Undergraduate Degree Pathway for Recreation Professionals
This program is designed for professionals working in the recreation sector who are looking to complete a degree for career advancement or pursue further credentials.
Complete your degree part time, with a mixed of online and in-person learning.
The degree completion program is built to support professionals in obtaining the Bachelor of Recreation and Leisure Studies (3–year pass degree) on a part time basis. Courses will take place online or blended with your in-person components taking place in the GTA. Students can pursue the 4-year BRLS with a concentration in Therapeutic or Community Recreation, but this will require further on-campus and in person coursework.
Duration
The timeline to graduation depends on the degree option selected and the number of college transfer credits awarded to the student. Students pursing the 15 credit BRLS can expect 6 to 8 terms of study.
Program Entry
Courses are offered in three terms: Fall (September to December), Winter (January to April) and Spring/Summer (May to August). Students may enter the program in any term.
Classroom and online learning
Courses are scheduled in the following formats: Online (fully synchronous or asynchronous), online blended (some synchronous and some asynchronous) or blended locations (includes both online and in-person course components). The in-person components of your RECL courses would be offered at Brock University or in the GTA on weekends.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | |
| January to April |
Research Design and Evaluation Research Methods (Qualitative or Quantitative) 1.0 credit |
Social Psychology of Leisure Sociology of Leisure & Diversity 1.0 credit |
| May to August |
TR or CR course
Context credit or elective 1.0 credit
|
Rec Theory course
Context credit or elective
1.0 credit |
| September to December
|
Context credit or elective 1.5 credit |
TR or CR concentration courses 1.5 credits |
| 3.5 credits | 3.5 credits |
Specify recreation courses are considered ‘electives’ for students working toward obtaining the pass degree and are requirements for students working toward the 20-credit degree with a concentration.
Courses in Therapeutic Recreation (TR)
Anatomy and Physiology, Leisure Education, Abnormal Psychology, TR programming, Assessment, Leisure and Behavioural Health, Facilitation, Leisure and Disabilities.
Courses in Community Recreation (TR)
Child and Youth Work, Marketing, Organizational Behaviour, Finance, Community Development, Health Promotion, Planning and Innovation.
Students in the Therapeutic Recreation concentration graduate prepared to write the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) exam to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS).
To be eligible for this unique opportunity students must have the following:
- A two-year diploma in Recreation and Leisure Services or Recreation Therapy with a cumulative 75% or higher average. Students may be prior graduates of any college or university.
- Three years of full time (or a minimum of 6000 hours of part time) paid, non-seasonal employment in a recreation related profession. Students pursuing the BRLS with concentration in TR must have 6000 hours working in Therapeutic Recreation.
- Current employment in a recreation related profession.
For updated information on tuition and fees, please visit the Student Accounts and Financial Aid website.
The Recreation and Leisure Studies department will verify your professional experience first. You can apply online here.
Once accepted to the professional pathways program, follow the process for transfer student applications directly to Brock University (there is a fee associated with the application at this stage). At this stage your college credits would be assessed, and any applicable credits would be applied to your course load.
Please contact the Recreation and Leisure Studies Department at recladvisor@brocku.ca for more details.
What to expect from the RECL Degree Completion Program?
- Access to part time coursework in blended and online formats (e.g., less than three half-credit courses per term).
- Courses offered in three terms: Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer.
- The timeline to graduation depends on the degree option and the number of transfer credits awarded to the student. Please find more information about transfer credit pathways from college by clicking here.
- For students pursuing the 15 credit BRLS degree on a part-time basis, the approximate timeline to graduation is six to eight terms.
- For students pursuing the 20 credit BRLS degree on a part-time basis, the approximate timeline to graduation is eight to ten terms.
- Part time students are eligible for student awards and can apply for OSAP.
“Having core classes in person one weekend a month allowed for connection with other professional students which allowed for very vibrant discussion about the content of classes. Because of this group of people on the weekends being mainly professional with more experience the content was very relatable and useful.”
-Blair Chard, Recreation Therapist, The Royal Mental Health Centre, Brockville ON
Recreation and Leisure Studies
For inquiries for the degree pathway program please email recladvisor@brocku.ca
