Recreation Industries and Therapeutic Recreation
Bachelor of Science
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Recreation Management Accreditation
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. |
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Curriculum and Delivery
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The Recreation Industries and Therapeutic Recreation: Recreation Professional Studies 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.
As part of the Recreation Professional Studies concentration, students would choose between a Therapeutic Recreation or Recreation Coordinator track. Despite the concentration chosen, all students learn about 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, and youth-serving organizations. Our ability to blend our courses with theoretical knowledge and practical experience has enabled us to prepare the next generation of leaders in our industries.
What job can I get with a degree in Recreation Industries and Therapeutic Recreation?
A degree in Recreation Industries and Therapeutic Recreation from Springfield College opens up a variety of exciting career opportunities. Graduates can become recreational therapists, working in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, or community programs to help individuals improve their physical, emotional, and social well-being through recreational activities.
You might also pursue roles as recreation program coordinators, planning and implementing programs that engage and benefit various populations. Another option is working as a youth program director, overseeing activities and programs that promote healthy development for children and adolescents.
Data is from the 2024 Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based medical treatment programs to help maintain or improve patients’ physical, social, and emotional well-being. These therapists use a variety of techniques, including art expression; drama, music, and dance; sports and games; aquatics; and community outings.
Health education specialists create workplace programs or suggest modifications that focus on wellness. For example, they may develop incentives for employees to adopt healthy behaviors, such as controlling cholesterol, or recommend changes in the workplace to improve employee health, such as creating smoke-free areas.
Entertainment and recreation managers organize and lead a variety of leisure, wellness, or social activities. The types of programs they plan and guide may differ by setting, participants, and other factors. For example, on a cruise ship, they may organize arts and crafts activities for children and yoga classes for seniors; for a community center, they may conduct nature hikes based on ability levels from beginner to advanced.
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.
