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Recreational Therapy (MS)

Admission requirements

Acceptance is based on undergraduate grade point average and experience in recreation-related fields. To qualify for unconditional admission (i.e., not on probation) to graduate study, a student must have:

  • A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
  • One of the following:
    • An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.85 on a 4.00 scale, or  
    • An average of at least 3.00 in the last half of all undergraduate work, or  
    • An average of at least 3.00 for no less than 12 semester credits of graduate study at another accredited graduate school.

Professional licensure disclosure

  • If you plan to apply for licensure in a state other than Wisconsin after completion of this program, you should contact that state's appropriate licensing board and refer to the Professional Licensure Disclosure to determine whether this UWL program meets licensure requirements in a specific state.

How to apply

Contact the graduate program director

We encourage you to make contact with our program director to introduce yourself and ask any questions you might have about the program. This contact also helps to alert us to your interest in the program. Complete the form below to get the process started!

Katherine Evans  Profile of Katherine Evans  Office hours

Professor
2052 Health Science Center
kevans@uwlax.edu
608.785.8210

Specialty areas:

Issues of social justice in leisure, outdoor adventure recreation, women’s physically active leisure, non-profit leadership, youth development, and leisure education & student engagement

Submit a UW System application

UW System App completion hints

Complete the following sections as indicated:

  • "DEGREE SEEKING STUDENT?".....Choose Yes

  • CHOOSE: Looking to Earn a Graduate Degree

  • "CHOOSE YOUR MAJOR/PROGRAM"
    • select - "Recreational Therapy" 

  • "WHEN WOULD YOU LIKE TO START SCHOOL?" 
    • select your start term
      • Application materials should be submitted 2 weeks prior to the start of classes.

  • HOLISTIC BACKGROUND
    • "EMPLOYMENT" (WORK EXPERIENCE)
      • check the “I have no work experience to report” checkbox, then click "SAVE AND CONTINUE"
    • "ESSAY"
      • leave blank and click "SAVE", then click "SAVE AND CONTINUE" 
  • Follow the link to the UW System application. Register as a new user, unless you already have an account.
  • The email you enter on this application will be used to send you important information related to completing your graduate school application. You should use an email address that you monitor on a regular basis. 
  • There is a $56 UW System application fee, which you can pay online at the time of application. Alternatively, you can send a check (payable to UWL) to the address below.  *Application fee assistance is available to McNair Scholars. 

Graduate Admissions Office
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601

Submit transcripts

Request that ALL previously attended institutions of higher education send official transcripts to the UWL Admissions Office. This includes college level courses taken while in high school. If you enrolled in fewer than 10 undergraduate semester credits at an institution, you do not have to send an official transcript unless the courses completed are prerequisites for the graduate program. Additional transcripts may be required at the university or graduate program's discretion. All graduate transcripts must be submitted. UWL accepts transcripts mailed directly from the issuing institution(s) or through an electronic secure document sending service. Transcripts should be sent to:

UWL Admissions Office
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601
admissions@uwlax.edu

  • Applicants can check transcript status via their WINGS account.
  • Applicants who are current UWL undergraduate students/alumni do not need to request formal transcripts for UWL coursework. Admissions can access your UWL transcript.
  • It may take a week or more for transcripts to be received/uploaded to your application file. Please plan accordingly in order to meet application deadlines. 
Additional requirements for international applicants

In addition to the application requirements listed above, international applications will need to submit the following items:

  • Transcript information: As noted above, official, certified or attested transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended must be submitted. Additionally, documents issued in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
  • Proof of English language proficiency: Non-native English speakers must submit evidence of one the following language proficiency requirements for admission:
    • TOEFL score (within last 2 years) of at least 79 iBT or 550 pBT - Institution Code: 1914
    • IELTS score (within last 2 years) of at least 6.0
    • Duolingo English Test (DET) score of at least 110
    • 60 PTE score
    • A bachelor’s or higher degree from UWL or another approved institution where English is the sole language of instruction.
      • Degree must be earned within two years of expected enrollment in this UWL graduate program.
      • Applicant must have attended the institution for a minimum of two years.
  • Proof of funding: Submit a bank statement and completed Affidavit of Support form.
    • Applicants who require F-2 visas for dependents (spouse and/or children) must submit additional proof of funding and passport copies for each dependent.

  • Passport information: Submit a photocopy of the photo page of your passport. 

Please contact International Admissions at  intladmissions@uwlax.edu if you have questions.  Each of the items listed in this section "Additional requirements for international applicants" can be sent directly to the UWL Admissions Office.

UWL Admissions Office
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601
USA

Deadlines

Recreational Therapy graduate students with backgrounds in recreational therapy can be admitted in any semester. Recreational Therapy students who do not have a background in RT will only be admitted for the Fall semester.