Allied Health – Recreation Therapy
Recreation Therapy Allied Health Guide
What is Recreation Therapy?
Recreation therapy (commonly shortened to RT) is an activity-based field of therapy intervention that utilizes a variety of activities including sports, games, animals, dance, music, arts and crafts, and drama to provide therapeutic treatment to individuals of all age groups. Recreation therapists are caring and enthusiastic individuals who work in a wide variety of settings and can help clients with a number of illnesses, disabilities, or needs related to physical and mental well-being.
Undergraduate Prerequisite Coursework
- Biology I & II with Lab
- Anatomy with Lab
- Physiology with Lab
- Psychology
- Courses related to behavioral biology
Education & Advanced Degrees
- Bachelor’s Degree in Recreational Therapy (or Therapeutic Recreation)
- Master’s Degree in Recreational Therapy (or in Recreation)
Advanced Degree Requirements
- GRE Scores
- Documentation of work experience and/or observation experience in recreational therapy
- References (Academic, Professional)
This is a list of the most frequently required admissions requirements. Please see individual program websites for exact requirement information.
Potential Workplace Settings to Explore
- Parks/Playgrounds
- Schools
- Clinics
- Rehabilitation centers
- Residential care facilities
- Government settings
- Industrial settings
- Nursing homes
- Recreation facilities
Career Resources
- Join OneHop using your jhu.edu email address
- Complete your profile
- Search “Allied Health” in Groups to join the conversation!
OneHop Allied Health Professions Alumni Group
- Join the OneHop Allied Health Professions Alumni Group where current students interested in allied health can connect with alumni allied health professionals.
Allied Health Professional Associations for Students
- American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA)
Explore Allied Health Professions “Allied health encompasses a broad group of health professionals who use scientific principles and evidence-based practice for the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of acute and chronic diseases; promote disease prevention and wellness for optimum health, and apply administration and management skills to support health care systems in a variety of settings.” – Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP, 2021)