint Service Transcript – Military records

*Meeting the university minimum requirements does not guarantee admission

Note: 

**FIU students are not eligible to complete Recreational Therapy internships in the state of NC due to a new state licensure law passed in August 2015.

FIU still accepts eligible students into the Recreational Therapy program who are residents of NC, but these students must complete their internships in a state outside of NC.

We’re thrilled that you’re considering online education and want you to know exactly what to expect for tuition and fees. Education is an investment in your future. Use the following student tuition and fees calculator to determine your costs.