Recreation and Leisure Studies, M.S. - Recreation Therapy Accelerated Pathway

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The M.S. in Recreation and Leisure Studies – Recreation Therapy Accelerated Pathway provides high-achieving students with an opportunity to finish their graduate degree in one year following successful completion of the B.S. in Recreation and Leisure Studies – Recreation Therapy BS to MS Accelerated Pathway at Southern Connecticut State University. The curriculum is competency based with a strong emphasis on the professional skills necessary to be an effective manager or service provider. A combination of didactic course work, practicum experience, and independent student activities provides students with a broad array of learning experiences as preparation for the supervision, administration, and management of recreation programs and facilities.

Beyond the core and concentration classes, students are required to take practicum based courses to gain career related experience. Elective courses are approved in order to best serve the academic and professional interest of the students. The concentration in recreation therapy is designed to meet certification requirements of the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). The curriculum is also individualized and structured to meet the needs of students who are working full time by offering courses mostly in the evenings or on weekends.

For further information: RecreationAndLeisureGrad@southernct.edu

Application Deadline

Undergraduate students at Southern Connecticut State University are encouraged to apply for graduate admission no later than the spring semester of their senior year in collaboration with a faculty advisor in the Recreation, Tourism, and Sport Management department. All materials should be submitted to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies the Friday prior to the start of spring break. Students will select the M.S. in Recreation and Leisure Studies degree and the Recreation Therapy Accelerated Pathway Concentration. Please consult the admission requirements below and within the Admission section of the graduate catalog for more information.

Admission Requirements

Students interested in applying for admission to the M.S. in Recreation and Leisure Studies - Recreation Therapy Accelerated Pathway should apply online through the School of Graduate and Professional Studies website: www.southernct.edu/gradadmissions. The applicant’s current SCSU transcript will be automatically added to the application.

Candidates seeking admission are expected to have completed their bachelor’s degree requirements and attained a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (out of 4.0). Students will be granted early acceptance to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies, which is conditional upon meeting the requirements listed above. A final transcript noting the degree and date awarded must be received by the School of Graduate and Professional Studies prior to the beginning of the first semester of graduate enrollment. Upon final approval of the application and planned program by the School of Graduate and Professional Studies, those accepted into the program will receive a letter of the acceptance from the School of Graduate and Professional Studies and a copy of the planned program verifying their status as a matriculated graduate student.

International applications should refer to the Admission of International Students subsection of the Application and Admissions section of this catalog for the additional application requirements.

Program Sequence - 36 credits

As sequencing changes, it is highly recommended that students meet with their program advisor to finalize a list of requirements for graduation. 12 credits of graduate coursework will be completed within the B.S. in Recreation and Leisure Studies (Concentration: Recreation Therapy BS to MS Accelerated Pathway) and the student will have 24 credits of graduate coursework remaining.

Recreation Therapy BS to MS Accelerated Pathway

12 Credits Required

Completed during the student’s senior year of undergraduate study.

6 Credits Required

9 Credits Required

Recreation Therapy Courses

Department Electives

3 Credits Required

Suggested Electives:

REC 533 -  Socio-Leisure Needs of Individual with Disabilities – 3 credits
REC 599 – Grantsmanship – 3 credits
Or courses in the MBA program – Advisor permission needed

Special Project

6 Credits Required

Students select REC 583 and REC 588 (3 credits each), which include both a practicum experience to be determined in consultation with the graduate coordinator, as well as a special project capstone incorporating course materials applied to an area of interest to the student. The project results will be delivered as a product at the completion of the course. Courses offered as pass/fail only.