About this program
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Credential Awarded: 2 Year Diploma
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Campus: Welland
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Code: 0178 P0178
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Delivery Length: 2 Years
Who are you?
- I am a domestic applicant. *
- I am an international applicant.
Your education at Niagara College begins with your application. We're here to help make the process easy!
- Carefully read the Admission Requirements tab to make sure you meet the program requirements.
- Check the Availability tab to see whether or not the program is accepting applications, and what start dates are available.
- Complete an application online through ontariocolleges.ca.
- Our Admissions Office will acknowledge your application has been received and will provide you with your NC Student ID number and details on your next steps.
Your education at Niagara College begins with your application. We're here to help make the process easy!
- Carefully read the Admission Requirements tab to make sure you meet the program requirements. Official, translated high school and/or post-secondary transcripts, proof of graduation and proof of English proficiency will be required.
- Check the Availability tab to see whether or not the program is accepting International applications, and what start dates are available.
- For next steps in the application process please visit international.niagaracollege.ca/how-to-apply/.
- Complete an application online through our Online Application Form.
- Niagara College will send you or your agent a confirmation of receipt via email within 48 hours of receiving your application.
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Are you interested in a career where you support individuals in enjoying an improved quality of life?
As a Recreation Therapy Professional, you will use meaningful recreation and leisure education, counselling and experiences to promote, restore, rehabilitate, and/or maintain quality of life and well-being. Therapeutic recreation supports the development of strengths while addressing social, emotional, physical, spiritual and cognitive needs.
NC Preferred Admission
This program grants preferred admission to qualified graduates from:
For detailed information, requirements and eligibility visit niagaracollege.ca/pathways/.
Courses
| Code | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| RECL1127 | Leadership in Society | 3 |
| COMM1140 | Essential Communication Skills for Community Services | 3 |
| RECL1128 | Therapeutic Recreation for Diverse Abilities | 3 |
| RECL1129 | Professionalism in Therapeutic Recreation | 3 |
| RECL1337 | Foundations of Therapeutic Recreation | 3 |
| PSYC1323 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| Code | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| RECL1210 | Therapeutic Recreation Intervention and Program Planning | 3 |
| RECL1211 | Assessment and Documentation in Therapeutic Recreation | 3 |
| RECL1212 | Therapeutic Approaches for an Aging Population | 3 |
| RECL1213 | Applied Positive Strategies in Therapeutic Recreation | 3 |
| RECL1214 | Therapeutic Recreation Program Delivery | 3 |
| HLTH1020 | Introduction to Interprofessional Education and Practice | 3 |
| Code | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| RECL1339 | Effective Helping Skills in Therapeutic Recreation | 3 |
| PRAC1327 | Field Placement I | 3 |
| RECL1310 | Technology and Therapeutic Recreation | 3 |
| RECL1203 | Leisure Education | 3 |
| RECL1441 | Therapeutic Recreation Facilitation Techniques | 3 |
| RECL1320 | Mental Illness, Addiction and Recovery: A Therapeutic Recreation Perspective | 3 |
| Elective Information | ||
|
Completion of additional General Education elective 1 course required |
||
| Code | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| RECL1440 | Issues and Trends in Therapeutic Recreation | 3 |
| PRAC1427 | Field Placement II | 6 |
| RECL1412 | Integrative Seminar | 3 |
| RECL1455 | Research and Evaluation in Therapeutic Recreation | 3 |
| RECL1420 | Community Practice in Therapeutic Recreation | 3 |
Program Outcomes Term: 1244
Analyze client assessment data to determine strengths, needs, and goals.
Create an individual intervention plan based on assessment results.
Apply a systematic process to the design and development of therapeutic recreation programs.
Implement client centred, leisure based programs that are responsive and reflective of the client’s strengths and interests.
Collect, record, and report comprehensive client information accurately in verbal, written and electronic formats in accordance with current ministry guidelines and professional standards.
Analyze the impact of program and service delivery with respect to client-centred and operational outcomes.
Assess and create appropriate opportunities for client involvement in and connection to a wide range of services and resources in the community.
Utilize a planned systematic process to research therapeutic recreation services in order to inform practice.
Utilize essential skills to communicate and collaborate effectively with key stakeholders and industry professionals.
Develop and deliver therapeutic recreation services in a safe and ethical manner.
Develop and apply strategies to further opportunities for continuous learning that supports professional practice and skill development.
Admission Requirements
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent including the following required course(s):
- English – any Grade 12 (C) or (U), or equivalent
Recommended Courses and/or Skills:
These courses and skills may help you succeed academically in this program, but they are not required for admission.
- Related volunteer and or cooperative/work experience
- Leadership and Peer Support – Grade 11 (O)
- Dynamics of Human Relationships – Grade 11 (O)
- Human Development Throughout the Lifespan – Grade 12 (C) or (U)
- Challenge and Change in Society – Grade 12 (U)
- Recreation and Healthy Active Living – Grade 12 (C) or (U)
Program Requirements
Criminal Record Check
- A Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (CRC-VSS) which is less than 6 months old is required.
- Students with criminal charges for convictions will be significantly limited in placement, clinical, and/or employment opportunities in this field. The decision of whether a student with criminal charges or convictions is eligible to secure a field placement ultimately lies with the field placement agency.
- Field placements must be completed in order to graduate.
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Students will be required to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) in order to be cleared for placement/clinical. Please note, in order to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS), students must be 18 years of age or older. If a student is not 18 years of age or older at the start of this program, they will experience delays in progression through the program.
Communicable Disease Surveillance
- The confidential Communicable Disease Surveillance (CDS) Form must be completed and submitted to Student Health Services prior to the start of the program.
- Please view the CDS Form and Checklist for health requirements at niagaracollege.ca/cdsform/.
- This process must be maintained annually.
- This process may take up to 10 weeks or more and requires a visit to your personal physician and/or a Public Health Department.
- If the CDS process is not completed your placement, clinic or co-op opportunity will be denied.
Transportation
- Students are responsible for their own transportation in order to complete program requirements which may not be readily accessible by public transportation.
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Program requirements could include co-ops, placements, volunteer requirements, practical labs, field projects, assignments, clinicals, or any other off-campus visits required as part of the program’s curriculum.
Computer/Technology Requirements
Students are responsible for ensuring that they have a Microsoft Windows 10 based desktop or laptop system that meets or exceeds the following general personal computer technology requirements:
- A desktop or laptop system running on an updated Microsoft Windows 10 operating system.
- Minimum 256GB SSD storage and 8 GB memory.
- An integrated or peripheral video camera, microphone and speaker system.
- Reliable internet connectivity with Broadband capabilities (a minimum download speed of 5 Mbps) is recommended.
Niagara College will not be able to provide support for systems different than the above specifications. Any provided software may not operate properly. Academic software for your courses (supported under the Microsoft Windows 10 operating system) will be made available for download and remote use. Access will also be provided to remote high performance computer labs if software downloads are not feasible.
Note: There is no support for Chromebooks or Apple products for this program. (learn more)
The technology requirements indicate there is no support for Chromebooks or Apple products. Can I still take my program if I have a Macbook or Chromebook?
For most programs, the recommendation is to have a MS Windows 10 computer (as outlined in the "Computer/Technology Requirements" section on this page) for an optimal experience and for ease of downloading academic software. The reliability of remote connections to college computers and software cannot be guaranteed for Macbook and Chromebook users.
The Microsoft Office suite products that are available free to Niagara College students though Office 365 do have versions that work with Macbooks and Chromebooks, and the majority of internet-based applications will work as well. However, some program-specific software is designed to run on Windows 10, and the successful download of these applications cannot be guaranteed. Our Learning Management System (LMS) at Niagara College is Blackboard, and while students can access Blackboard through an internet browser, for some assignments and tests there is a layer of security that uses a proctored browser. The proctored browser will not function on Macbooks nor Chromebooks.
Students assume the risk of a compromised virtual experience if they choose to participate without the recommended technology.
Computer/technology requirements may be subject to change without notice.
All costs associated with program requirements are the responsibility of the student.
Back to TopAvailability
Legendfor intake status table
Open
Accepting applications
Waitlisted
Eligible applications will be placed on a waiting list
Closed
Not accepting applications
Suspended
No longer offered this term
Pathways
Explore your pathway options What are pathways? for the Recreation Therapy program below.
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From NC toBrock University — Bachelor of Recreation and Leisure Studies Ontario Canada
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From NC toSeneca College — Honours Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation Canada
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NC PathwayThis program grants Preferred Admission to qualified graduates of:Niagara College — Pre-Community Services
For detailed information about these pathway options visit niagaracollege.ca/pathways/.
Applicants with previous postsecondary education will be assessed for transfer credits upon receipt of an official transcript from their previous institution. There is no fee for this service.
Tuition
The below is a tuition fees estimate ( what's this?) for the indicated start term. Tuition fees are set in accordance with the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities fee guidelines.
Year 1
Level one $2,645.44
| Fee Type | Fee Cost |
|
Tuition
|
$1,357.49
|
|
Ancillary Fees
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$1,179.95
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|
Material Fees
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$108.00
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Level one Total
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$2,645.44
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Level two $2,324.44
| Fee Type | Fee Cost |
|
Tuition
|
$1,357.49
|
|
Ancillary Fees
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$756.95
|
|
Material Fees
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$210.00
|
|
Level two Total
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$2,324.44
|
Year 2
Level three $2,529.44
| Fee Type | Fee Cost |
|
Tuition
|
$1,357.49
|
|
Ancillary Fees
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$1,111.95
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|
Material Fees
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$60.00
|
|
Level three Total
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$2,529.44
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Level four $2,074.44
| Fee Type | Fee Cost |
|
Tuition
|
$1,357.49
|
|
Ancillary Fees
|
$716.95
|
|
Material Fees
|
$0.00
|
|
Level four Total
|
$2,074.44
|
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To help fund your education access $1.5 million in scholarships and awards made available by our generous donors. You will be automatically considered for some awards, however other awards will require an application.
Explore Scholarships & BursariesAdvanced Tuition Tool
The tuition amounts provided are an estimate only ( what's this? ).
To generate a detailed fees calculation, which includes tuition, ancillary, and material fees for this or a different start term, please access the Advanced Tuition Tool.
Generate My FeesThe below is a tuition fees estimate ( what's this?) for the indicated start term. Tuition and estimated fees for International students are based on program type.
Year 1
Level one $9,357.95
| Fee Type | Fee Cost |
|
Tuition
|
$7,325.00
|
|
Ancillary Fees
|
$1,924.95
|
|
Material Fees
|
$108.00
|
|
Level one Total
|
$9,357.95
|
Level two $8,456.95
| Fee Type | Fee Cost |
|
Tuition
|
$7,325.00
|
|
Ancillary Fees
|
$921.95
|
|
Material Fees
|
$210.00
|
|
Level two Total
|
$8,456.95
|
Year 2
Level three $9,241.95
| Fee Type | Fee Cost |
|
Tuition
|
$7,325.00
|
|
Ancillary Fees
|
$1,856.95
|
|
Material Fees
|
$60.00
|
|
Level three Total
|
$9,241.95
|
Level four $8,206.95
| Fee Type | Fee Cost |
|
Tuition
|
$7,325.00
|
|
Ancillary Fees
|
$881.95
|
|
Material Fees
|
$0.00
|
|
Level four Total
|
$8,206.95
|
We're helping make your NC dreams a reality.
Access over $200,000 in scholarships and awards.
Explore & ApplyAdvanced Tuition Tool
The tuition amounts provided are an estimate only ( what's this? ).
To generate a detailed fees calculation, which includes tuition, ancillary, and material fees for this or a different start term, please access the Advanced Tuition Tool.
Generate My FeesCosts and Dates
General information about other costs, due dates, refund policy, housing costs, and more can be found on the Niagara College International website.
What is your tuition estimate?
Your tuition estimation includes tuition, ancillary, and material fees based on a program and term. Fees may vary upon enrolment into specific courses that are outside of the core curriculum or elective courses. Fees for future terms (where fees have yet to be published) are estimates based on the current academic year fee structure.
Additional fees include textbooks and a parking pass (if parking on campus). Additional costs may be incurred for optional field trips, learning materials, equipment or clothing. All costs associated with program requirements are the responsibility of the student.
Note: For new programs tuition and fees may not yet be available. Typically tuition amounts are available in May for the next academic year. Please check back.
FAQ
What’s the Recreation Therapy program and profession all about?
Recreation Therapy enables all individuals to achieve quality of life, and optimal health through meaningful experiences in recreation and leisure. Our program will prepare you for a profession that provides service to, and advocates for, individuals with physical, mental, social, behavioural or emotional limitations.
What’s the format of the program?
- Four semesters of full-time study.
- First three semesters: 6 academic courses over a 14 week semester, plus fieldwork experience.
- Fourth semester: 3 condensed academic courses, plus a 7 week full-time placement and concurrent online field placement course.
- In total, students get at minimum 430 hours of experience in the field. Many graduates get hired as a direct result of field experiences!
- Each semester students take a variety of courses designed to develop skills and knowledge to be job-ready upon graduation.
What’s the difference between Recreation Therapy and Recreation Therapy – Fast Track?
Both programs have 4 semesters. Recreation Therapy – Fast Track is delivered more quickly than Recreation Therapy.
| Program | Fall (Sep-Dec) | Winter (Jan-Apr) | Spring (May-Aug) | Fall (Sep-Dec) | Winter (Jan-Apr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recreation Therapy | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | (break) | Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Recreation Therapy – Fast Track | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
What’s the schedule like?
Scheduling is done through a centralized area of the College. There are typically several timetables that students can select from and often personally customize to best suit their needs. Students can anticipate having classes and placements spread out over 4 or 5 days, with some large blocks of time without classes.
Will I be able to work while taking the program?
While the majority of our students do work part-time while attending school, this is an individual decision based on your own personal situation and other commitments.
The assignments were fun and allowed me to fully express my individualism. The several outings we all attended were moments of genuine attachment to a larger picture of the profession.
What are the program projects like?
The vast majority of projects are “applied” projects, meaning that they’re designed for you to use the knowledge and practice the skills that you’ve learned in your courses. These projects often involve working with community partners, allowing you to broaden your network and contribute to the profession.
Do I need strong computer skills to be successful in the program?
- Students in this program use computers in and outside of class.
- A basic understanding of common programs like word processing and presentation software will be helpful, but can also be learned as you go along.
- Some courses in the program are offered as a “hybrid” delivery, which means fewer hours in class and some work done independently online.
- Niagara College uses an online learning platform called Blackboard. Faculty members will post lecture notes, assignments and other course documents to Blackboard. Students who are not confident in their computer skills have said that Blackboard is user-friendly and doesn’t take much time to learn.
What are the program faculty like?
All Recreation Therapy core program faculty have advanced postsecondary education in therapeutic recreation and/or education, plus many years of work experience in therapeutic recreation.
Niagara College’s Recreation Therapy program appealed to me because of the friendly and compassionate qualities of the faculty along with their expertise in the profession across a variety of settings.
What sort of salary can I expect after graduating?
Salaries vary according to experience, education, type of setting, and geographic location. Our provincial professional association Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (TRO) completed a Salary Survey Report in 2018. According to this report, TRO members with less than two years of experience reported salaries of just over $40,000 per year. On average, TRO members with a Recreation Therapy college diploma were earning a little over $60,000 per year. Interestingly, TRO member’s average salaries for those working in Southwestern Ontario were amongst some of the highest in the province.
What sorts of jobs are available after I graduate?
One of the great things about this program is that our graduates are prepared to work in a variety of settings, such as long-term care, rehabilitation, community-based agencies that support individuals with disabilities, hospitals, day programs, mental health facilities and many more. Drawing on some of their previous experiences and skills learned in the program, several of our graduates have created their own therapeutic recreation businesses.
Many different job titles exist for Recreation Therapy professionals. Our graduates might be called Recreation Therapist, Life Enrichment Coordinator, Recreation Therapy Assistant, Recreationist, or Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, and many others.
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Recreation Therapy – Fast Track
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