Recreational Therapy
The purpose of the Master's program in Recreational Therapy is to prepare students to become practitioners in this field. This includes the provisions of interventions that promote the health and well-being of people with disabilities through the use of recreational programming. All students pursuing a master's degree complete 35 graduate credit hours, including core courses and 18 graduate credit hours within their area of specialization. All master's candidates complete a capstone experience - either an intensive master's project that summarizes the knowledge and skills obtained from coursework, a master's thesis based on research related to the specialty area, or a graduate internship. The student's area of specialization determines which capstone experience is pursued.
Courses
The following courses make up the curriculum for the Master of Science in Recreation for the Recreational Therapy emphasis. There are 35 required graduate hours, in addition to any pre-requisites as determined by the Department Graduate Studies Review Committee.
Departmental Courses
- Philosophy of Leisure and Recreation
- Administrative Theory and Management Practices in Leisure Services
- Introduction to Research in HPER
-
Interpretation of Data in HPER
Emphasis Courses
- Professional Development for Recreational Therapy
- Advanced Recreational Therapy Processes
- Social Psychology of Recreational Therapy
- Program Development and Consultation in Recreational Therapy
- Internship in Recreation Therapy
- Electives (8-9 hours) selected with advisor
Admissions
Individuals holding bachelors degrees from accredited institutions, or who
are within one semester of meeting degree requirements, are eligible to apply
for admission to the Master of Science Program in the Department of Recreation,
Park, and Tourism Studies. Applicants should have a 2.8 or better (on a 4.0
scale) undergraduate academic average and a strong Graduate Record Examination
(GRE) score.
International Students: International students whose native language is not English must submit a TOEFL score. Requirements for the TOEFL include a score of 550 on the paper-based test and a 213 on the computer-based test.
All applicants must follow the following procedures for admission:
- Submit completed Application for Graduate Program Admission online or a paper copy to the Records Office, School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, HPER 115, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-4801.
- Submit official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work taken at institutions other than Indiana University.
- Request three people to complete Application Reference Forms.
- Submit GRE scores.
- A non refundable application fee of $50 ($60 for International Applications) must be submitted to the Graduate School for domestic applications or international admissions for international applications. Applicants will pay by credit card if applying on line or by check if using a paper application.
Assistantships
Graduate Academic Appointments are available for students pursuing graduate studies in the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies. Selection criteria for a graduate assistantship or associate instructorship include scholarship records, experience, previous graduate work, and letters of recommendation. Duties for a Student Academic Appointment may involve: assisting faculty with teaching, research, or other departmental duties; teaching classes; or working in the Division of Recreational Sports. Other special assignments may also be made.
Applicants interested in a graduate student academic appointment must submit an Application for Assistantship by March 1. This form is included in the application packet or may be obtained from the Associate Dean for Academic Program Administration; School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation; HPER 115, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-4801.
The mission of the University Graduate School is to promote and support excellence in graduate education for individual students, faculty, departments, and the university as a whole.
University Graduate School
The University Graduate School administers graduate programs on five different campuses of the Indiana University system. Members of the University Graduate School faculty ultimately determine standards of admission, set the general requirements for degrees, passion the specific requirements of programs, approve courses for graduate credit, and certify candidates for degrees. These functions are executed by the Graduate Council and the dean and administrative staff. More specifically, the University Graduate School faculty serve on advisory and research committees for doctoral students, direct master's theses and doctoral dissertations, and elect members of the Graduate Council.
A variety of fellowship and recruiting programs are designed to attract outstanding students, and mentoring and Preparing Future Faculty programs, both within the departments and centralized in the University Graduate School, ensure that these students are integrated into their academic programs and prepared for the full range of professional responsibilities they will encounter in their careers.
If you have any questions, please contact the University Graduate School office at
(812) 855-9343. The University Graduate School is located in Kirkwood 111 on the Bloomington campus of Indiana University.
