The Department
The Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies (RCLS) has 12 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 degrees in recreation and leisure facilities and services administration (RLFSA) 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
RCLS 6110  Research Methods
RCLS 6120  Seminar in Recreation, Leisure, and Recreational Therapy Administration

RTA Requirements (12 semester hours)

RCLS 6310  Program Development and Management in Recreational Therapy 
RCLS 6320  Client Assessment, Evaluation, & Documentation in Recreation Therapy
RCLS 6330  Administrative Aspects of Recreational Therapy
COHE 6600  Management of Health Care Operations

RTA Thesis Option (12 semester hours)

BIOS 6021  Biostatistics for Health Professionals I
BIOS 6022  Biostatistics for Health Professionals II
RCLS 7000  Thesis: RTA

RTA Non-Thesis Option (15 semester hours.)

RCLS 6502  Capstone Experience in Recreational Therapy 
BIOS 6021   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.