Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Leisure Studies - Therapeutic Recreation

University of Waterloo

Activity, sport, creative arts, music, or nature based activities there are many ways to help people enhance their quality of life, foster social connections, support independent living, and have fun, too. Recreation therapists are health care providers who work in clinical and long term care environments who address emotional, physical, and social needs and use leisure, recreation, and play to help people of all abilities meet their goals, wherever they are. In one of just three such programs in Ontario, you’ll gain high caliber academic and practical experience to prepare you for a career in Therapeutic Recreation. That means learning how to develop formal, evidence based programming and getting valuable hands on experience working with populations of interest through a required 105 hour practicum placement and a required 560 hour internship. Throughout your degree, you can pursue the requirements for the academic pathway to becoming a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, allowing you to practice across North America. Upon graduation, you’ll also be eligible for registration with Therapeutic Recreation Ontario. Have your sight set on another professional health program. Therapeutic Recreation can also be your stepping stone to fields like occupational therapy.