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Recreation Therapy & Applied Gerontology, Bachelor's/Master's Combined Program

Be a Leader in the Intersections of Recreation Therapy, Gerontology and Wellness
  • 109

    Among Public National Universities, U.S. News & World Report

  • 32nd

    UNCW Ranked 32nd Best Public College Value by Kiplinger’s

Recreation Therapy, BA + Applied Gerontology, MS Program Overview

The Benefits

The Recreation Therapy bachelor’s/Applied Gerontology master’s degree program enables you to complete the requirements for both degrees in a period of five years.

The key feature of the program is that a student can count up to 12 hours of graduate-level courses to satisfy requirements for the B.A. in Recreation Therapy and toward the M.S. in Applied Gerontology.

Find your career in:

Help individuals, groups, and families prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives. (Source)

Caring for patients, communicating with doctors, administering medicine and checking vital signs. (Source)

Treat injured, ill, or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. (Source)

Plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. (Source)

Study and find ways to treat physical, mental, emotional, and social problems of elderly individuals. (Source)

Sample Courses

A table showing a few sample courses for recreation therapy and applied gerontology combined program.
ATR 470 Medical Terminology for Health Professions
PSY 223 Life Span Human Development
PSY 247 Abnormal Psychology
RTH 265 Intro to Recreation Therapy
RTH 348 Practicum in Recreation Therapy
RTH 368 Foundations of Recreation Therapy
RTH 370 Recreation Therapy in Physical Rehabilitation
See The Full Curriculum

How Do I Apply?

All students wishing to be admitted into the combined program must:

  • Be Recreation Therapy majors who have completed at least 90 hours of undergraduate work
  • Have a minimum accumulated grade point average (GAP) of at least 3.0
  • Provide the names of two full-time recreation therapy professors who are familiar with their academic performance in 300-/400-level-classes and their practical experience
  • Apply to the master’s degree program in gerontology

Coordinator
Dr. Tina Newsham
910-962-0581
newshamt@uncw.edu

Steps for Admission to Combined Programs

  1. Undergraduate Application: If you are not a current UNCW student, submit the appropriate application to the Undergraduate Admissions Office.
  2. Communicate: Communicate your interest to participate in the combined program with your undergraduate advisor and the coordinator of the graduate program. This includes reviewing the process to be considered for the combined program and discussing when to apply to the Graduate School.
  3. Combined Program Approval: The graduate coordinator will review your request to participate in the combined program. Approval to apply for the combined program does not guarantee admission to the Graduate School.
  4. Junior Year: During your junior year, you will work with your undergraduate advisor and the coordinator of the graduate program to identify which graduate courses you may take as an undergraduate student.
  5. Senior Year: During your senior year, you will work with the graduate program coordinator to obtain approval to take graduate courses as an undergraduate student.
  6. Graduate School Application: UNCW's Graduate School requires that your bachelor's degree be awarded prior to the first day of graduate classes for the term that you begin the master's degree program. Apply to take graduate classes for the term you begin the master's program.
  7. UNCW Graduate School Contact Info: Email gradschool@uncw.edu with questions prior to submitting the graduate application as the application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

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