The Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies offers a certificate program in aquatic therapy for allied health professionals who desire advance training in the growing field of aquatic therapy. The Aquatic Therapy Certificate Program consists of 12 credit hours aimed at preparing individuals who wish to use aquatics in therapeutic settings.
Two courses, RCTX 5000: Theoretical Foundations of Aquatic Rehabilitation and RCTX 5001: Applied Techniques in Aquatic Rehabilitation, offer students the opportunity to learn the theoretical foundations of aquatic rehabilitation, aquatic applications to various disability groups, and aquatic therapy techniques such as Watsu®, aquatic arthritis exercise, Bad Ragaz, Ai Chi, and Halliwick methods. The Aquatic Therapy Certificate program also includes three hours of coursework related to managing aquatic facilities. RCLS 5100: Aquatic Facilities Management covers topics related to pool operations, water chemistry, and aquatic personnel management. The final three hours are dedicated to specialized aquatics training to provide a well-rounded approach to preparing aquatic rehabilitation personnel.
The certificate program is available to current undergraduate seniors and graduate students. Classes within the Aquatic Therapy Certificate Program are offered through on-line and weekend face-to-face instruction in order to be convenient for working professionals who wish to gain this advanced education and training. For more information regarding the Aquatic Therapy Certificate Program, contact the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at (252) 328-4640.
Certificate Requirements (12 hours):
RCTX 5000 Theoretical Foundations of Aquatic Rehabilitation (3)
RCTX 5001 Applied Techniques in Aquatic Rehabilitation (3)
RCLS 5100 Aquatics Facilities Management (3)
Choose 3 hours (min.):
RCLS 5101 Waterfront Facility Operations (3)
EXSS 5904 Adaptive Aquatics (2)
Other courses approved by Certificate Director
National certifications required in First Aid and CPR.
Aquatic Therapy Program Information
