Recreational Therapy, B.S. - Child Life Specialist

The program course outline and graduation requirements for this catalog year are listed below. To graduate, a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 must be achieved, and a total of 120 credits is required. This total includes both the required courses for the program and any free electives selected. 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 Recreational Therapy
REC 311 – Introduction to Child Life Clinical Practice
REC 312 – Therapeutic Play
REC 320 – Program Planning and Management
REC 331 – Recreational Therapy: Assessment and Individualized Program Planning
REC 391 – Interventions and Facilitation Techniques in Recreational Therapy
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 Recreational Therapy

COGNATE REQUIREMENTS (18 Credits)

HMS 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 a 3.0 GPA and at least 90 credits may be eligible to complete an accelerated pathway during their senior year to earn dual credit towards both their current undergraduate program and future graduate program of interest. Approval to start graduate coursework does not guarantee admission to the graduate program.

Students will meet with their faculty advisor to prepare a Graduate Course Plan (500-level courses or higher), with a maximum of 6 credits per semester, based on their graduate program of interest. Approval from both the Program Department Chairperson and the Graduate Coordinator is required. Programs may have higher requirements, and seat availability in certain graduate programs may be limited.    

Courses completed with a grade of 'C' or higher will earn dual credit for both undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Graduate programs may have higher grade requirements in place for certain courses which may require the student to retake the course for a higher grade letter.