Parks and Outdoor Recreation

Therapeutic Recreation Degree Requirements

Concentration in Therapeutic Recreation (TR)

This concentration teaches students how to use activities as therapeutic tools toward a renewed quality of life for people with disabilities across the lifespan. Completion of the therapeutic recreation (TR) foundation, issues, processes, and assessment courses to name a few, as well as an internship supervised by a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, prepares graduating seniors to sit for the national exam sponsored by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. The concentration is accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association. Graduates find employment in local, state, and federal recreation settings; senior and adult health care; non-profit organizations; and educational and clinical institutions.

Course Work

General Education Requirements (38 credits)

• Written communication (6)
• Oral communication (3)
• Information technology (3)
• Quantitative reasoning (3)
  Must take STAT 250
• Literature (3)
• Arts (3)
• Western civilization (3)
• Social and behavioral science (3)
  Must take PSYC 100
• Global understanding (3)
• Natural science (8)
  Must take BIOL 124 and BIOL 125

Professional Sequence (73 credits)

• HEAL 205: Principles of Accident Causation and Prevention (4 credit hours)
• HEAL 323: Program Leadership and Evaluation (3 credit hours)
• PHED 200: Professional Dimensions of Health, Recreation, and Physical Education (3 credit hours)
• PRLS 210: Introduction to Recreation and Leisure (3 credit hours)
• PRLS 241: Practicum (3 credit hours)
• PRLS 310: Program Planning and Design (3 credit hours)
• PRLS 316: Outdoor Education and Leadership (3 credit hours)
• PRLS 317: Social Psychology of Play and Recreation (3 credit hours)
• PRLS 327: Foundations of Therapeutic Recreation (3 credit hours)
• PRLS 405: Planning, Design, and Maintenance of Leisure Facilities (3 credit hours)
• PRLS 410: Administration of RHT Organizations I (3 credit hours)
• PRLS 411: Administration of RHT Organizations II (3 credit hours)
• PRLS 416: Trends and Programming Assessment in Therapeutic Recreation (3 credit hours)
• PRLS 417: Processes, Techniques and Supervision in Therapeutic Recreation (3 credit hours)
• PRLS 418: Assessment in Therapeutic Recreation (3 credit hours)
• PRLS 450: Research Methods (3 credit hours) (Satisfies the university Writing Intensive requirement)
• PRLS 460: Sport and Recreation Law (3 credit hours)
• PRLS 490: Internship (12-15 credit hours)
• PRLS 503: Administration and Disability Rights in Therapeutic Recreation (3 credit hours)
• PSYC 211: Developmental Psychology (3 credit hours)
• PSYC 325: Abnormal Psychology (3 credit hours)

Electives (9)

Choose an additional 9 credits

Total: 120 credits

Many POR and TR students have applied their elective credits toward completion of a George Mason University certificate program as a complement to their major area of study.  A certificate can further enhance a student's expertise in specialized areas and may make them even more marketable upon graduation. The certificate is a separate diploma, and is recorded on the student’s official academic transcript.