Admission Requirements & Retention Information

All students wishing to declare recreation therapy must adhere to the Recreation Therapy Program Admission Procedure which includes completion of at least 45 credit hours of college/university credit, and timely submission of (a) the Recreation Therapy Application form, (b) an essay explaining why they want to major in recreation therapy, (c) signed Recreation Therapy Technical Standards; and (d) an interview with a recreation therapy faculty member (see Application Form). 

Minimum criteria for acceptance into the program will include: 

1. 2.5 cumulative GPA 
2. 45 earned credit hours prior to beginning the RTH program 
3. successful completion of EXS 216/217 or BIO 240/241, or transfer equivalency (EXS 217 or BIO 241 can be in progress); and
4. a minimum of 50 hours experience working or volunteering with individuals with disabilities, disabling conditions or illnesses (requirement suspended until further notice). 

Completed applications includes (a) essay, (b) signed technical standards, and (c) current degree audit must be submitted by Feb. 15th for priority consideration for fall admission, and Sept. 15th priority consideration for spring admission. After the priority deadlines, applications will be reviewed if there is space available. 

The top applicants will be admitted to the Recreation Therapy Program each fall and spring semester.

Once a student has been admitted into the Recreation Therapy Program, he or she must maintain a 2.5 RT Major GPA, and a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all RTH courses (pre-recreation therapy students taking Introduction to Recreation Therapy may be accepted into the major contingent upon earning a B or better in Introduction to Recreation Therapy). If a student falls below this, they will be placed on probation for one semester. If a student’s GPA is below the requirement for two semesters, they are informed in writing they are being removed from the major. 

A student cannot enroll in RTH 497 Clinical Placement in Recreation Therapy without a cumulative GPA in all RTH courses. Students who fall below the 3.0 cumulative GPA in all RTH courses may choose one of the following options: (a) take a semester of course work to bring up their GPA, or (b) take an alternative internship (i.e., REC 498), or (c) take 12 additional hours of course work. Students will be advised in writing and must sign a form stating they understand that choosing options (b) or (c) will disqualify them from taking the NCTRC exam thus render then ineligible for national certification or state licensure as a recreational therapist, and make them unemployable as a therapeutic recreation specialist or as a recreation therapist. 

In addition:

• Students found to have been in violation of the university's Academic Honor Code will be subject to disciplinary action as set forth in the current Cornerstone Pledge. 
• Students found to be in violation of the Recreation Therapy Technical Standards will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the program. 
• Students found to be in violation of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association’s Code of Ethics will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the program.