Brock University and Mohawk College create a pathway to put students on fast track to Therapeutic Recreation careers

By Pepper Parr

October 1^st, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

There will soon be more older people than young people in the city.

And many of those older people are going to need levels of care that are not normally provided.

University Professor Tim O’Connell, Chair of Recreation and Leisure Studies at Brock University explains that: “As society increasingly embraces a holistic approach to health, recreation has emerged at the critical intersection of personal wellness and community well-being.

To meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in recreation fields, Brock University and Mohawk College have signed two transfer pathway agreements to deliver flexible options for students to pursue either a Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation or Bachelor of Recreation and Leisure Studies.

The articulation agreements set students on a direct track from Mohawk College’s two-year Recreation Therapy and 16-month Accelerated stream programs to either Brock program. Eligible students will receive a block of seven transfer credits, fast-tracking them toward their 20-credit degree.

By embedding courses such as Leisure Education in Therapeutic Recreation in a broader recreation and leisure studies framework, Brock’s programs equip graduates with in-demand skills, professional experience and industry-recognized credentials. Career paths range from clinical practice in hospitals and long-term care facilities to community-based roles where recreation and leisure contribute to physical, social and emotional well-being.

The Therapeutic Recreation program also qualifies students to participate in the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.

“The pathways are a game-changer for students,” says Connell. “They not only gain advanced standing in their degree but increase their career readiness by graduating with an essential credential employers are looking for in hospitals, long-term care facilities and treatment centres.”

In addition to clinical practice, students complete a 560-hour supervised internship, benefit from access to an extensive alumni network and have options to pursue an honours thesis.

The Therapeutic Recreation program also qualifies students to participate in the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) exam, a credential increasingly sought by employers across Canada and the United States.