What can you do with a Recreational Therapy degree?

First, some facts. Of the Recreational Therapy graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:

These are estimates based on AI analysis of 256 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 70%, Recreational Therapy graduates have a slightly higher likelihood (+3%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

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Also, after graduating, only 30% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Recreational Therapy graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Recreational Therapy degree?
• What do Recreational Therapy graduates do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Recreational Therapy degree? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Recreational Therapy degree?
• What are the best colleges for Recreational Therapy?

View a random Recreational Therapy graduate and our analysis:

Relevance score: 27% We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2014 from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Recreational Therapy. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Recreation Therapy Intern Maple Lake Academy May 2015 - Sep 2015 As a Recreation Therapy Intern, this position directly engages in therapeutic practices related to recreational therapy, clearly aligning with the knowledge and skills gained from the Bachelor's degree. Supervising Team Leader Chick-fil-A-Franchise Jan 2014 - Feb 2016 The role of Supervising Team Leader at Chick-fil-A primarily focuses on restaurant management and customer service, which do not require specialized knowledge in recreational therapy. General Manager and Corporate Office Manager Cubby's Feb 2016 - Mar 2019 As a General Manager and Corporate Office Manager, the job responsibilities involve business management and operational tasks that are unrelated to recreational therapy principles and practices. Client Success Manager Briostack Mar 2019 - Present Although the role of Client Success Manager at Briostack may involve some client interaction and support skills, it does not specifically apply the core therapeutic skills and knowledge from the Bachelor's degree in Recreational Therapy. ABOUT Experienced General Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the consumer services industry. Skilled in Public Speaking, Organizational Leadership, Time Management, and Teamwork. Strong sales professional with a BS Recreation Management focused in Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy from Brigham Young University.

What jobs can you get with a Recreational Therapy degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

• Recreation Therapist
• Recreational Therapist
• Recreational Therapy Intern
• Intern
• Occupational Therapist
• Recreation Therapy Intern
• Activities Director
• Therapeutic Recreation Intern
• Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
• Special Education Teacher

After analyzing the various careers of individuals who have obtained degrees in Recreational Therapy, it's evident that there’s a mixed bag of job relevance to the field. A majority of the positions that graduates have taken on fall into categories that either directly utilize recreational therapy principles or incorporate elements of therapeutic recreation. However, a significant number of roles also veer outside the realm of recreational therapy, focusing on unrelated tasks. This raises the question: what are the most common career paths for these graduates, and how closely do they align with their academic training?

The most prominent positions associated with a degree in Recreational Therapy include roles like Recreation Therapist, Activity Director, and Recreational Therapy Intern. These jobs are specifically designed to incorporate therapeutic recreation techniques to improve the well-being of clients, aligning perfectly with what individuals learned during their academic programs. This is particularly evident in roles like those at various healthcare facilities, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers, where graduates engage in creating and implementing recreational programs aimed at enhancing physical, emotional, and social health for individuals, particularly those with disabilities or mental health challenges. For instance, positions like Recreation Therapist at inpatient rehabilitation centers and the role of a Recreation Therapist at a detention center are classic examples of how graduates effectively apply their knowledge in practical settings.

On the flip side, many graduates have also taken jobs that diverge significantly from recreational therapy. Positions in sales, education unrelated to therapeutic recreation, marketing, and various administrative roles were noted among graduates. These sometimes included jobs that merely utilize general skills like communication and organization without any direct application of therapeutic knowledge. For example, jobs in retail, food service, and some supervisory positions primarily focus on customer service or managerial duties, which doesn't leverage the specialized knowledge from their training. This indicates that while the foundational skills learned in a recreational therapy program can be advantageous, many graduates may find themselves in roles where those skills are not necessary or utilized to their full potential.

Overall, while many graduates from Recreational Therapy programs do find jobs that are relevant and beneficial to their training, a significant number also end up in positions that do not align closely with their degrees. This disparity might suggest that the recreational therapy field may not have enough dedicated roles to accommodate all graduates or that some graduates are not leveraging their degrees to their fullest potential. As the field continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see whether more targeted positions become available that better utilize these valuable therapeutic skills.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Recreational Therapy graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Recreational Therapy graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When diving into the career trajectories of Recreational Therapy graduates, a pattern emerges that illustrates a battle between ambition and realistic job placements. Most graduates start off their career journeys in positions directly related to recreational therapy, such as interns or assistants. For instance, many students transition smoothly from internships to roles as recreational therapists or therapeutic recreation specialists shortly after graduation. However, it's equally conspicuous that some graduates find themselves veering off the direct recreational therapy path, taking roles in areas like counseling, education, or even unrelated sectors like hospitality and retail.

If we peek into the five- or ten-year mark, we find quite a spectrum of career outcomes. A significant number have successfully established themselves in fields closely aligned with recreational therapy, often advancing to supervisory or leadership roles such as Recreation Therapy Director or Clinical Coordinator. Yet, the data also reveals that a considerable portion of graduates has drifted into various therapeutic or educational roles unrelated to the core principles of recreational therapy. Duties may include being case managers, teachers, or even working for corporations completely outside the sphere of health and rehabilitation. This detour could reflect personal interests evolving over time, economic conditions, or simply the struggles some face in securing relevant positions.”

To sum it up, while many Recreational Therapy graduates do find positions relevant to their studies, a chunk of them may not stick to it long-term. This mixture of stability in the field and the unpredictability of employment outcomes paints an honest picture of what to potentially expect after graduation. Coming to terms with this reality is essential for students hoping to make a mark in this rewarding field. Proactive networking, continuous learning, and perhaps considering parallel paths could be the keys to effectively navigating this often challenging career landscape.

How hard is a Recreational Therapy degree?

A Bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy is generally considered to be on the easier side compared to some other degrees, mainly because it combines a lot of practical experiences with some theoretical learning. You’ll be diving into fun classes that focus on activities and how they can help improve people's lives, which is pretty cool. Sure, you’ll have to do some studying, especially on topics like psychology and health, but a lot of it is about applying what you learn in real-life settings. If you’re someone who enjoys creative thinking and working with people, you'll likely find it engaging and not overly challenging!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Recreational Therapy.

Do Recreational Therapy graduates tend to make good money?

Looking at the career paths of these Recreational Therapy graduates, you can see a broad range of job titles which hints at their earning potential. Some of the earlier graduates stuck with entry-level positions for quite some time, showing a slow career progression which might suggest modest earnings. For instance, many started as interns or assistants before moving into specialized roles. On the flip side, those who graduated more recently have jumped into roles that appear to offer more substantial salaries right out of the gate, like directors and coordinators, which often come with better pay.

Overall, it seems that the more experienced graduates, particularly those climbing the ladder into management or specialized roles, likely make decent money now given the reputation of their institutions and the leadership positions many have held. However, many of the earlier roles appear to have lower pay scales, especially in the intern and assistant levels, which could mean some of these graduates had to budget carefully early on. It's essential to keep in mind that location, type of employment, and level of experience can significantly affect salaries in this field.

What buzzwords do Recreational Therapy graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Recreational Therapy. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Recreational Therapy?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Recreational Therapy (ordered by the average relevance score of their Recreational Therapy graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College	Score	Count
Indiana University Bloomington	80	11
East Carolina University	75	13
Florida International University	69	12
Central Michigan University	61	10