Therapeutic Recreation (BS)

Aurora University’s Therapeutic Recreation program will prepare you to use treatment, education, and recreation services to help people with illnesses, disabilities, and other conditions. These individuals will be able to develop and use their leisure in ways that enhance their health, functional abilities, independence, and quality of life. In the classroom, you will build a strong academic foundation through engaging coursework and explore intervention and treatment methods in areas such as animal-assisted therapy, adventure programming, and horticulture therapy. You will also develop the necessary leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills needed to be a successful practitioner.

The Chicagoland area has numerous therapeutic recreation opportunities in hospitals and rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and long-term care facilities, correctional centers, and park districts. Your coursework, practical experience, and internship will prepare you to enter a field filled with vast potential and possibility.

Studying Therapeutic Recreation at AU will prepare you to pass the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) examination, which is the benchmark for the field. In 2024, AU students earned a 92% pass rate, scoring significantly higher than the 80% national average. 

In Our Own Words

In Our Own Words: Kris Johnson on why Aurora University is an ideal place to study this increasingly popular profession

The Chicagoland area is a really strong area for therapeutic recreation, not only because the number of hospitals and clinics, but because Illinois is the only state with special recreation associations. Students gain hands-on experience in the community and build skills they can transfer to their resumes.