Therapeutic Recreation (BA)

When you study Therapeutic Recreation, your passion for people shapes you into an agent for change. As a therapeutic recreation specialist, you assess individual leisure needs in order to design specialized programs for individuals with physical, social, intellectual, or emotional disabilities. You may work alongside a team of occupational and physical therapists and social workers to maintain or improve a client’s quality of life and enhance his or her independence.

The curriculum bridges the classroom and the outside community, giving you real-life experiences that hone your leadership and teamwork skills. You’ll also:

• Understand individual and societal influences on leisure behaviour in the practice of therapeutic recreation and administration
• Learn to assess individual and community needs in order to develop, coordinate and implement special events and programs for diverse populations
• Engage in fieldwork with community organizations to evaluate the success of therapeutic recreation programs

Concordia’s hands-on approach provides a solid foundation for future graduate studies in such fields as recreation and leisure studies, organization or community development or public or business administration. Students graduate with practical skills that let them flourish in the health-care services sector.

A Bachelor of Arts or Science degree takes a minimum of three or four years (90 – 120 credits) of full-time study, depending on your academic background.

Program option

• Specialization in Therapeutic Recreation (60 credits)
  The program's curriculum is designed for students interested in planning and implementing Recreation and Leisure Services for people with compromised health conditions, disabilities and other disadvantaged social conditions.

Courses

Minimum cut-off averages and course requirements

• Quebec Cegep: 22
  • Additional information for Cegep applicants
• High School: B-
  • ACT or SAT is NOT required 
  • Canadian curricula course requirements
  • Accepted international qualifications
• University Transfers (internal/external): B-
• Baccalauréat français: 12
• International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma: 27

Additional requirements for admission

All applicants to the Specialization in Therapeutic Recreation program are required to submit a Letter of Intent with their Concordia University admission application. This is your opportunity as a prospective student to express, in writing, why you wish to enter the Department of Applied Human Sciences.

The Letter of Intent should include:

• A statement of both your long-term and short-term goals.
• Your reasons for choosing Applied Human Sciences.
• Your strengths and weaknesses as a candidate.
• The experiences you have had that led you to apply (including work and volunteer experience).

Special note: CEGEP graduates of Techniques de Loisirs (Dawson College), Special Care Counselling (Vanier College, Lasalle College), Social Services (Dawson College) and Correctional Technology (John Abbott College) may have credits applied to their degrees based on their course of study at CEGEP. Applicants will be informed of any credits awarded in their Offer of Admission.

Minimum cut-off averages should be used as indicators. The cut-off data may change depending on the applicant pool. Applicants who meet the stated minimum requirements are not guaranteed admission to these programs.

Therapeutic Recreation alumni establish careers the health-care sector. They often collaborate with other health-care professionals in hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, private business and community programs that provide services to marginalized individuals.