Academic Catalog 2024-2025

Slippery Rock University

Recreational Therapy, Bachelor of Science (BS) / Pre-Occupational Therapy (SRU) (3+3)

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Degree Program Writing Competency: Upon completion of the degree program RT students will write professionally and effectively, according to expectations of the Recreational Therapy profession. – UG1

2. Life-Long Learning: Recognize the importance of lifelong learning and demonstrates responsibly for self-assessment and growth.  This ability is evident through the demonstration of self-initiating behaviors, anticipating and responding to changes in a productive manner, assuming responsibility for continuous self-reflection assessment of strengths and limitations and in seeking out information from a variety of resources in an independent manner. – UG5, UG6

3. Methodological Proficiency: Upon completion of the degree program RT students will use an analytical framework to facilitate the Recreational Therapy process to meet the needs of individuals. The abilities developed include a solid knowledge of the RT process, assessment methods, planning skills, intervention, techniques and strategies, and evaluation skills. – UG2, UG3, UG4,

4. Professional Decision Making: Analyze and synthesize complex information to make sound clinical decisions.  This ability is inclusive of areas such as problem solving, critical thinking, evaluation and organization with application to clinical and non-clinical areas. – UG10

5. Professional Interactions: Effectively communicates with people in a variety of professional contexts including assisting clients in confronting and coping with life challenges, collaborating on teams and presenting information in oral and written formats. The abilities developed include striving to maintain objectivity, tolerating ambiguity, appreciating diversity and adhering to conventional standards of expression. – UG8, UG10,

6. Valuing Ethical Responsibilities: Act with professional values in all situations.  These skills include maintaining appropriate humane and ethical treatment of individuals as well as upholding the professional code of ethics. This expertise includes formulating value judgments reflecting a respect for dignity and individuality of every person. – UG7, UG8, UG9

What are your options?

Pre-Occupational Therapy SRU 3+3:  Earn a Doctor of Occupational Therapy in six years rather than seven. In the first three years, you complete your major courses and prerequisites for the SRU OTD program. At the end of your second year, you apply for admission into the SRU OTD program. If accepted, your first year in the SRU OTD program meets the remaining requirements for your undergraduate degree. If not accepted, you continue to complete your undergraduate degree and can reapply to the program. The accelerated option is for incoming freshmen only.

Pre-Occupational Therapy (SRU Traditional): Complete the requirements for your major and the prerequisites for the SRU OTD program and apply to the SRU OTD program in your senior year.

RELATED LINKS

Recreational Therapy - Pre-Occupational Therapy, BS Program Page

Professional Licensure/Certification Page

CURRICULUM GUIDE

GPA REQUIREMENT

1st Major: Recreational Therapy

  • Overall GPA: 2.0 or higher
  • Major GPA (Includes Major Requirements): 2.0 or higher

2nd Major: Pre-OT SRU 3+3 Recreational Therapy

  • Overall GPA: 3.00 or higher

SUMMARY*

Rock Studies 2 Requirements44
Other Basic Requirements0-3
Major Requirements51
NCTRC Certification Requirements18
Electives25

* All undergraduate degree programs require a minimum of 120 credits. Some courses meet multiple requirements, but are only counted once toward the 120 credit total required to graduate. However, because this is a pre-professional program, credits taken during the 1st year of the graduate program are applied toward the undergraduate credit hours to meet the 120 credits required for your undergraduate degree.

ROCK STUDIES 2 REQUIREMENTS

The Rock
SUBJ 139Foundations of Academic Discovery 13
ENGL 102Critical Writing3
ENGL 104Critical Reading3
STAT 152Elementary Statistics I3
Select one of the following:3
Civil Discourse: Theory & Practice
Ethics and Civil Discourse
Civil Discourse and Democracy
Subtotal15
Integrated Inquiry
Creative and Aesthetic Inquiry
Select 3 Credits3
Humanities Inquiry
Select 3 Credits3
Social Science Inquiry
Select 3 Credits3
Natural and Physical Sciences Inquiry
BIOL 209Human Anatomy and Physiology I4
BIOL 309Human Anatomy and Physiology II4
Subtotal17
Thematic Thread
Required Thematic Thread Coursework:12
Medical Terminology
Medical/Health Care Ethics
Ethics & Legal Fundamentals for the Health Professions
Introduction to Psychology
Additional 300-400 Level Course
Total Hours44
1

Course offered in multiple subjects; cannot take course in first major subject.

Basic Math Requirement

Check with your adviser or a current degree audit report to see if you have been exempted from this course. The credit earned in this course will not be counted toward the 120 credit hour minimum needed to earn a degree.

Complete one of the following:0-3
Meet required minimum SAT or ACT math score OR
Beginning Algebra
Total Hours0-3

DIVERSITY,  EQUITY,  AND INCLUSION REQUIREMENT

Students must take and pass a course with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) designation prior to graduation.  Students can meet this requirement by taking any DEI - designated course in any program at any time during their undergraduate career. 

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

  • If you choose to pursue the Pre-OT SRU 3+3 RT program and not accepted into the OTD program, then you are required to complete RCTH 415RCTH 423PE 360 and additional approved RT electives. (See RT BS degree curriculum guide).
Recreational Therapy Courses
Must earn a “C” or better in all of the following RCTH courses:
RCTH 120Disability, Community Inclusion, and Diversity 13
RCTH 220Recreational Therapy Services 13
RCTH 232Recreational Therapy for People with Physical Disabilities 13
RCTH 233Recreational Therapy for People with Psychosocial and Mental Disorders 13
RCTH 314Clinical Aspects of Recreational Therapy 13
RCTH 316Applied Research and Evidenced-Based Practice3
RCTH 317Organization and Management of Recreational Therapy Practice 13
RCTH 319Client Assessment in Recreational Therapy 13
RCTH 320Recreational Therapy Program Design 13
RCTH 351Recreational Therapy Practicum 13
RCTH 364Biomechanics of Individuals with Disabilities 13
RCTH 420Recreational Therapy for Older Adults 13
RCTH 422Leisure Education and Counseling 13
RCTH 450Internship 1,212
Total Hours51
1

Course counts for 50% of Major requirements and Major GPA

2

Students must become certified in First Aid and CPR. This can be accomplished by taking a course (example: American Heart Assoc.)

*

Some courses may require pre-requisites. Please see course descriptions to determine if there are any pre-requisites for that specific course.

ADDITIONAL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PREREQUISITE COURSES

EXSC 250Medical Terminology3
or HCAM 250 Medical Terminology for Healthcare Administrators
PSYC 244Developmental Psychology3
PSYC 276Introduction to Abnormal Psychology3
Total Hours9

NCTRC CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

These courses must be completed by the student in order to be eligible to take NCTRC Certification Exam

PE 360Anatomical and Physiological Basis of Physical Activity/Lab3
PHIL 325Medical/Health Care Ethics 13
or HCAM 375 Ethics & Legal Fundamentals for the Health Professions
PSYC 105Introduction to Psychology 13
PSYC 244Developmental Psychology 13
PSYC 276Introduction to Abnormal Psychology3
RCTH 364Biomechanics of Individuals with Disabilities3
Total Hours18
1

Course can be counted as a Rock Studies 2 Requirement, but earns credit only once toward your 120-credits total.

CO-CURRICULAR AND EXPERIMENTAL LEARNING

Students are encouraged to explore additional curricular and co-curricular opportunities. There is a strong correlation between long-term student success and participation in the following types of programs and activities:

  1. High-Impact Practice (HIP) designated classes
  2. Student-faculty research
  3. Student leadership development
  4. Service-learning classes
  5. Internships
  6. Volunteering

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Prerequisite Admission Requirements – Pre-Occupational Therapy SRU 3+3

For Application Requirements

Please refer to Slippery Rock University’s Occupational Therapy Studies (Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Studies) website for requirements: http://www.sru.edu/OT

Rock Studies 2

Prerequisite Courses - SRU Occupational Therapy
BIOL 209Human Anatomy and Physiology I4
BIOL 309Human Anatomy and Physiology II4
EXSC 250Medical Terminology3
or HCAM 250 Medical Terminology for Healthcare Administrators
PHYS 201Elements of Physics I with Lab4
or RCTH 364 Biomechanics of Individuals with Disabilities
STAT 152Elementary Statistics I3
PSYC 105Introduction to Psychology3
PSYC 244Developmental Psychology3
PSYC 276Introduction to Abnormal Psychology3
Anthropology or Sociology 13
Race and Ethnic Diversity in the USA
Introduction to Anthropology
Biological Anthropology
Health and Society
Cultural Area Studies
Minority Groups
The Family
Society, Culture and Self
Gender Roles and Society
Sociology of Aging
Disability, Community Inclusion, and Diversity
Human Diversity
Research Methods - Select One: 13
Research Methods in Exercise Science
Health Care Theory and Research Capstone Seminar
Research Methods in Interdisciplinary Studies
Psychological Science I: Research Methods
Applied Research and Evidenced-Based Practice
Research Methods
Total Hours33
1

Select one course. See My Rock Audit for specific courses.

Pre-Occupational Therapy SRU 3+3

If any of these requirements are not met, the 3+3 designation will be removed from the student’s record:

  1. A 3.0 or higher overall GPA must be maintained by the student.
  2. The student can only be enrolled in the Pre-Occupational Therapy SRU 3+3 program for a maximum of three (3) years, full-time continuous enrollment (fall/spring).

Provision

Should a Pre-Occupational Therapy SRU 3+3 student be unsuccessful in completing the 1st two semesters (summer or fall) of the Occupational Therapy Program and wants to complete the original undergraduate degree, it is solely up to the discretion of the undergraduate program Department Chair to determine which, if any, Occupational Therapy courses will count toward the completion of his/her undergraduate degree. In addition, students must complete any unfulfilled requirements of their undergraduate major. Students may still apply to the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program with an earned Bachelor’s degree.

Important Curriculum Guide Notes

This Curriculum Guide is provided to help SRU students and prospective students better understand their intended major curriculum. Enrolled SRU students should note that the My Rock Audit may place already-earned and/or in progress courses in different, yet valid, curriculum categories. Enrolled SRU students should use the My Rock Audit Report and materials and information provided by their faculty advisers to ensure accurate progress towards degree completion. The information on this guide is current as of the date listed. Students are responsible for curriculum requirements at the time of enrollment at the University.

PASSHE - Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Institutions

RECREATIONAL THERAPY - BS (6393)
PRE-OT SRU 3+3 (6RTO)
This program is effective as of Summer 2024
Revised 05.16.2024
UCC 04.16.2024

RECOMMENDED THREE-YEAR PLAN

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
RCTH 120 Disability, Community Inclusion, and Diversity 3
RCTH 220 Recreational Therapy Services 3
ENGL 102 Critical Writing 3
ESAP 101 FYRST Seminar 1 1
PSYC 105 Introduction to Psychology 3
SUBJ 139Foundations of Academic Discovery * 3
 Hours16
Spring
RCTH 232 Recreational Therapy for People with Physical Disabilities (Offered Spring Term only) 3
ENGL 104 Critical Reading 3
EXSC 250 Medical Terminology 3
PSYC 244 Developmental Psychology 3
STAT 152 Elementary Statistics I 3
Creative & Aesthetic Inquiry 3
 Hours18
Second Year
Fall
RCTH 316 Applied Research and Evidenced-Based Practice 3
RCTH 233 Recreational Therapy for People with Psychosocial and Mental Disorders 3
BIOL 209 Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4
PSYC 276 Introduction to Abnormal Psychology 3
Select one of the following: 3
Civil Discourse: Theory & Practice
Ethics and Civil Discourse
Civil Discourse and Democracy
Humanities Inquiry 3
 Hours19
Spring
RCTH 314 Clinical Aspects of Recreational Therapy 3
RCTH 317 Organization and Management of Recreational Therapy Practice 3
RCTH 364 Biomechanics of Individuals with Disabilities 3
BIOL 309 Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4
Thematic Thread Requirement 6
 Hours19
Third Year
Fall
RCTH 319 Client Assessment in Recreational Therapy 3
RCTH 320 Recreational Therapy Program Design 3
RCTH 351 Recreational Therapy Practicum 3
RCTH 420 Recreational Therapy for Older Adults 3
RCTH 422 Leisure Education and Counseling 3
PHIL 325
Medical/Health Care Ethics
or Ethics & Legal Fundamentals for the Health Professions
3
 Hours18
Spring
RCTH 450 Internship 12
 Hours12
 Total Hours**102
*

Course offered in multiple subjects; cannot take course in first major subject.

1

Students are encouraged to take ESAP 101​ as a Free Elective.

** This document is meant to serve as a guide. Some planners may show more than 120 credits because faculty have created flexibility in choosing courses.  However, only 120 credits are required to obtain a degree. Please consult with your academic adviser and refer to your curriculum guide prior to registering for courses. This plan should be reviewed, and verified, by you and your academic adviser at least once each academic year. 

Major Code: 6RTO
Revised: 04.12.2024