Indiana University in Bloomington offers a bachelor of science in therapeutic recreation that trains students to become therapeutic specialists who evaluate and treat injured patients using methods that incorporate animals, sports, games, arts and crafts, drama and music. Because therapeutic specialists must be able to adapt to a patient's unique needs, the program focuses on providing students direct, one-on-one interaction with disabled patients through field experiences and internships. Graduating students will be qualified to take the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification examination.
Indiana University in South Bend has developed the CTS Center for Experiential Education that gives students in the School of Business and Economics the opportunity to apply classroom theories to real-world situations. Under the field projects system, which lasts one semester, students work in teams on specific projects for an organization. They must complete decision-situation analysis, give insight into the situation and provide several solutions to the situation that the organization should consider. Project expectations are outlined at the beginning of each semester. Teams are guided by a client and faculty mentor, and each student is given the opportunity to evaluate the other members of his team, which factors into the final grade. Past field projects have included analyzing the funds and financial position of a non-profit organization to develop more efficient fund-raising methods. This project challenged students to learn the structures and operating strategies of non-profit organizations and analyze financial statements.
Minnesota State University in Mankato offers a 34-credit master of science in experiential education degree, a program that was established in 1971 and is the oldest of its kind in the United States. Students are required to leave the classroom and gain direct experience depending on their field of interest, which can include classroom teaching, administration and outdoor programming. In addition to nine credits of core seminars in subjects such as leadership studies, philosophy and theory of experiential education, and experience and nature, students are required to take 16 credits of experiential education field-based classes that include individual study, project demonstration and development of experiential education. These classes are all independent learning education outside the classroom, some of them requiring 45 hours of direct experience.
Naropa University in Boulder offers a three-year master of arts in transpersonal counseling psychology: wilderness therapy degree. This program trains students in psychological counseling skills, adventure therapy, ecopsychology (the relationship between humans and nature) and wilderness skills. The course of study promotes the use of nature and the outdoors as a main component of counseling patients. Students are required to undertake training expeditions such as rock climbing, canyon hike, river rafting and horse riding. The program consists of four core areas: training in wilderness skills and therapeutic interventions, clinical and theoretical classes required for licensing, professional experience through a nine-month internship and contemplative body awareness practice. The location of the school in Boulder gives students the opportunity to explore beautiful landscapes as part of their experience-based education.