The Graduate School Bulletin
Department of Community and Therapeutic Recreation
420J Health and Human Performance Building
(336) 334-5327
Graduate Programs:
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Geriatric Recreational Therapy, 15 hours
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Animal Assisted Therapy, 15 hours
Master of Science (MS) in Parks and Recreation Management: Leisure Services Management; Therapeutic Recreation; or Travel, Tourism, or Commercial Recreation concentration, 36 hours
RPM Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality Management Courses
Graduate Faculty
Professors
Leandra A. Bedini, PhD, Therapeutic recreation, family caregivers, women with disabilities, perceived stigma
Linda L. Buettner, PhD, Interventions for persons with cognitive impairments, Alzheimer's, depression, psychosocial needs of older adults.
Stuart J. Schleien, PhD, Therapeutic recreation, community inclusion, developmental disabilities (Chair of Department).
James R. Sellers, EdD, Leisure services management, area and facility development, maintenance and operations, financing.
Associate Professors
Nancy J. Gladwell, ReD, Management, commercial recreation, organizational behavior.
Yu-Chin Hsieh, PhD, Hotel operations, human resource management, hospitality education.
Charlsena F. Stone, PhD, Therapeutic recreation, cultural competence, cultural diversity training.
PBC - Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Geriatric Recreational Therapy
The online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Geriatric Recreational Therapy (GRT) requires 15 semester hours and is designed for the practicing recreational therapist who is interested in specializing in practice with older adults. The certificate will fulfill the requirement for geriatric specialization recently established by the National Council of Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).
Application and Admission
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) status or permission of program directors is required for admission. In addition to the application materials required by The Graduate School, applicants must submit a current resume and a professional statement including animal assisted therapy goals. Interviews are encouraged for all applicants.
Certificate Requirements
Required Courses (15 hours)
RPM 630 Geriatric Recreational Therapy Practice: Roles and Responsibilities (3)
RPM 631 Geriatric Assessment for Recreational Therapists (3)
RPM 632 Evidence-based Practice in Geriatric Recreational Therapy (3)
GRO 501 Health and Aging (3)
GRO 631 Seminar: Critical Issues of Aging (3) or RPM 697 Internship in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (3-6).
PBC Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Animal Assisted Therapy
The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Animal Assisted Therapy requires 15 semester hours and is designed for the practicing health and human service professional who is interesting in specializing in using therapy animals within their professional practice.The basics of animal assisted therapy, its history, and instrumentation and intervention techniques, including assessment, treatment and evaluation processes are introduced. It includes field experiences in both clinical (AAT approaches for specific disabilities) and non-clinical (classroom) applications of AAT. Courses are taught online and face-to-face field experiences are required.
Application and Admission
In addition to the application materials required by The Graduate School, applicants must submit a current resume and a professional statement including animal assisted therapy goals. Interviews are encouraged for all applicants.
Certificate Requirements
RPM 535 Animal Assisted Therapy (3)
RPM 697 Internship in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (6)
Two approved supportive courses (e.g. animal psychology, abnormal psychology, special education, nursing course, gerontology or advanced professional practice course related to scope of practice which must be 500-level or above.) (6)
This program requires a weekend AAT intensive face-to-face Delta Society Pet Partners workshop for handlers.
MS - Master of Science in Parks and Recreation Management
The MS in Parks and Recreation Management requires 36 semester hours. Students may choose one of the following three concentrations: leisure services management; therapeutic recreation; or travel, tourism, and commercial recreation.
The student, after discussing career goals with his/her advisor, may choose either the thesis or non-thesis option. If the student selects the non-thesis option, the advisor will determine (based on amount of professional experience) whether the student completes a project, an internship, or a combination of a project and an internship. For example, a student choosing the non-thesis option and having minimal professional experience will be required to complete an internship. Students must meet with their advisor or the Director of Graduate Study before registering for any course work.
Application and Admission
In addition to the application materials required by The Graduate School, applicants must submit a current resume and a professional statement including career goals. Interviews are encouraged for all applicants and required for graduate assistants. Students who do not have an undergraduate degree in recreation, parks, and tourism and/or appropriate professional experience will be required to take one undergraduate course from their concentration; e.g., HTM 261 or RPM 241. Students in the therapeutic recreation concentration will be required to take two of the following three courses; i.e., RPM 231, 332, 338.
Degree Requirements
Required Core Courses (9 hours)
RPM 611 Foundations of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (3)
RPM 613 Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management (3)
RPM 614 Organizational Behavior in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (3)
Concentration (6-9 hours)
Leisure Services Management (9 hours)
RPM 645 Financial Trends in Recreation and Parks (3)
RPM 646 Seminar: Leisure Services Management (3)
Select one of the following:
PSC 520 The Urban Political System (3)
PSC 600 Public Administration and Management (3)
PSC 613 Local Government Administration (3)
PSC 615 Public Personnel: Development and Evaluation (3)
Therapeutic Recreation (9 hours)
RPM 633 Professional Issues in Therapeutic Recreation (3)
RPM 634 Advanced Procedures in Therapeutic Recreation (3)
RPM 637 Advanced Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation (3)
Travel, Tourism, and Commercial Recreation (6 hours)
RPM 626 Tourism Management (3)
RPM 627 Conceptual Foundations of Travel and Tourism (3)
Research Techniques (9 hours)
RPM 612 Research Applications in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (3)
Select one of the following:
ERM 517 Statistical Methods in Education (3)
HEA 604 Public Health Statistics (3)
KIN 610 Statistical Methods for Kinesiology (3)
Select one of the following:
ERM 604 Methods of Educational Research (3)
KIN 611 Research in Physical Education I: Concepts of Inquiry (3)
SOC 616 Advanced Research Methods (3)
Specialized Line of Study (3-9 hours)
With the approval of his/her advisor, the student selects 3 to 9 hours of 500- to 700-level course work that constitute a specialized knowledge base relevant to the student's academic and professional interests and goals.
Capstone Experience (6 hours)
Select one of the following:
RPM 697 Internship in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (6)
RPM 698 Field Project in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (6)
RPM 697 Internship in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (3) and RPM 698 Field Project in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (3)
RPM 699 Thesis (6)
RPM Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality Management Courses
511 Seminar in Recreation and Parks (3:3)
Pr. 315 or permission of instructor
Examination of current practices in recreation and parks with emphasis on their impact in the delivery of programs and services, and their technological, economic, and political significance in society.
519 Directed Research (3)
Pr. permission of instructor
Identification and investigation of research questions in recreation, parks, and tourism. Opportunity for students to conduct research with direction from scholars in the field.
535 Animal Assisted Therapy (3:3)
Introduction to the theories, concepts, and techniques used in animal assisted therapy in long term care, rehabilitation, acute care hospitals, special schools, and other settings.
589 Experimental Course
This number reserved for experimental courses. Refer to the Course Schedule for current offerings.
611 Foundations of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (3:3)
Understand and apply various theories and concepts, as well as current research, which influence the study of leisure behavior and the delivery of recreation services.
612 Research Applications in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (3:3)
Pr. ERM 604 or KIN 611 or SOC 616; ERM 517 or HEA 604 or KIN 610
Utilization and application of current data analytic procedures in leisure research in the context of various research methods.
613 Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management (3:3)
Pr. 611 or permission of instructor
Theories and patterns of management appropriate for leisure service delivery systems. Organizational planning, legal foundations, financial management, personnel management, and the politics of leisure service delivery systems.
614 Organizational Behavior in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (3:3)
Pr. 613 or permission of instructor
Organizational behavior within recreation, parks, and tourism organizations. Management and organizational behavior, perception, motivation, diversity, power and politics, leadership, group dynamics, communications, conflict, and organizational design, culture and change.
626 Tourism Management (3:3)
Pr. HTM 261 or permission of instructor
Study of the current trends and issues in travel and tourism; examination of ethical and legal issues, marketing and management strategies, and providers of tourism products and services.
627 Conceptual Foundations of Travel and Tourism (3:3)
Pr. 611 or permission of instructor
Conceptual and theoretical foundations of travel and tourism and their application in research and practice.
630 Geriatric Recreational Therapy Practice: Roles and Responsibilities (3:3)
Pr. Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) or permission of instructor
Analysis of advanced roles and responsibilities of geriatric recreational therapists in the broad delivery of evidence based treatment services in long term care.
631 Geriatric Assessment for Therapists (3:3)
Pr. Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) or permission of instructor
Development of necessary skills to master the process and techniques required to assess older adults and interpret assessment values for planning and treatment and evaluation of outcomes.
632 Evidence-based Practice in Geriatric Recreational Therapy (3:3)
Pr. Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) or permission of instructor
Introduces recreational therapy practitioners to principles of evidence-based practice and policy, practice guidelines, and information utilization for practice modeling.
633 Professional Issues in Therapeutic Recreation (3:3)
Study of professional issues in therapeutic recreation including professionalism, credentialing, research, professional preparation, continuing education, health care, ethics, advocacy, legislation, marketing, and role of TR managers in addressing these issues.
634 Advanced Procedures in Therapeutic Recreation (3:3)
Pr. 611 or permission of instructor
Health care delivery service in community and medical arenas. Role of therapeutic recreation within that system. Administrative/managerial procedures.
636 Advanced Sustainable Community-Based Tourism Planning (6:3:9)
Pr. permission of department through formal application process
Advanced theory and practical applications of tourism planning, including market analysis, infrastructure proposal and development, implement strategies and evaluation. International travel will be required. May be repeated for credit when focus varies.
637 Advanced Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation (3:3)
Pr. 231 and 332, or permission of instructor
Planning, implementation, and evaluation of a variety of therapeutic recreation facilitation techniques to include intervention descriptions, historical perspectives, efficacy research, and theoretical foundations.
645 Financial Trends in Recreation and Parks (3:3)
Pr. 613 or equivalent, or permission of instructor
Study of financial trends in the public and private nonprofit sectors of recreation and parks. Emphasis on financing and acquiring recreation and park resources.
646 Seminar: Leisure Services Management (3:3)
Pr. 613 or permission of instructor
Concepts, principles, and practices in recreation and park management. Emphasis on policy-making process; program, service, and event management; physical resources planning/management; legal environment/risk management; professionalism; issues and trends.
695 Independent Study (3)
Pr. permission of instructor
Independent study to support graduate-level research and demonstration projects under the close supervision of a graduate faculty member in RTH. May be repeated once for credit.
696 Directed Readings (3)
Pr. permission of instructor
Opportunity to conduct in-depth study and library work on a particular topic in recreation, parks, and tourism under close supervision of a graduate faculty member in RTH. May be repeated once for credit.
697 Internship in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (3-6)
Pr. 611, 612, 613; either 626, 633, or 645
A supervised field experience including a final paper. (Graded on S-U basis)
698 Field Project in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (3-6)
Pr. 611, 612, 613; either 626, 633, or 645
A supervised field project including a major literature-based paper.
699 Thesis (1-6)
Pr. 611, 612, 613; either ERM 604, KIN 611, or SOC 616; ERM 517; either 626, 633, or 645; either 627, 634, or 646
Individual guidance in the development and examination of a research problem.
711 Experimental Course
This number reserved for experimental courses. Refer to the Course Schedule for current offerings.
801 Thesis Extension (1-3)
803 Research Extension (1-3)