Why choose this program?
Therapeutic Recreation Specialists are allied health professionals who use a person-centred, strengths-based approach to design and implement purposeful and meaningful recreation and leisure programs and interventions for holistic health and wellbeing.
Dalhousie Therapeutic Recreation program is one of two programs in Canada to be accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Recreational Therapy Education (CARTE), under the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). This means that our program meets (and exceeds) a high standard in Therapeutic Recreation education.
The program also prepares graduates to meet the requirements to write the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) exam to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. Dalhousie graduates consistently exceed the national average of the exam.
Admission requirements
Minimum admission requirements
To be considered for admission to this program, you must meet minimum academic criteria:
- Completion of secondary school (Grade 12)
- Achievement of the minimum average for your program of choice.
- Completion of Grade 12 English (or equivalent course).
Admission to many Dalhousie programs is competitive. This means that meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Program-specific admission requirements
Minimum average of 70%
English (min. 70%)
Four additional academic subjects.
Financial information
A university education is a significant financial investment. Every student is unique, and so are their financial circumstances. We offer competitive tuition, a robust scholarship and bursary program, and resources and support to help you explore financial options and develop a plan that works for you.
Program options
In the final year of the program, a 16-week internship under the supervision of a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist takes you out of the classroom and provides you with hands-on work experience that enhances your studies. 100% of our students achieve expectations on their final internship performance appraisals.
If you’re interested in research, the honours option will provide you with a valuable opportunity to gain research experience with mentorship from a Therapeutic Recreation faculty member.
The following Therapeutic Recreation program options are offered by Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Health. Connect with an academic advisor after you start your studies to explore options such as:
Bachelor of Science, Recreation (Therapeutic Recreation)
Bachelor of Science, Recreation (Therapeutic Recreation) with Honours
What you will learn
The goal of the program is to provide students with the theoretical and practical skills to work in a variety of settings as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). Throughout the degree, students will engage in hands-on learning, working closely with faculty, fellow students, and community partners. To kick off your first year, you’ll participate in an overnight recreation orientation at camp where you get to know your fellow recreation students and faculty, engage in fun activities, while making new friends.
In first year, along with the introductory leisure studies and therapeutic recreation courses, you’ll take a range of other introductory courses in other departments, such as physiology, sociology, psychology, and anatomy. As you move through the degree, you will have continued opportunity for both hands-on and in-class learning on a variety of topics relevant to therapeutic recreation practice.
Sample courses may include:
- Foundations of Recreation
- Foundations of Therapeutic Recreation
- Introduction to Psychology and Neuroscience
- People and Culture
- Inclusive Recreation Service Delivery
- Leadership and Group Dynamics
- Human Growth and Development
- Program Planning
- Counselling Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation
- Assessment, Planning and Documentation in Therapeutic Recreation Service
- Therapeutic Recreation Facilitation, Implementation, and Evaluation
- Leisure Education
- Therapeutic Recreation Internship
- Administrative Concepts in Therapeutic Recreation
- Therapeutic Recreation Specialization - Physical and Developmental Disabilities
- Therapeutic Recreation for Mental Health and Wellbeing
After completing the program, you’ll be well prepared to write the NCTRC exam and begin a rewarding career in the field.
Careers
Dalhousie students have higher than the national average of pass rates for the NCTRC exam. Therapeutic recreation is a rapidly growing field, and new career opportunities are constantly being created. As a student in the program, you’ll be well prepared to start a rewarding career as a member of an interdisciplinary team within the healthcare and recreation sectors.
Graduates of the Therapeutic Recreation program may find employment in a variety of areas in the health care and recreation sectors. Therapeutic Recreation services are offered for individuals of all ages and varying abilities and a variety of settings (e.g., inpatient and outpatient health care, and community), such as:
- mental health and addictions
- rehabilitation
- municipal recreation and community centres
- long-term care
- outdoor recreation
- adapted physical activity
- private practice
Future studies could include programs at the graduate level in science, health, or business administration.
