Parallel Major: Park, Recreation, and Tourism Studies
Concentration: Therapeutic Recreation
Why did you choose this?
I chose the major Park, Recreation, and Tourism Studies, with the concentration of Recreational Therapy because of the presentation and information shared about it in our Health 101 class a few weeks ago. When the speaker, Betsy Kennedy, began talking about what the career entailed, I was immediately intrigued and wanted to learn more. It is vastly different from my current major, Nursing, but it involves many similarities as well. One of the major similarities between both majors is the aspect of working with and helping people who are in need. This concentration interested me the most because of the ability to work with patients one on one. In Nursing there most definitely is one on one work but the department I want to enter, the emergency department, is very touch and go.
Interesting Fact:
Old Dominion University is one of only four other programs in Virginia that allow therapeutic recreations to be a focus within an undergraduate curriculum.
Career Associated with this Major?
Veterans Administration is one career a Therapeutic Recreation major can work in. This career involves the care of soldiers who have experienced injuries such as amputations, spinal cord injuries, burns, PTSD, and even traumatic brain injuries. In this field, Recreational Therapists will work directly in veteran care hospitals with the wounded soldiers. The goal for the soldiers is to either get them back to becoming healthy enough to re-enlist in the military, or to really just get their physical health back. This career was the most interesting to me because whether I go into Nursing or this field, I want to be involved in the military. After I complete my schooling, I have the goal of enlisting into the NAVY as a part of the Naval Nurse Corps. Becoming a Recreational Therapist who is able to help soldiers go back to serving, or is able to get them back on their feet would be amazing to do.
Career Plan for Intended Parallel Major:
Within this major, there are definitely different requirements compared to the Nursing program track I am currently on. There is no chemistry course requirement which is a major plus, but since I am taking a Chemistry this semester I have already resolved the Nature of Science course Requirement. When looking at the course requirements in DegreeWorks, there is no huge change in what I have to complete to get into Nursing versus Recreation Therapy. The only additional course that is already resolved in the Nursing program is an oral communication requirement. Within this major, my advisor would be Ms. Nola Nicholson who advises Speech Pathology as well!
To gain experience in this field, there are a large amount of opportunities available. I could shadow at my local Veterans Hospital in Richmond, Virginia; I could also work as an medical technician within different departments applying to my concentration. Along with both of those opportunities, Therapeutic Recreation major also have the opportunity to work alongside people who are disabled. To gain more experience in this field, I could work alongside teachers in Special Education programs in local schools. This would give me the exposure and experience to see if I want to spend the rest of my life doing it as a career!