Pathways to a career in therapeutic recreation
Discover Your Path in Recreational Therapy at ASU
Arizona State University offers flexible learning pathways to fit your career goals in recreational therapy/therapeutic recreation.The variety of educational opportunities at ASU prepare you for work across healthcare, human services, and recreation, supported by structured curriculum options and resources tailored to your success.
Meet the Faculty
The Recreational Therapy program at ASU is guided by a dedicated team of nationally recognized faculty and faculty associates who are deeply committed to student success. Our faculty bring a wealth of expertise across clinical practice, research, leadership, and community engagement, ensuring students are supported both in and out of the classroom. Collectively, they contribute to advancing the field through service in state and national professional organizations and innovative scholarship. Students benefit from learning with faculty whose diverse experiences span healthcare, mental and behavioral health, rehabilitation, pediatrics, inclusive recreation, adapted sports, school-based services, and community-based programs, providing the knowledge, mentorship, and inspiration needed to excel as future leaders in recreational therapy.
Alumni Highlights
Graduates of the Recreational Therapy program at ASU build careers that change lives and strengthen communities. They apply their expertise in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, outdoor programs, and community organizations, using recreation as a powerful tool for healing, growth, and connection. Alumni empower individuals to rediscover play, support recovery, and foster inclusion, while also finding deep meaning and fulfillment in their own professional journeys.
Check out how our alumni put their degrees into action. Their stories showcase the lasting impact they have improving the quality of life for people of all abilities.
Elena Messenger
MS, CPRP, CTRS
Year Graduated: 2006
Current Employment: Recreation Centers Program Manager, Marine Corps Community Services, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
My degree made it possible for me to change the lives of others for the better while absolutely changing and fulfilling my own, doing what I love.
Grace Alvarez
CTRS
Year Graduated: 2017
My degree made it possible to help individuals heal and grow through ways that are only limited by the imagination.
Community-Engaged Learning
At Arizona State University, students will learn about recreational therapy through immersive, hands-on learning that extends beyond the classroom. Being located in the Phoenix metropolitan area provides students with unique access to a wide range of organizations that actively support and collaborate with the program. Many of these partners co-create learning opportunities, serve as hosts for practicum and internship experiences, support SCRD student club activities, and help ensure that students are well-prepared to enter the field. This intentional connection to the community also reflects the program’s commitment to COAPRT-accredited standards, where students demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge, skills, and evidence-based practices in real-world contexts.
Students also benefit from opportunities for interprofessional education on the downtown Phoenix Biomedical Campus, where they can engage with peers across health, human service, and education disciplines. These experiences prepare graduates to work as part of collaborative care teams while addressing the diverse needs of individuals and communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
As defined by the American Therapeutic Recreation Therapy Association, Recreational Therapy (RT) is a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses, disabling conditions, and/or adverse circumstances to promote psychological and physical health, recovery, and well-being. Recreational Therapy aims to restore, remediate, or rehabilitate the client’s level of functioning and independence in life activities. Recreational Therapists work in a variety of clinical and community settings and utilize their unique expertise to help individuals overcome barriers to well-being and/or participation in meaningful leisure activities.
Recreational therapists practice in a variety of settings to include, physical medicine and rehabilitation, behavioral and mental health care, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, adult day programs, park and recreation, adapted sports, acute care hospitals, pediatric hospitals, community programs and schools.
Students who successfully complete all the requirements of the Bachelor of Science in Recreational Therapy are eligible to take the national CTRS examination. Additionally, students who complete a degree in another field of study, may also seek national certification by completing the required therapeutic recreation content courses, supportive courses, and professional experience either through an academic internship or work experience. Such students are encouraged to complete the minor or certificate in recreational therapy and review the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification standards for more information about educational and professional experience requirements.
Yes. The Bachelor of Science in Recreational Therapy is accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions (COAPRT). COAPRT is, in turn, accredited by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). More information about the professional accreditation and assessment of learning outcomes is available on the School of Community Resources and Development website.
The Bachelor of Science in Recreational Therapy curriculum includes all requirements outlined by NCTRC for exam eligibility. During the 2023 - 2024 testing period 89.5% students passed the exam in comparison to the 79.6% national average.
Quick Facts: Recreational Therapists
Occupational Outlook
National Professional Organization
American Therapeutic Recreation Association
Arizona State Professional Organization
Arizona State Therapeutic Recreation Association
International Credentialing Organization
National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification
Admission and Enrollment
General university admission requirements: All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
Yes. You can apply to ASU as a non-degree seeking student. Once admitted you can fill out the certificate form.
- If you already have a bachelor’s degree: apply as a nondegree graduate student.
- If you do not have a bachelor’s degree: apply as a nondegree undergraduate student. Once admitted, submit the departmental application for the certificate.
Current ASU students can add the Certificate in Recreational Therapy by selecting the “Add Certificate” option on the program’s informational page in their student portal.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 is required to change into this program.
Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.
Undergraduate certificates are not awarded before the completion of an undergraduate degree if you are a current degree seeking student. If you are a nondegree seeking student pursuing a certificate fill out this form.
Students not interested in the full certificate can apply as nondegree seeking student to enroll in individual courses.
Both pathways provide the same curriculum and faculty expertise. Ground courses offer in-person, hands-on learning in the Phoenix community, while online courses provide flexibility for students balancing work or other commitments. Be sure to review the tuition calculator.
A minor can only be added on to your major while a certificate can be pursued either while an undergraduate student or after you received your bachelors degree. Certificate credit may apply to your degree. Speak with your advisor for more information.
Curriculum
When you are admitted to ASU you will meet with an advisor to determine how your transfer credits apply. Visit the transfer guide to identify how courses directly transfer to ASU.
Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer. ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona.
If you plan to pursue national certification, you will complete RTH 463: Internship in Recreational Therapy after finishing most of your core RT courses. Prior to this, students take RTH 413: Leadership and Professional Development in Recreational Therapy, which provides guidance and support in securing internship placements.
Refer to the specific curriculum checksheets for academic requirements.Students will have an opportunity to individualize their learning experience by adding a variety of electives. Explore titles and course descriptions:
This will depend on the amount of credits you may have transferred in or the amount of credits you are able to take a semester. Connect with Watts Advising to discuss. This will depend on the amount of credits you may have transferred in or the amount of credits
The minor and certificate in Recreational Therapy provide students with a portion of the courses required to gain eligibility to take the national certification exam through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. Refer to the academic curriculum for specific information about completing six recreational therapy content courses. In addition to completing a minimum of six therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy content courses, students need to complete supportive coursework as outlined in the NCTRC standards. These include anatomy and physiology (BIO 160 or 210), Human Development (CDE 232) or Developmental Psychology (PSY ) and Psychological Disorders (PSY 366). Additionally, students must complete professional experience which can be in the form of an academic internship (RTH 463) or professional experience. Students will be given guidance and support with these options during RTH 413, Leadership and Professional Development in Recreational Therapy, and are encouraged to connect with their academic advisor and NCTRC.
This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and master's degree in as little as five years. It is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Community Resources and Development (Nonprofits and NGOs), MS
Community Resources and Development (Parks and Recreation Management), MS
Community Resources and Development (Sustainable Communities), MS
Community Resources and Development (Tourism), MS
Community Resources and Development, MS
Interdisciplinary Education on Community Health and Wellbeing, MA
AoRT Student Club is a paraprofessional organization that has teamed up with professionals throughout the state of Arizona who believe in utilizing recreational interventions to improve an individual's quality of life.
We encourage student membership in the fields of recreation, nursing, physical and occupational therapy, social work and counseling, special education, primary and secondary education and other science-service based majors that are willing to participate in facilitating therapeutic activities and events. More information about the club.