Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

Recreation and Leisure Studies students interested in the Therapeutic Recreation Major will declare this after completing at least 5.0 units (i.e., after the completion of Year One), with a minimum of 2.5 units completed while enrolled in Recreation and Leisure Studies, by submitting a Plan Modification/Internal Transfer Form to the Undergraduate Office for approval. Admission decisions are normally made in May after Winter term grades are available. To be considered for the Therapeutic Recreation Major, students must have completed a minimum of 5.0 units including REC 100, 101, 252, and one of REC 200, 215, 230, or 280; and students must be in good academic standing in an Honours program.

Degree Requirements

1.   Recreation courses (minimum of 10.0 units):

• Required Recreation (7.5 units): REC 100, 101, 205, 220, 251, 252, 253, 270, 350, 354, 356, 371, 450A or an approved Work Term (see Academic Advisors for more information), 450B, and 455.
• Recreation Electives (minimum of 2.5 units):
  Each student must complete additional Recreation Electives to meet the required minimum of 10.0 Recreation units.
• Please note that MU380E (see WLU calendar) "Creative Arts for Children with Special Needs" is accepted as a University of Waterloo Recreation Elective.
• All cross-listed courses with REC are counted as Recreation Electives and are included in the major average.

2. Courses outside the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies (maximum of 10.0 units):

• Required (2.0 units): 
  AHS 150
  HLTH 245 
  PSYCH 101
  SOC 101
• Select one course from four of the following eight categories (2.0 units Restricted Electives):
  • An English Course
    An English writing course (one of ENGL 109, 129R, 140R, any 210 course, or 240R) is strongly recommended.
  • A Fine or Performing Arts Course
    DRAMA, FINE, MUSIC
  • A Humanities Course
    CLAS, EASIA, HIST, HUMSC, JS, NATST, PACS, PHIL, REES, RS, SPCOM, SPD, WS
  • A Social Science Course other than Psychology or Sociology
    ANTH, ECON, ISS, LS, PSCI, SMF, SOCWK, STV
  • A Language Course from the Faculty of Arts (other than English or ESL)
  • A Course from the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences (other than Recreation)
    GERON, HLTH, KIN
  • A Course from the Faculty of Environment
    ENVS, ERS, GEOG, INDEV, INTEG, PLAN
  • A Course offered by the School of Computer Science 
    Note: The course subjects listed may not be comprehensive. For a complete list, or approval of a specific course subject, please see the Academic Advisor or the Department website.
• Therapeutic Recreation Electives
  Select 3.0 units from:
  • BIOL 273
  • BIOL 301
  • GERON 220/HLTH 220
  • GERON 255
  • HLTH 101
  • HLTH 102
  • ISS 150R
  • KIN 100
  • KIN 242
  • MU380E (see WLU calendar)
  • PHIL 226
  • PSYCH 211
  • PSYCH 213R
  • PSYCH 257/PSYCH 323R
  • PSYCH 317
  • PSYCH 334
  • REC 351
  • REC 361
  • REC 362/GERON/HLTH/SOC 352
  • REC 405
  • SOC 222
  • SOC 223
  • SOC 248
  • SOC 249
  • SPCOM 225
  • SPCOM 324
• Students must take an additional 3.0 units of Open Electives.

3. Total number of units to complete degree is 20.0.

Course Sequence

Year One (Regular and Co-operative System of Study)

Regular System of Study

Year Two

Year Three

Year Four 

Co-operative System of Study

Year Two

Year Three

Year Four

Notes:

1. The elective courses are used to fill the Recreation Electives, Non-Department Restricted Electives, Therapeutic Recreation Electives, and Open Electives.
2. Students are permitted to pursue a double major in any of Honours Recreation and Sport Business, Therapeutic Recreation, and Tourism and Parks Management, by meeting the requirements of each plan.
3. Students are required to complete REC 253 by the end of their third year. However, students are strongly encouraged to complete it within their second year.
4. Students who use an approved Co-op Work Term in place of REC 450A to complete their required internship hours (see Academic Advisors for more details) must complete REC 450B during that work term. Students who use an approved work term in place of REC 450A  should plan to complete an additional Recreation Elective worth 0.5 units so that they have the required 20.0 units to graduate.