Program Description

The Recreation Industries and Therapeutic Recreation major at Springfield College prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to succeed as recreation professionals in a variety of community, wellness, and nonprofit settings. Originally established in 1946, graduates from our program have gone on to be leaders in nonprofit organizations like the YMCA, hospitals and nursing home settings, camps and outdoor recreation businesses, and community recreation agencies.

Students in Recreation Industries and Therapeutic Recreation would choose among two exciting professional concentrations as part of their major:  Recreation Professional Studies or Community Youth Development and Leadership, our 100% online program. As part of the Recreation Professional Studies concentration, students would choose between a Therapeutic Recreation or Recreation Coordinator track. Despite the concentration chosen, all students learn about agency operations and strategic management along with how to design and facilitate recreation programs, key skills needed for positions in therapeutic recreation, parks and recreation, outdoor recreation, and youth-serving organizations. Our ability to blend our courses with theoretical knowledge and practical experience has enabled us to prepare the next generation of leaders in our industries.

Our Recreation program is nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT). Students in this program are eligible to sit for the Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) certification exam as early as their final semester on campus. 

In addition, our Therapeutic Recreation program follows guidelines set by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). This ensures that upon completion of our Therapeutic Recreation program, students will be eligible to sit on the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) exam and be prepared to work in settings serving people with physical, emotional, psychiatric, and developmental disabilities.

Students in the Recreation Industries and Therapeutic Recreation major may also elect to extend their education through study abroad in international programs, such as courses offered at Hong Kong Baptist University’s Physical Education and Recreation Management program or through training sessions promoted by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and Outward Bound. Limited college credit for NOLS or outdoor expeditions may be arranged to supplement a student’s academic program and professional development.

Undergraduate Curriculum Overview

The Academic Advising Center provides the following repositories of sequencing and curriculum guides for all undergraduate majors and minors to assist with course planning:  

• Sequencing Guides - Majors (Traditional Population)  
• Sequencing Guides - Minors (Traditional Population) 
• Curriculum Guides (Regional and Online Population)

Additional Notes:

• There may be circumstances where credit totals do not reflect coursework that is eligible to count towards Core Curriculum and Major Requirement sections of a major simultaneously.
• Degree requirements are subject to change. 

I. Core Curriculum (40 credits)

This Core Curriculum is faithful to the Springfield College mission and further strengthens the Humanics philosophy of educating students in spirit, mind, and body. It is a cornerstone of a Springfield College education. Regardless of one’s major, it provides a strong, developmental, and holistic foundation for leaders in service to humanity. Upon completion, all graduates will be prepared to learn, lead, and serve in diverse, multicultural, and global contexts as well as in any career path they may choose. They will have the knowledge, habits of the mind, skills, and abilities to face unexpected situations and challenges, the values and attitudes for self-motivation and a vision of service that stems from hope, optimism and making a difference, as well as the self-determination to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

View the Core Curriculum Requirements (40 credits)  section for a complete list of the domains and courses therein.

II. Major Requirements (45-58 credits)

III. Electives (to complete a minimum of 120 credits)