Therapeutic Recreation Assistant A.A.S.
A45770
The therapeutic recreation assistant curriculum prepares individuals to plan, implement, and document therapeutic recreation interventions, according to national standards of practice. The curriculum emphasizes the use of recreation as treatment designed to (re)habilitate a client’s level of functioning and independence.
Coursework includes facilitating adaptive, inclusive and universal activities (ropes courses, creative arts, water sports, etc) and leading or co-leading recreational therapy sessions (social skills, team building, problem solving, leisure education etc.) for people with disabilities and their families.
Graduates should qualify for a LRTA license from the North Carolina Board for Recreational Therapy Licensure. Employment opportunities include group homes, retirement facilities, agencies serving people with developmental disabilities, psychiatric or mental health agencies, and other rehabilitation facilities. Students should consult their advisor for information about course sche d uling.
Upon successful completion of this program, the student should be able to:
- Develop individualized treatment plans that identify goals, objectives, and treatment intervention strategies
- Identify activities and activity adaptations that may be included in the individualized treatment plan
- Apply problem-solving techniques and skills, including the use of logic (GE II.6)
- Demonstrate mastery of the conventions of writing including grammar, spelling, and mechanics, and mastery of the conventions of speech, including speaking clearly and confidently, using the voice, volume, tone, and articulation appropriate to the audience and occasion (GE I.7)
- Work effectively and appropriately with others through collaboration and teamwork (GE V.6)
Admission Policy
- High school diploma or High School Equivalency Diploma.
- Completion of College’s admission and testing procedures.
Students may be admitted to the program with placement test scores which indicate a deficiency in reading, writing, and/or mathematics. However, these students will be required to remove these deficiencies by completion of the appropriate developmental, non-credit coursework.
Program Information
Clinical facilities may require students to submit a physical and emotional health form and a criminal background check prior to working with patients or clients. If a clinical facility denies admission to a student for any reason, the student will not be able to complete the program.
General Education
Required Courses
| BIO 163 | Basic Anatomy & Physiology | 5 | FA, SP, SU |
| ENG 111 | Writing and Inquiry | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| ENG 114 | Prof Research & Reporting | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| PSY 150 | General Psychology | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
Humanities/Fine Arts
Select 3 SHC from the following
| ART 111 | Art Appreciation | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| ART 113 | Art Methods and Materials | 3 | |
| ART 114 | Art History Survey I | 3 | FA, SP |
| ART 115 | Art History Survey II | 3 | SP |
| ART 116 | Survey of American Art | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| ART 117 | Non-Western Art History | 3 | |
| ART 121 | Two-Dimensional Design | 3 | FA, SP |
| ART 131 | Drawing I | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| ART 132 | Drawing II | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| ART 171 | Computer Art I | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| ART 240 | Painting I | 3 | FA, SP |
| ART 241 | Painting II | 3 | SP |
| ART 244 | Watercolor | 3 | SU |
| ART 260 | Photography Appreciation | 3 | |
| ART 261 | Photography I | 3 | FA, SP |
| ART 271 | Computer Art II | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| ART 281 | Sculpture I | 3 | SP |
| ART 283 | Ceramics I | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| ART 288 | Studio | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| ART 289 | Museum Study | 3 | SP |
| COM 140 | Introduction to Intercultural Communication | 3 | |
| DRA 111 | Theatre Application | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| DRA 112 | Literature of the Theatre | 3 | FA |
| DRA 120 | Voice for Performance | 3 | SP |
| DRA 122 | Oral Interpretation | 3 | FA, SP |
| DRA 124 | Readers Theatre | 3 | |
| DRA 126 | Storytelling | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| DRA 128 | Children's Theatre | 3 | FA, SP |
| DRA 130 | Acting I | 3 | FA |
| ENG 125 | Creative Writing I | 3 | |
| ENG 231 | American Literature I | 3 | FA, SP |
| ENG 232 | American Literature II | 3 | FA, SP |
| ENG 241 | British Literature I | 3 | FA, SU |
| ENG 242 | British Literature II | 3 | FA, SP |
| ENG 251 | Western World Literature I | 3 | FA |
| ENG 252 | Western World Literature II | 3 | SP |
| ENG 271 | Contemporary Literature | 3 | |
| ENG 272 | Southern Literature | 3 | |
| ENG 273 | African-American Literature | 3 | FA |
| ENG 274 | Literature By Women | 3 | |
| HUM 110 | Technology and Society | 3 | |
| HUM 120 | Cultural Studies | 3 | |
| HUM 130 | Myth in Human Culture | 3 | |
| HUM 160 | Introduction to Film | 3 | FA, SP |
| HUM 230 | Leadership Development | 3 | SP |
| MUS 110 | Music Appreciation | 3 | FA, SP |
| MUS 112 | Introduction to Jazz | 3 | |
| MUS 113 | American Music | 3 | |
| MUS 210 | History of Rock Music | 3 | SP |
| MUS 211 | History of Country Music | 3 | SP |
| PHI 210 | History of Philosophy | 3 | FA, SP |
| PHI 240 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| REL 110 | World Religions | 3 | FA, SP |
| REL 211 | Introduction to Old Testament | 3 | FA, SP |
| REL 212 | Introduction to New Testament | 3 | FA, SP |
Major Courses
Core Required Courses
Other Major Required Courses
| CIS 110 | Introduction to Computers | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| MED 120 | Survey of Medical Terminology | 2 | FA, SP |
| PSY 241 | Developmental Psychology | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| PSY 281 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 | FA, SP, SU |
| TRE 121 | Creative Expressive Arts I | 2 | FA |
| TRE 122 | Activity Coordinator | 4 | FA |
| TRE 170 | Therapeutic Recreation Psychology Lab | 1 | FA |
| TRE 173 | Community Integration Lab | 1 | FA |
| TRE 270 | Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Lab | 1 | FA |
| TRE 271 | Therapeutic Recreation Geriatrics Lab | 1 | SP |
| TRE 282 | TRE Internship III Supervs | 1 | SP |
Physical Education Elective
(Select 2 SHC from the following courses)
Math competency must be met by satisfactory completion of DMA 010, DMA 020, and DMA 030 or an NC DAP score of 7 or above for DMA 010, DMA 020, and DMA 030 or a combination of the two.
Total Credit Hours: 71
Math competency must be met by satisfactory completion of
DMA 010,
DMA 020,
DMA 030 or an NC DAP score of 7 or above for
DMA 010,
DMA 020, and
DMA 030 or a combination of the two.