Educational Goals

Graduates with this advanced degree will be able: 1) to demonstrate knowledge of systems and practices of therapeutic recreation directed at improving the health-related quality of life of persons with physical, psychological, and cognitive disabilities; 2) to demonstrate a sophisticated use of language in written and verbal communication with regard to intervention, assessment, and documentation of client/patient outcomes and professional interaction with interdisciplinary teams; 3) prepared to pass the state and national certification exams in order to practice in Texas as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist/Texas (TRS/TXC) governed by the Therapeutic Recreation Consortium of Texas and as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) governed by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).

Employment Options

Recreational therapists work in nursing care facilities, residential and outpatient settings with the elderly or those who are physically disabled, or diagnosed with mental retardation, mental illness, or substance abuse problems. For those positions that involve teaching, research, consultation, supervision, and/or administration, a graduate degree in TR is typically preferred/required.

The Faculty

Members of the Recreation graduate faculty are national leaders in the field of Recreation Management and/or Therapeutic Recreation. They are the authors of numerous peer-reviewed publications and set the high standards for students in the graduate Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation Programs at Texas State University. These members include:

Steve Awoniyi, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

512-245-1313

SA11@txstate.edu

Tom Gustafson, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Recreation Coordinator

512-245-2972

TG08@txstate.edu

Lyn Litchke, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

512-245-2951

LL24@txstate.edu

Jo Ann Zimmerman, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

512-245-1973

JZ15@txstate.edu

Admission Requirements

·   A minimum GPA of 2.75 on the last 60 hr of undergraduate coursework leading to a baccalaureate, or

·   Conditional Admission may be granted to applicants with a GPA of 2.5 to 2.74 on the last 60 hr of undergraduate course work.

Financial Assistance

Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantships. The Department of HPER annually awards competitive graduate assistantships to highly qualified individuals interested in serving as either research or teaching assistants. Selection is based on the graduate students’ academic background and professional experience. For more information, interested students should contact Dr. Gustafson, Recreation Coordinator, at 512-245-2972 or TG08@txstate.edu.

Curriculum

·         Required Courses

REC 5310, Philosophical Foundations of RLS

REC 5340, Social Science of R&L

REC 5346, Literature & Research

REC 5350, Legal & Ethical Issues in RLS

REC 5380, Administering Leisure Delivery Systems

REC 5332, Leisure Enhancement in Later Life

REC 5323, Public Policy in TR

·         Prescribed Elective Courses, including but not limited to:

COMM 5329B, Communication and Negotiation

HA 5354, Healthcare Organization and Delivery

HA 5361, Healthcare Management

MGT 5314, Organizational Behavior and Theory

PSY 5320, Advanced Statistics

PSY 5361, Seminar in Addiction Studies

SOCI 5349, Seminar in Drugs and Society

SOCI 5353, Seminar in the Community

SOCI 5363, Seminar in Medical Sociology

SOCI 5370, Seminar in Multi-Cultural Relations

SPED 5314, Management of Autistic Behavior

SPED 5360, The Education of Exceptional Children

SPED 5375, Behavioral Expectations & Management in the Home & School