Major | BS
- Jo Ann Coco-Ripp
- 336.750.3459
- rippjc@wssu.edu
The Therapeutic Recreation program is based on the belief that healthy recreation and leisure play key roles in life satisfaction. Leisure is an important tool to help people navigate a stressful world.
Our program will teach you ways to use recreation and leisure experiences to help people with disabilities to recover, develop, and grow. You will be able to use these skills in several environments including clinical, residential and community settings.
The Occupational Therapy Option is a specialized advising paradigm to prepare therapeutic recreation students for application to graduate study in occupational therapy.
- Therapeutic Recreation Programming
- Occupational Therapy
- Commercial Recreation
- Faith-Based Recreation
- Outdoor Recreation
- Program Planning in Recreation
- Leisure Education
- Anatomy & Physiology
The WSSU Therapeutic Recreation Program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Park, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT). accredits baccalaureate programs in parks, recreation, tourism, sport management, event management, therapeutic recreation, and leisure studies offered at regionally accredited institutions within the United States and its territories, and at nationally accredited institutions in Canada, and Mexico. The WSSU TR Program has been accredited since 1997. COAPRT is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Association (CHEA).
Standard 2.05.05 - The program annually posts 7.0 series aggregated data and additional evidence reflecting program academic quality and student achievement on their program website. Please see this document for 2016-17 data for the WSSU TR Program.
Important Information Regarding Degree Mills
Please watch this important video 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.
Clubs & Organizations
The Therapeutic Recreation Club is the TR Program's student organization. Any TR major or recreation minor may join the club. Club members participate in activities that add to their professional development as well as contribute services to the university and to the community. In the recent past, club members have assisted with organizing and conducting special events for people with disabilities, engaging in games with a professional wheelchair basketball team, planning and implementing activities at professional organization meetings, and raising funds to provide scholarships for club members to attend conferences.
The club also sponsors social activities such as an annual senior appreciation luncheon and an end of the year cook out for all TR students. Students who are members of the club not only benefit from these experiences, but also find increased opportunities for networking and support from fellow members.
Frequently Asked Questions
TR majors will be assigned an advisor during their freshman year or upon transfer into the TR program. All full-time TR program faculty members serve as advisors.
Upon admission into the TR major, students can complete the program in four semesters of coursework and one semester of Internship.
Yes, university supervisors can assist with internship placement. Additionally, they will provide students with information during certain classes. Students make their own choices for placement, although there is competition for some sites in North Carolina. Students are encouraged to look for out-of-state sites when appropriate.
Students must maintain a 2.0 or higher GPA each semester. Additionally, all courses required for the major must be passed at the "C" level or above. Courses with grades below a "C" may be repeated, but only a grade of "C" or above will count toward graduation.
On average there are about 60 to 80 students in the TR program at WSSU.
Yes, the TR majors' club is very active and provides leadership opportunities as well as social, service, and professional development opportunities. The club usually provides scholarships for students to attend professional conferences, that are tied into their coursework.
We do have a minor in Recreation. It consists of 18 hours of recreation core courses.
Yes, graduates of the WSSU-TR program are eligible to sit for the national certification exam and to apply for national certification. More information about certification can be found by visiting the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).
Yes, graduates of the WSSU-TR program meet the requirements for state licensure in recreation therapy in North Carolina. More information about licensure can be found by visiting the North Carolina Board of Recreational Therapy Licensure (NCBRTL) website.
NEXT STEPS
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