Recreation Industries and Therapeutic Recreation

About This Program
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	Campus Tours and Info Sessions Schedule a visit to campus!
	Program Contact Rachel Keyworth Assistant Professor Department of Sport Management and Recreation (413)748-3269 rkeyworth@springfieldcollege.edu
	Admissions Requirements Review our admissions requirements
	Curriculum and Delivery Courses offered on campus in Springfield, Mass. Sequencing guide
	Graduate Success and Careers Explore outcomes, careers, and internships 100% Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) pass rate in the last 5 years
	Paying for Your Education Tuition and fees Scholarships and types of aid Financial Aid
	Upcoming Events Undergraduate Fall Open House November 1, 8, or 15 Register
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Springfield College student with a bucket of games and activities on their head surrounded by young children

Create Engaging Activities.

The Recreation Industries and Therapeutic Recreation program at Springfield College prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to succeed as recreation professionals in a variety of community, wellness, and nonprofit settings. Originally established in 1946, graduates from our program have gone on to be leaders in nonprofit organizations like the YMCA, hospitals and nursing home settings, camps and outdoor recreation businesses, and community recreation agencies.

This program provides a pathway to becoming a recreational therapist, with coursework designed to prepare students for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification exam. For students pursuing careers within the broader field of recreation, this program is designed to build skills and confidence to enter the recreation industry through courses that focus on agency operations and strategic management, along with how to design and facilitate recreation programs, key skills needed for positions in therapeutic recreation, parks and recreation,
outdoor recreation, tourism, and youth-serving organizations.

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Accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions (COAPRT). Students in this program are eligible to sit for the Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) certification exam as early as their final semester on campus. View our Annual Report.

Recreation Management Accreditation

Important Information 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 mills and accreditation mills, students may spend a good deal of money and receive neither an education nor a useable credential." Read more on CHEA's website.

From Intern to Impact: Suffield's Connection with Springfield College

From intern to impact! Springfield College Assistant Professor Mike Theulen recently joined the Suffield Parks & Recreation Podcast to discuss the connection between Springfield College and Suffield Parks & Recreation, alongside Tracetta Caudle ’27, a current intern, and Dan Leonard ’21, Recreation Supervisor.

Hear how hands-on experience, community partnerships, and Springfield College connections are preparing students to make an impact in recreation.

Listen to the podcast on Spotify

Recreation and Youth Services Coordinator, Fairfield Parks and Recreation

Gianna Salce ’21

"I cannot thank Springfield enough for making the practicum and internship experience a part of the curriculum. There was nothing more valuable than getting out into the community and working with clients or participants and engaging with them while applying lessons learned in class."

Read Gianna's Story

Top Five Reasons to Study Recreation Industries and Therapeutic Recreation at Springfield College

We offer a top-notch recreation management major that will help you head into the field knowledgeable, prepared, and experienced.

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Incoming first year Springfield College students participate in June Orientation on Alden Street — Core Curriculum

Our curriculum is designed in faithfulness to the Springfield College mission and to further strengthen the Humanics philosophy of educating students in spirit, mind, and body.

The five components of the Core

Student at the Learning Commons — Career Center

The Career Center’s mission is to educate, inspire, and empower students and alumni to effectively make well-informed career decisions. The staff is committed to student learning and development, and offers a variety of opportunities and programming for students and alumni.

Career Center Information

Academic Success

Academic Success offers readily and easily accessible services including support in writing, mathematics, science, subject area tutoring, learning strategies and time management counseling, and assistance for students with documented disabilities.

Academic Success Information

Studying Recreation Industries and Therapeutic Recreation at Springfield College

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Curriculum

Careers and Internships

Faculty and Staff

Our Recreation Industries and Therapeutic Recreation students attended the national Radically Rural conference in Keene, NH in September 2024. The students attended, with Scott Woodaman from Y-Club, to both learn and present on ways recreation can positively impact rural communities.