Minor in Therapeutic Recreation

Launch a Career That Improves Lives

The Therapeutic Recreation minor at Eastern Washington University prepares you to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses.

You’ll learn how to design and deliver recreation programs that support physical, emotional, and social well-being, helping people gain independence and develop a meaningful leisure lifestyle.

Through hands-on coursework in assessment, program planning, and evaluation, you’ll gain the practical skills and professional knowledge needed to promote community integration, rehabilitation, and leisure education.

Whether you plan to work in hospitals, state facilities, group treatment, or community-based programs, this minor sets you up for success in a rewarding, service-oriented career.

Curriculum & Requirements Suggested Schedule

Get Certified as a CTRS

If you’re thinking about a career in therapeutic recreation, you might want to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)—a nationally recognized credential through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).

After finishing the TR minor coursework, you’ll need to complete a 560-hour internship with a licensed CTRS to be eligible for the national certification exam.

Interested? Reach out to Dr. Jeremy Jostad at jjostad@ewu.edu or call 509.359.7097 to learn more and plan your next steps.

A Therapeutic Recreation Specialist gives a patient a high-five.

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Therapeutic Recreation Minor

Therapeutic Recreation (TR) specialists are involved in helping individuals with disabilities learn the skills and attitudes necessary to develop a meaningful leisure lifestyle. Therapeutic Recreation is concerned with the treatment of conditions which are disabling and the facilitation of independent leisure functioning. Students with a credential in Therapeutic Recreation tend to work in hospitals, state facilities, group treatment and community-based programs in the area of rehabilitation, leisure education, and community integration.

Grade Requirement: a minimum grade >C in each course required for the minor.

Required Courses
RCLS 201FOUNDATIONS OF RECREATION MANAGEMENT4
RCLS 345THERAPEUTIC RECREATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES4
RCLS 420PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION IN THERAPEUTIC RECREATION4
RCLS 440PROFESSIONAL ISSUES IN THERAPEUTIC RECREATION4
RCLS 445PROCESSES AND TECHNIQUES IN THERAPEUTIC RECREATION4
RCLS 450ASSESSMENT, DOCUMENTATION, AND EVALUATION IN THERAPEUTIC RECREATION4
RCLS 460THERAPEUTIC RECREATION ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT4
Total Credits28