Assistant Professor - Recreation Therapy

Assistant Professor – Recreation Therapy

College: College of Health and Human Services - 315
College

Dept/School: School of Health & Applied Human Sciences -
31530

Vacancy Number: 16F-826

Position Number: 6102

Location of Workplace: Main UNCW Campus

Brief Summary of Work for this Position:

The School of Health and Applied Human Sciences (SHAHS) within the
College Health and Human Services (CHHS) at the University of North
Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), seeks an outstanding faculty member for
a 9-month tenure track position at the rank of Assistant Professor
in the Recreation Therapy program beginning August 2027.

The successful candidate will be capable of teaching a variety of
undergraduate courses in the program's curriculum. Further, the
successful candidate will conduct research, publish, write grants,
recruit and mentor students, and provide community engagement and
professional service. This is a non-remote position, therefore, the
successful candidate will be expected to reside in Southeastern
North Carolina or the Wilmington area and maintain a campus
presence to work in a collaborative interdisciplinary academic
setting.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Doctoral degree in recreation therapy/therapeutic recreation,

or a closely related field with at least 18 hours of graduate
coursework in recreation therapy/therapeutic recreation.

• CTRS credential through the National Council for Therapeutic

Recreation Certification

• LRT credential through the North Carolina Board of Recreational

Therapy Licensure (or eligible for LRT credential)

• Evidence of successful college teaching in recreation

therapy/therapeutic recreation.

• Emerging research success and strong potential for future

scholarship evidenced through peer-reviewed publications,
presentations, and other scholarly products.

• Substantial experience working in recreation

therapy/therapeutic recreation or closely related area of practice
with diverse populations.

Note: Applicants who are ABD at the time of application will be
considered. To be appointed to a tenure-track position, all degree
requirements must be completed and the terminal degree officially
conferred prior to the start of the appointment. Candidates who
have not met these requirements by the appointment start date may
be appointed to a Practice Track or lecturer position and may be
considered for transition to the tenure-track rank upon successful
completion and official conferral of the terminal degree.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills &
Experience:

• Capability for grant activity in recreation therapy/therapeutic

recreation or a closely related area of scholarship.

• Ability to form successful community engagement relationships

including partnerships with relevant healthcare and other community
agencies.

• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with constituents

across the School, College and University.

• Previous experience with program accreditation, particularly

with CAAHEP / CARTE.

• Evidence of successful technology integration in course

delivery including the Canvas course management system.

• Previous successful experience serving on state, regional,

and/or national committees or boards specific to recreation
therapy/therapeutic recreation, or a closely related field.

• Experience with AI use in educational and professional

settings.

Required Certifications or Licensure:

• CTRS credential through the National Council for Therapeutic

Recreation Certification

• LRT credential through the North Carolina Board of Recreational

Therapy Licensure (or eligible for LRT credential)

Primary Function of Organizational Unit:

The Recreation Therapy Program at UNCW has existed for over 40
years and became accredited by CAAHEP/CARTE in 2020. The program
has four full-time and a mix of part-time faculty. The curriculum
includes 15 required RT content courses and two field placements;
electives in aquatic therapy, adapted sports, cognitive retraining,
stress and pain management, child life, and assistance dog
training, among others; as well as a 4+1 combined BA in RT and MS
in Applied Gerontology.

The Recreation Therapy program is housed within the School of
Health and Applied Human Sciences (SHAHS), which is a large and
growing academic unit with over 1,900 students and 60 full-time
faculty. See:https://uncw.edu/academics/colleges/chhs/schools/health-applied-human-sciences/">

https://uncw.edu/academics/colleges/chhs/schools/health-applied-human-sciences/

The SHAHS has six undergraduate degree programs:

• Public Health
• Exercise Science
• Healthful Living and Fitness Education
• Tourism, Recreation, & Sport
• Recreation Therapy
• Respiratory Therapy (Face-to-face and fully online option)

The SHAHS also has graduate degrees in:

• Athletic Training
• Healthcare Administration (100% Online program)
• Gerontology with 4+1 options:
• (Bachelors / Masters) with Public Health / Gerontology
• Recreation Therapy / Gerontology
• Exercise Science / Gerontology
• Physical Therapy (in preparation)

The SHAHS also supports:

• Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) through the Watson College of

Education

• Master of Education concentration in Physical Education and

Health through the Watson College of Education

Minors are offered in:

• Gerontology
• Health & Wellness Coaching
• Whole Health & Wellness Studies
• Tourism, Recreation, & Sport
• Yoga Studies
• Assistance Dog Training

The SHAHS is also home to the Physical Activity and Wellness
(WPA/L) program which delivers courses that fulfill University
Studies requirements. The SHAHS is located in Veterans Hall which
includes many state-of-the-art instructional and lab spaces
utilized by the Exercise Science program.

College/School Information:

The College of Health and Human Services was created in July 2010
to provide UNCW with a new mechanism to link and focus its
health-related research, professional continuing education, and
health knowledge dissemination and application. In the formative
stage of development, the CHHS is currently home to three
professional schools: School of Health and Applied Human Sciences,
School of Nursing, and School of Social Work. This is an
outstanding opportunity to join a dynamic College that seeks to be
nationally recognized for its inter-professional collaboration,
community engagement and impact, and implementation science. The
faculty, staff and students of the CHHS are committed to the
pursuit of excellence and enhancing health and quality of life
across the lifespan for individuals, families and communities in
southeastern North Carolina and beyond.

University Information:

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastal
university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring,
research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class
faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level
for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful
academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical
thinking.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a
full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well
as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology,
nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning
options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to-BSN
program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working
professionals, and the nation's only bachelor's degree program
focused on coastal engineering.

The university's efforts to advance research and scholarly
activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of "Doctoral
Universities: High Research Activity" institution (R2 University)
by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher
Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since
1969.

Eligibility for Employment:

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender
background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor
vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal
law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment
eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United
States.

Number of Openings: Single Incumbent

Special Notes to Applicants:

Prior to the official appointment to the university, the
candidate(s) selected for hire must be able to demonstrate
eligibility to teach assigned courses by successfully meeting the
credentialing requirements based on official transcripts and other
documentation as required.

Position Type: Permanent

Job Posting Date: 10/28/2026

Job Close Date: 11/30/2026

To apply, visit https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/41302

UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for
employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender
identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color,
national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual
orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military
service member status, genetic information, or relationship to
other university constituents - except where sex, age, or ability
represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or
where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility
criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.

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