Recreation and Leisure, B.S. - Child Life Specialist

The graduation requirements are listed below. In addition, students select free electives to reach 120 credits overall required for the degree, and this program requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA for graduation.  The department website provides an overview of the program, admission requirements for the major (when applicable), faculty biographies, learning outcomes, and careers: https://www.southernct.edu/academics/recreation-tourism-sport-management/programs.  

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (46 Credits)

All bachelor’s degree programs include liberal education (LEP) and writing (W) course requirements. To review more detailed information, please visit General Education (LEP) Degree Requirements.   

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (54 Credits)

Up to three courses in the major/cognate may also satisfy LEP requirements and will be indicated below; no more than two courses in the same subject may be used towards LEP Explorations.

'C' or better required.

REC 202 – Methods and Materials: Birth to Five
REC 220 – Inclusive Recreation (T2CD)
REC 231 – Foundations of Therapeutic Recreation
REC 311 – Introduction to Child Life Clinical Practice
REC 312 – Therapeutic Play
REC 320 – Program Planning and Management
REC 331 – Therapeutic Recreation: Assessment and Individualized Programming
REC 391 – Interventions and Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation
REC 420 – Organization and Administration of Leisure
REC 470 – Evaluation & Research
REC 480 – Philosophy of Recreation and Leisure
6 Additional Credits of REC

SOC 322 – Sociology of the Family
PCH 348 – Death, Dying & Bereavement

Internships (9 Credits):
REC 301 – Internship I

Select one (6 credits): 
REC 400 – Internship II
REC 433 – Field Experience in Therapeutic Recreation

COGNATE REQUIREMENTS (18 Credits)

EXS 280 – Survey of Anatomy and Physiology
PSY 100 – Introduction to Psychology (T2MB)
PSY 210 – Infant & Child Development
PSY 215 – Adolescent Psychology
PSY 219 – Lifespan Development
PSY 321– Abnormal Psychology

ACCELERATED PATHWAY OPTION (9 Credits)

Students with an overall 3.0 GPA may be approved to complete an accelerated pathway. Graduate courses may be completed during their senior year when a student has earned at least 90 credits. Courses successfully completed with a grade of 'C' or higher will earn dual credit to be applied to both the undergraduate and graduate transcript. Approval to start graduate coursework does not guarantee admission to the graduate program.

Accelerated Pathway to Graduate Program
In consultation with their advisor, students may select up to 9 credits of graduate level coursework (500-level or higher) appropriate to their intended graduate program of study.