Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness
Program Type
B.S.
Est. Time to Complete
4 Years
School
Dr. Donald E. and Lois J. Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions
Delivery Mode
On Campus
Turn your passion for health and human connection into a rewarding career.
There’s more to life than just showing up to work — but when your job is about celebrating wellness and enriching the lives of others, earning a living can be especially rewarding.
The Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness degree program at York College offers a starting point for numerous career paths that allow you to work with individuals of all ages and abilities. Using evidence-based practices, students graduate ready to support wellbeing throughout their communities.
Three concentrations allow you to align your degree with your career goals:
- Therapeutic Recreation: Focuses on clinical settings, physical rehabilitation, mental health, and adapted sports.
- Therapeutic Recreation & Pre-Occupational Therapy: Prepares students for CTRS certification while completing prerequisites for Master of Occupational Therapy programs.
- Wellness Management: Prepares students for leadership in corporate wellness, public recreation, outdoor adventure, and non-profit organization management.
Majoring in Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness
Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness Courses
The Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness major offers a wide variety of required classes, electives, and real-world learning opportunities. All courses within the program offer opportunities for firsthand experience through on-campus or community-based projects. Your classes may include:
- REC 103: Leadership and Group Dynamics
- REC 205: Foundations of Outdoor Leadership
- REC 210/211: Experience Design with Design Lab
- REC 450: Therapeutic Recreation & Wellness Administration
Therapeutic Recreation Concentration
The Therapeutic Recreation concentration prepares students for careers in health care and human service programs that serve individuals with disabilities, diagnoses, and/or other treatment related needs including age-related conditions (e.g., pediatric, geriatric), behavioral/mental health, substance addiction recovery, physical rehabilitation (e.g., acquired injuries), chronic illness, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, community inclusion, and adaptive sports and recreation. Examples of agencies that serve this clientele include hospitals, treatment centers, specialized schools/camps, inclusive public recreation, non-profit specialty agencies, and long-term care facilities.
Therapeutic Recreation & Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration
The Therapeutic Recreation & Pre-Occupational Therapy concentration is designed for students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness who intend to continue their studies in a Master of Occupational Therapy program. The curriculum provides the academic preparation required for eligibility to pursue certification as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and incorporates coursework that fulfills the typical prerequisites for graduate study in Occupational Therapy. Because prerequisite requirements differ among institutions, students are responsible for reviewing the specific admission criteria of their prospective graduate programs to ensure appropriate course planning.
Wellness Management Concentration
The Wellness Management concentration prepares students to work in a variety of recreation and wellness settings including outdoor recreation, youth development, and family-focused non-profit settings, armed forces MWR, corporate wellness, various fitness and wellness settings, and federal, state, and local public recreation and park agencies.
4+1 Graduate Degree Opportunities
Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness majors may choose to pursue a 4+1 graduate degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. By pairing their undergraduate degree in Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness with this graduate program, students can earn both their bachelor's degree and M.Ed. in as few as five years total.
Careers in Recreation Therapy and Wellness
No matter your interests, York College’s experienced faculty will guide you toward real-world opportunities that allow you to build a strong professional network in your preferred field.
These are just a few of the many career opportunities available to graduates of the Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness program:
- Adaptive Sports Coordinator
- Adventure Guide
- Armed Forces MWR Director
- Campus Recreation Director
- Environmental Educator
- Life Enrichment Director
- Occupational Therapist (requires Master's degree in Occupational Therapy)
- Park Ranger
- Recreational Therapist
- Resort Activity Director
- Special Events Planner
- Youth and Family Recreation Specialist
- Wellness Director
- Recreational Sports Director
Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness
A degree in Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness prepares you for a wide variety of careers. The jobs available to you will vary widely, depending on your area of emphasis, geographic location, and the experience you build over the years.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, recreational therapists earn a median salary around $60,000, with top earners reaching salaries over $80,000. Students that continue to a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy could earn a median salary around $98,000.
In addition to recreation therapy, there are a number of lucrative career paths in other disciplines that Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness graduates may consider. For example:
- Entertainment and recreation manager - $77,180/year
- Health education specialist - $63,000/year
- Community health worker - $51,030/year
Benefits of a Degree in Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness
York College’s bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness opens up diverse career pathways to match your passion for helping others. With three specialized concentrations—Therapeutic Recreation, Wellness Management, and Therapeutic Recreation & Pre-Occupational Therapy—you can customize your degree for immediate workforce entry or advanced study.
A key advantage of the program is its alignment with national standards: graduates meet the academic eligibility requirements to sit for the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) credential exam. Additionally, students in the Pre-Occupational Therapy concentration complete foundational graduate prerequisites, allowing them to transition seamlessly into Master of Occupational Therapy programs or work as a certified practitioner first.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment across therapeutic recreation, health management, and occupational therapy settings is projected to grow steadily over the coming years.
A therapeutic recreation and wellness degree also offers flexibility in future work environments. From corporate offices to the great outdoors, athletic fields to community centers, and hospitals to inclusive recreation programs — the skills you learn in this major will provide value wherever your career takes you. Graduates of York College’s Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness program have found successful employment with a wide range of organizations, including:
- WellSpan Rehabilitation
- Dover Township Parks and Recreation
- Easter Seals
- Open Sky Wilderness
- SpiriTrust Lutheran
- RICA Baltimore
- Little Rookies Baseball
- Willow Valley Communities
- Masonic Village in Elizabethtown
- Warren Township Parks and Recreation
- Howard County Therapeutic Recreation
- YMCA of the Roses
- York JCC
Internships & Work Experience
York College’s Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness program is rooted in service to our community. You’ll go beyond the textbook as you participate in hands-on projects that help others, both on campus and throughout the greater York area.
Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness Field Experience
Your résumé will get a jump-start long before graduation, with two major work experiences built into the curriculum. The first, Experiential Learning in Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness, is a 120-hour supervised field experience. The second, your Directed Field Experience in Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness, is usually pursued following all coursework and involves working side-by-side with full-time recreation professionals for a total of 480-600 hours.
In the past, students have completed field experiences at the following sites, just to name a few:
- Behavior by Design
- Brightview Westminster Ridge Assisted Living
- Camp Taconic
- Cheesequake State Park
- Club Scikidz
- Coatesville Country Club
- Easter Seals of Southern and Western PA
- Fairfax County Therapeutic Recreation Department
- Genesee Valley Outdoor Learning Center
- Greater Somerset County YMCA
- Jewish Community Center of Margate City
- Lake Barkley State Resort Park
- Manchester Township Parks and Recreation
- Marshy Point Nature Center
- Maryland Conservation Corp
- Masonic Village at Elizabethtown
- Memorial Lake State Park
- Nixon Park Nature Center
- Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority
- Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute
- Prince George's County Parks and Recreation
- RICA Baltimore
- Senior Commons at Powder Mill
- Springfield Rehabilitation Center
- Tamarack Day Camp
- United Sports Training Center
- Waterview Hills Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center
- Yellow Breeches Educational Center
Mentorship & Community
At York College, we pride ourselves on our community-oriented campus, with faculty members who are committed to helping students be successful. During your time in college, you’ll develop a network of peers and professionals that you can carry throughout your career.
Clubs & Professional Organizations
York College of Pennsylvania boasts a vibrant campus life with student clubs and organizations spanning a wide range of passions — from academic honor societies and Greek life to club sports and unique interest groups.
Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness Career Skills
Careers and job descriptions shift over time, no matter which path you pursue — but a Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness degree prepares you with transferable skills to keep you competitive in the job market long-term.
- People skills
- Organization
- Leadership and management skills
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Customer and personal service
- Ability to train and educate others
- Patience and compassion
Best Minors for a Degree in Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness
- Applied Youth Development
- Human Services
- Outdoor Leadership
- Psychology
- Not-For-Profit Management
- Athletic Coaching
Parks and Recreation Certification Program
CPRP Certification
The Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) certification is available to all students who graduate from the Recreation Leadership major. According to the National Recreation and Park Association, the CPRP certification is one of the most sought-after certifications in the park and recreation profession.
Why should you pursue CPRP certification?
- Greater career opportunities
- Higher income possibilities
- Recognition of your accomplishments
- Proof of your ability to meet or exceed national standards
- A new level of commitment to the parks and recreation field
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Certification Program
CTRS Certification
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) certification is available to Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness majors who choose the Recreational Therapy emphasis and complete PSY230, NUR201 or HSV250, BIO112 or BIO220, and a 560-hour Directed Field Experience (DFE).
According to the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC), “The CTRS designation is the unifying credential for recreational therapists throughout the United States, Canada, and 15 other countries with approximately 18,000 Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (who hold active, inactive, or eligible for re-entry status) in the NCTRC registry.”
Why should you pursue CTRS certification?
- The most advanced professional credential for the field of therapeutic recreation
- The industry standard that exemplifies each professional's dedication to quality standards and excellence in practice
Wellness Practitioner Certification Program
CWP Certification
The Certified Wellness Practitioner (CWP) certification is available to all York College students who graduate from the Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness degree program. According to the National Wellness Institute, the CWP is "the gold-standard wellness certification."
What are the benefits of CWP certification?
- Recognizes your competence as a wellness professional
- Demonstrates an ongoing commitment to professional development and growth
- Showcases your standing as a leader in the wellness field, and elevates your professional reputation
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
The Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness program at York College of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT).
2023-2024 NCTRC Professional CTRS Certification Exam Report
Important Information Regarding Degree Mills
Please watch this important video regarding degree and accreditation mills. According to CHEA, "Degree mills and accreditation mills mislead and harm. In the United States, degrees and certificates from mills may not be acknowledged by other institutions when students seek to transfer or go to graduate school. Employers may not acknowledge degrees and certificates from degree mills when providing tuition assistance for continuing education. “Accreditation” from an accreditation mill can mislead students and the public about the quality of an institution. In the presence of degree and accreditation mills, students may spend a lot of money and receive neither an education nor a useable credential." Read more on CHEA's website.
Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness Courses
Your class schedule will include core courses for your major, Gen Next general education classes, and electives.
| Course Name | Course Code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership and Group Dynamics | REC 103 | 3 Credits |
| Foundations of Outdoor Leadership | REC 205 | 3 Credits |
| Experience Design with Design Lab | REC 210/211 | 4 Credits |
| Therapeutic Recreation & Wellness Administration | REC 450 | 3 Credits |
Careers in Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness
A bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation and Wellness opens up a variety of career opportunities. Some of your options may include:
Adaptive Sports Coordinator
Adventure Guide
Recreational Therapist
Armed Forces MWR Director
Environmental Educator
Life Enrichment Director
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