The recreation degree is an interdisciplinary degree that prepares you for administration, leadership and management roles. Graduates work in commercial, public and not-for-profit recreation and leisure services, health promotion, community development, outdoor recreation and therapeutic recreation.

As a recreation student, you will learn about the social, physical, psychological, cultural, economic, environmental and political issues that influence recreation and leisure participation, delivery and management.

When you graduate, you will have the skills to manage programs and services to enhance the quality of life and well-being of individuals, communities and environments.

Concentration in therapeutic recreation

The Bachelor of Recreation offers students the ability to concentrate in the study of therapeutic recreation. 

Therapeutic recreation involves the purposeful use of recreation and leisure experiences to improve or maintain the social, mental, emotional and physical functioning of individuals. These services are provided in a variety of treatment, residential, and community-based health and human service agencies. Students learn to assess physical, social and emotional needs of clients, as well as models for enhancing their lives through professional practice involving recreation and leisure opportunities and community inclusion.

100% of our therapeutic recreation students passed the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification Exam (from July 2015 - Nov. 2017) and scored 10% higher than the national average!

For students interested in being eligible for the certification exam offered by the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC), the following courses are required:

Required Courses (these are required for certification)

HKR 2300: Growth and Development
HKR 2310: Human Anatomy
HKR 2320: Primary Human Physiology
HKR 2585: Foundations in Therapeutic Recreation
HKR 3515: Inclusive and Therapeutic Recreation in Outdoor Settings
HKR 3785: Community Development and Recreation in Therapeutic Recreation Settings
HKR 4485: Leisure Education in Therapeutic Recreation Settings
HKR 4685: Professional Issues in Therapeutic Recreation

Elective Courses (students must complete at least one of these to meet the NCTRC requirement of 6 TR-specific courses as of Jan. 1, 2022)

HKR 3485: Therapeutic Recreation Service Delivery
HKR 3685: Assessment and Documentation in Therapeutic Recreation

Elective Courses (required for certification but not a degree requirement)

HKR 4785: Internship in Therapeutic Recreation
PSYCH 3640: The Psychology of Abnormal Behaviour