The Department
The Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies (RCLS) has about 20 full-time faculty and approximately 200 majors. Established in the early 1970s, the RCLS Bachelor of Science curriculum has achieved a reputation for strong professional preparation toward management positions in the recreation, leisure, and health care industries. The RCLS Department offers graduate degrees in Recreation and Park Administration (RPA) and Recreational Therapy Administration (RTA).
Degree Program Highlights
- Five Recreational Therapy faculty professionally certified at the state and national level.
- All faculty actively strive for excellence in teaching, research, and service.
- Strong clinical experiential component provided through practicums and volunteer experiences.
- National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification exam eligible upon completion of degree. ECU graduates scores above national and regional means for past 4 years.
- Medical hub for region with state and nationally recognized programs & services.
- Competitive graduate assistantships are available.
Program of Study
The 36-39 hour recreational therapy administration (RTA) degree is designed to prepare students to assume professional administrative/management, education, and research-oriented positions within the broad spectrum of recreational therapy and related allied health service sectors.
REQUIRED CORE (12 semester hours)
RCLS 6000 Philosophical and Social Foundations of Leisure Services
RCLS 6100 Risk Management and Legal Liability in Recreation, Leisure,
and Recreational Sport
RCLS 6110 Research Methods in Recreational Therapy and Recreation
and Leisure Services
RCLS 6120 Seminar in Recreation, Leisure, and Recreational Therapy
Administration
RTA Requirements (12 semester hours)
RCTX 6310 Program Development and Management in Recreational
Therapy
RCTX 6320 Client Assessment, Evaluation, & Documentation in
Recreation Therapy
RCTX 6330 Administrative Aspects of Recreational Therapy
COHE 6600 Management of Health Care Operations
RTA Thesis Option (12 semester hours)
BIOS 7021 Biostatistics for Health Professionals I
BIOS 7022 Biostatistics for Health Professionals II
RCLS 7000 Thesis: RTA
RTA Non-Thesis Option (15 semester hours.)
RCTX 6502 Capstone Experience in Recreational Therapy
BIOS 7021 Biostatistics for Health Professionals I
Plus 9 semester hours of advised electives.
RCLS 6990 (Supervised Field Experience) will be required of RTA students who are not currently certified as Therapeutic Recreation Specialists. RTA students not currently certified may also be expected to complete prerequisites required by national and state certification boards.
Additional information for RCLS course requirements.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Thom Skalko, Graduate Program Director
1409 Carol G. Belk Building
300 Curry Court
Greenville, NC 27858-4353
