Make a real, positive difference in the lives of people facing disabilities, injuries, social isolation and other challenges with a career in the field of recreational therapy. Help children, adolescents, adults and seniors improve their overall health and well-being and live full, independent lives through fun and leisure activities.
The two-year Therapeutic Recreation Diploma will prepare you to assess, plan, implement and evaluate a wide range of leisure services for people with barriers to participating in leisure activities. Such services might include arts and crafts, dance, music, sports, games, aquatics and group outings. You will have the opportunity to apply classroom theory in real-life situations through two semesters of practicum work in health-care or social-service settings.
Job prospects are good
Recreational therapy is used in the fields of gerontology, paedology, psychology, rehabilitation and more. As a diploma graduate, you can find work as a recreation assistant, program planner, recreation leader and activity worker in a variety of settings, including hospitals, mental-health centres, long-term care homes, rehabilitation centres, correctional facilities, youth assessment centres and group homes. From 2019 to 2029, there will be almost 6,000 new job openings for recreation program leaders (and related positions) in B.C., with an average salary of $38,500 per year.
Complete a bachelor’s degree
The diploma program fulfills the requirements of years one and two of the Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation program at Douglas College. Alternatively, the diploma transfers toward the Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care at the University of the Fraser Valley and the Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation at the University of Calgary.
Graduation Requirements:
Course Requirements:
Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
Select one course from the following three options: |
||
Human Anatomy & Physiology I |
3.00 |
|
Human Anatomy & Physiology I |
3.00 |
|
Human Anatomy & Physiology I |
3.00 |
|
Select one course from the following three options: |
||
Human Anatomy & Physiology II |
3.00 |
|
Human Anatomy & Physiology II |
3.00 |
|
Human Anatomy & Physiology II |
3.00 |
|
Required Courses: |
||
Academic Writing |
3.00 |
|
Lifespan Human Development |
3.00 |
|
Therapeutic Recreation Foundations |
3.00 |
|
Leisure & Recreation Foundations |
3.00 |
|
Recreation Program Planning |
3.00 |
|
Leisure, Recreation and Health Throughout the Lifespan |
3.00 |
|
Principles and Practices of Health |
3.00 |
|
Communication Skills for Recreation and Health Promotion Professionals |
3.00 |
|
Assessment and Program Planning in Therapeutic Recreation |
3.00 |
|
Inclusive Leisure Practice |
3.00 |
|
Valuing Diversity: Therapeutic Recreation and Mental Health |
3.00 |
|
Older Adulthood: Psychosocial Issues and Interventions |
3.00 |
|
Physical Fitness: Theory and Application in Therapeutic Recreation |
3.00 |
|
Therapeutic Recreation Practice |
3.00 |
|
Recreation Leadership in Small Groups |
3.00 |
|
Value Diversity: Therapeutic Recreation and Physical and Developmental Disabling Conditions |
3.00 |
|
Chronic Health Conditions and Therapeutic Recreation |
3.00 |
|
Therapeutic Recreation Practice II: Diploma |
4.00 |
|
Total Credits |
|
61.00 |
Applicants must meet the admission requirements listed below:
Suitability is determined on the basis of awareness of self and others, life/work experience and overall personal readiness.
Applicants will submit:
A Letter of Intent outlining the reasons a candidate has chosen this program, long and short term goals, and strengths and limitations as a candidate.
A program application form.
An up-to-date resume.
A minimum 2 letters of reference with one being from a current (within 1 year) employer, teacher or instructor.
A personal interview may be required.
Due once an offer of admission is made:
A Criminal Record Check – Applicants will receive instruction from Enrolment Services once an offer of admission has been made.
A tuition deposit to secure seat (full-time applicants only)
Note: A negative TB test or Chest X-Ray, flu shot and proof of current vaccinations will be required for most practical experiences.
More admission and program details are available in the Prospective Student Guide.
You can get an average cost for your program - tuition and student fees, books, uniforms, lab fees etc - on the Program Cost page.
Only programs approved for student loan funding are listed on the Program Cost page. For all other programs, refer to the Tuition Fee page.
Approximately 90 percent of graduates find employment within six months, working in various health, social service and recreation agencies:
Graduates hold a variety of positions:
The salary range depends on the setting and type of work you choose to do. The low end of the scale would be about $16/hour and the high end would be approximately $25/hour. Health care settings tend to pay more than residential settings and much will depend on whether your setting is unionized and to which union you belong. We say that the average starting salary for diploma graduates is approximately $18/hour.
Students currently in the Diploma Program may choose to transfer to the Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation Degree. They must decide at the end of the first year to either continue in the Diploma Program or move into the Degree Program. Graduates of the Therapeutic Recreation Diploma Program can apply to the Bachelor Degree Program as a Third Year Access student. Depending on the year of graduation, diploma grads will receive 56 to 60 credits towards their degree.
Those with a Therapeutic Recreation Diploma will receive a two-year block credit towards the following university degree programs:
Program Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this program and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the program, consider the previous version as the applicable version.
The program utilizes computer technology and it is therefore expected that students enter the program with basic word processing and Windows application skills.
Applicants found suitable for admission but not offered a seat in the program will need to reapply. Therefore, applicants not offered a seat will be required to maintain involvement in recent volunteer/work experience totaling 45 hours within the year prior to their re-application.