Recreational Therapy Abroad

Work with people with disabilities and special needs adapting leisure and recreation, participating in therapy sessions, doing exercises and sports, and practice life skills while receiving credit. Imagine working at a camp for children with disabilities in Ireland supporting the children to engage in activities and an empowering camp experience, or assisting with exercises or wheelchair mobility in a hospital therapy clinic in South Africa.

Make a global impact on others while completing your fieldwork placement and studying abroad. Expand your horizons to new types of leisure, recreation, adaptive equipment and cultural interventions to expand your recreational therapy techniques and ideas.

Recreational Therapy Programs

Academic Advice

Internships

Department Contact

Resources for Advisors

Exercise

Program Suggestions

The programs highlighted on this page are a good fit for students who are looking to fulfill their general education classes or their pre-requisites for recreational therapy.

Semester and Academic Year Programs

Country

Program, Host Institution, or University Name

Program Type

Courses

Australia

Macquarie University

Exchange

Available Courses

Australia

University of the Sunshine Coast

Exchange

Available Courses

Cyprus

Global Semesters: University of Nicosia

Provider

Available Courses

Ghana

University of Cape Coast

Exchange

Available Courses

Ireland

API: University of Limerick

Provider

Available Courses

Italy

John Cabot University

Exchange

Available Courses

Thailand

KEI: Mahidol University International College

Provider

Available Courses

Turkey

Middle East Technical University

Exchange

Available Courses

United Kingdom

Kingston University

Exchange

Available Courses

United Kingdom

Edge Hill University

Exchange

Available Courses

Summer Programs

Location

Program

Program Type

Courses

Colombia

ISA: Universidad del Norte

Provider

Available Courses

Denmark or Sweden

Summer at DIS

Provider

Available Courses

Netherlands

USAC: Maastricht University

Provider

Available Courses

South Korea

TEAN: Hanyang University 

Provider

Available Courses

United Kingdom

Kingston University

Exchange

Available Courses

Various Locations

Serious Fun Camps

Provider

Fieldwork

Academic Advice

  • The earliest you can go abroad is the summer of your first year.
  • Students may fulfill General Education Foundation and Issues requirements abroad
  • Be sure to explore both GVSU and provider options by browsing the Program Suggestions above. Students are not limited to GVSU study abroad programs.
  • There are several opportunities to intern and or volunteer while abroad.
  • RTX 390 Fieldwork in Recreational Therapy can be fulfilled through international experience for students admitted to the recreational therapy program. This fieldwork experience takes place between during the summer between year 1 and year 2 in the program. 
  • In the fall of your first year in the program make sure to indicate to the Recreational Therapy Placement Coordinator that you are interested in completing your fieldwork abroad. The Coordinator may be able to assist with identifying possible sites, but it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to secure their placement location.
  • Department input required for approval of RTX 390 abroad.
  • Fieldwork placements must be completed during the summer between your first and second year of the program and must meet the requirements for such placements including a minimum of 300 hours of involvement over a minimum of 8 weeks.
  • The Recreational Therapy program may provide information about opportunities abroad, it is ultimately up to the student to secure their own international placement
  • Study abroad fieldwork placement proposals will be reviewed on a case by case basis by the program faculty.
  • RTX 490 can NOT be taken abroad 

To determine the GVSU course equivalencies for courses taken abroad, please visit our Course Approval page. 

Once you have selected a program, schedule a meeting with your academic advisor to discuss your plans.

Academic Advice

Internships

Gain real-world experience globally and build your international network by participating in an internship abroad. 

Internships Abroad

Internships

Explore Other Program Options

There are other program options available. Schedule a study abroad advising appointment to learn more or browse our other program options:

Browse More Programs

Other Opportunities

Department Contact

Dawn DeVries

[email protected]

106 Finkelstein Hall



Page last modified June 19, 2024