2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Master of Science in Recreational Therapy
Completion of 33 credits for the one-year M.S. in RT program. General graduate academic policies can be found in the Grand Valley State University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog.
Students must attain a minimum of 80 percent competency in each course to remain in the program. This requirement is reflected in course syllabi across the M.S. in RT program.
B.S./M.S. Combined Courses
- RTX 300 - Foundations of Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX 302 - Leisure, Health, and Wellness (3 credits)
- RTX 304 - Diagnostic Groups in Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX 306 - Comprehensive Recreational Therapy Programming (3 credits)
- RTX 308 - Leadership for Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX 389 - Recreational Therapy Placement Preparation (1 credit)
- RTX 390 - Fieldwork in Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX 407 - Assessment and Documentation in Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX 504 - Trends and Issues in Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX 505 - Management in Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX 510 - Research and Evaluation in Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
Two undergraduate electives from the following options:
- RTX 313 - Recreational Therapy for Physical Disability (3 credits)
- RTX 315 - Recreational Therapy for Mental Health (3 credits)
- RTX 316 - Recreational Therapy for Older Adults (3 credits)
- RTX 317 - Recreational Therapy for Pediatrics (3 credits)
Graduate Program Courses (upon completion of the BS component
- RTX 606 - Program Development and Consulting in Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX 607 - Advanced Practice in Recreational Therapy Assessment and Evaluation (3 credits)
- RTX 673 - Integrated Evidence-based Research in Recreational Therapy 1 (3 credits)
- RTX 675 - Integrated Evidence-based Research in Recreational Therapy 2 (3 credits)
- RTX 693 - Integrated Evidence-Based Research Project in Recreational Therapy 3 credit
- STA 610 - Applied Statistics for Health Professions (3 credits)
Two graduate electives from the following:
- PNH 668 - Grant Writing (3 credits)
- RTX 613 - Advanced Recreational Therapy Practice in Physical Rehabilitation (3 credits)
- RTX 615 - Advanced Recreational Therapy Practice in Behavioral Health (3 credits)
- RTX 616 - Advanced Recreational Therapy Practice with Older Adults (3 credits)
One Year Master of Science in Recreational Therapy Courses
- RTX 606 - Program Development and Consulting in Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX 607 - Advanced Practice in Recreational Therapy Assessment and Evaluation (3 credits)
- RTX 673 - Integrated Evidence-based Research in Recreational Therapy 1 (3 credits)
- RTX 675 - Integrated Evidence-based Research in Recreational Therapy 2 (3 credits)
- RTX 693 - Integrated Evidence-Based Research Project in Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- STA 610 - Applied Statistics for Health Professions (3 credits)
Two graduate electives from the following 4 options:
- PNH 668 - Grant Writing (3 credits)
- RTX 613 - Advanced Recreational Therapy Practice in Physical Rehabilitation (3 credits)
- RTX 615 - Advanced Recreational Therapy Practice in Behavioral Health (3 credits)
- RTX 616 - Advanced Recreational Therapy Practice with Older Adults (3 credits)
Three additional electives must be selected from the Graduate Catalog for a total of nine credits - electives selections must be 500-level or higher RTX courses or 500- to 600-level courses from other programs approved by advisor.
Sample Curriculum
B.S./M.S. Combined Track
Fall One (10 credits)
- RTX 300 - Foundations of Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX 302 - Leisure, Health, and Wellness (3 credits)
- RTX 304 - Diagnostic Groups in Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX 389 - Recreational Therapy Placement Preparation (1 credit)
Winter One (12 credits)
- RTX 306 - Comprehensive Recreational Therapy Programming (3 credits)
- RTX 308 - Leadership for Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX elective (RTX 313, RTX 316, RTX 317)
Spring/Summer One (3 credits)
Fall Two (9 credits)
- RTX 315 - Recreational Therapy for Mental Health (3 credits)
- RTX 407 - Assessment and Documentation in Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX 504 - Trends and Issues in Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
Winter Two (9 credits)
- RTX 505 - Management in Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX 510 - Research and Evaluation in Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX elective (RTX 313, RTX 316, RTX 317)
Spring/Summer Two (6 credits)
Students are expected to apply to and take the national credentialing exam for Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS) by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) after completion of their bachelor's coursework. Students must pass the exam prior to beginning graduate coursework.
Fall Three (9 credits)
- RTX 607 - Advanced Practice in Recreational Therapy Assessment and Evaluation (3 credits)
- RTX 673 - Integrated Evidence-based Research in Recreational Therapy 1 (3 credits)
- STA 610 - Applied Statistics for Health Professions (3 credits)
Winter Three (9 credits)
- RTX 606 - Program Development and Consulting in Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX 675 - Integrated Evidence-based Research in Recreational Therapy 2 (3 credits)
- RTX elective (RTX 613, RTX 615, RTX 616, PNH 668)
Spring/Summer Three (6 credits)
- RTX 693 - Integrated Evidence-Based Research Project in Recreational Therapy (3 credits)
- RTX elective (RTX 613, RTX 615, RTX 616, PNH 668)
One Year Track
Students in the M.S. in RT one year track are expected to have obtained their national credential as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist prior to beginning the program.
Fall (9 credits)
- RTX 607 - Advanced Practice in Recreational Therapy Assessment and Evaluation (3 credits)
- RTX 673 - Integrated Evidence-based Research in Recreational Therapy 1 (3 credits)
- STA 610 - Applied Statistics for Health Professions (3 credits)
Winter (12 credits)
Spring/Summer (12 credits)