Massage Therapy
(3 1/2 Semesters)

Coordinator/Instructor: Beck

One Technical Certificate, one Associate of Applied Science Degree, and one Bachelor of Applied Technology Degree are available to the student.

The Massage Therapy Program provides classroom, laboratory, and student practicum instruction which prepares graduates to sit for the National Certification for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) exam.

For Program Information Packets, use this link, where there are descriptions of each program in general, course descriptions, lists of course sequences, and the cost of books, tools, uniforms, fees, and other expenses.

Technical Certificate: Massage Therapy

Prerequisite Courses:
(Courses must be completed prior to acceptance into the program.)

BIOL 101, 101L  Biology I, and Lab			4 cr
HO 105		Introduction to Allied Health Careers	2 cr 
HO 106  	Medical Terminology			2 cr
HO 111		Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology	4 cr
MSTH 100	Introduction to Massage Therapy		2 cr

Required Courses:

HO 208		Introduction to Pathology		3 cr
MSTH 104	Introduction to Kinesiology		2 cr
MSTH 105	Principles of Therapeutic Massage	3 cr
MSTH 107, 107L	Professional Massage Techniques,
		and Lab					4 cr
MSTH 121	Massage Therapy Practicum*              3 cr
MSTH 150, 150L  Therapeutic Procedure and Assessment, 
		and Lab					3 cr
MSTH 160, 160L  Advanced Therapeutic Massage Techniques, 
		and Lab					3 cr
MSTH 170	Hydrotherapy and Spa Techniques         2 cr
MSTH 200, 200L  Special Issues in Massage, and Lab	3 cr
MSTH 203, 203L  Energetic and Asian Bodywork Theory
		and Techniques, and Lab			3 cr
MSTH 210	Business Skills for Massage		2 cr
MSTH 240, 240L  Clinical and Sports Massage, and Lab	2 cr

						Total  48 cr

*this is a 1-credit course that is repeated for 3 credits

Associate of Applied Science: Massage Therapy

Prerequisite Courses:
(Courses must be completed prior to acceptance into the program.)

BIOL 101, 101L  Biology I, and Lab			4 cr
HO 105		Introduction to Allied Health Careers	2 cr 
HO 106  	Medical Terminology			2 cr
HO 111		Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology	4 cr
MSTH 100	Introduction to Massage Therapy		2 cr

Required Courses:

HO 208		Introduction to Pathology		3 cr
MSTH 104	Introduction to Kinesiology		2 cr
MSTH 105	Principles of Therapeutic Massage	3 cr
MSTH 107, 107L	Professional Massage Techniques,
		and Lab					4 cr
MSTH 121	Massage Therapy Practicum*              3 cr
MSTH 150, 150L  Therapeutic Procedure and Assessment, 
		and Lab					3 cr
MSTH 160, 160L  Advanced Therapeutic Massage Techniques, 
		and Lab					3 cr
MSTH 170	Hydrotherapy and Spa Techniques         2 cr
MSTH 200, 200L  Special Issues in Massage, and Lab	3 cr
MSTH 203, 203L  Energetic and Asian Bodywork Theory
		and Techniques, and Lab			3 cr
MSTH 210	Business Skills for Massage		2 cr
MSTH 240, 240L  Clinical and Sports Massage, and Lab	2 cr

General Education Requirements:

ENGL 101	English Composition			3 cr
ENGL 102	Critical Reading and Writing (Goal 1)	3 cr
Goal 3        						3 cr 
PSYC 101	Introduction to 
		General Psychology (Goal 12)		3 cr

       						Total  60 cr

*this is a 1-credit course that is repeated for 3 credits


Massage Therapy Courses

MSTH 100 Introduction to Massage Therapy 2 credits. Principles and the process of professional human contact. Identification of physiological and psychological effects of stress, stress reduction and their benefits and life styles.  Self assessment, stress management, physical requirements and career opportunities for the professional. F

MSTH 104 Introduction to Kinesiology 2 credits. Fundamental principles of anatomical terminology, osteology, arthrology. Basic observation and palpation skills required. Cross-listed as PTA 104.  PREREQ: Admission to the MSTH or PTA program. F

MSTH 105 Principles of Therapeutic Massage 3 credits. History, requirements to practice, professionalism, ethics, sanitary and safety practices, effects, benefits, indications, contraindications, equipment and products, policies, and procedures. PREREQ: Admission to MSTH program. F

MSTH 107 Professional Massage Techniques 4 credits. Classification of movements, body mechanics, exercise for the practitioner, draping, basic and professional massage routines, basic intake and consultation.  PREREQ: Admission to MSTH program. COREQ: MSTH 107L. F

MSTH 107L Professional Massage Techniques Lab 0 credits. Skill building in foundational professional massage techniques. COREQ: MSTH 107. F

MSTH 121 Massage Therapy Practicum II 1 credit. Students perform massage in a supervised clinical setting. May be repeated for up to 3 credits. PREREQ: Admission to MSTH program. F, S, Su

MSTH 130 Energy and Reflexology 3 credits. Polarity, Reiki, Cranial-Sacral, Chakra, Therapeutic Touch and Balancing will be covered. The body’s reflex response on the feet and hands and how to apply specific techniques for those areas will be reviewed and demonstrated. S

MSTH 150 Therapeutic Procedure and Assessment 3 credits.  Client history and intake, therapeutic procedure and treatment, postural and gait assessment; record keeping; SOAP charting. PREREQ: Admission to MSTH program. COREQ: MSTH 150L. F

MSTH 150L Procedure and Assessment Lab 0 credit. Skill building in therapeutic procedures and assessment. COREQ: MSTH 150.  F

MSTH 160 Advanced Therapeutic Massage Techniques 4 credits. Exploration of various advanced massage techniques. PREREQ: Admission to MSTH program.  COREQ: MSTH 160L. S

MSTH 160L Advanced Therapeutic Massage Techniques Lab 0 credits. Skill building in techniques for advanced therapeutic massage. COREQ: MSTH 160. S

MSTH 170 Hydrotherapy and Spa Techniques 2 credits. Effects and application of hot and cold water treatments, introduction to spa techniques and the spa environment. PREREQ: Admission to MSTH program. F

MSTH 200 Special Issues in Massage 3 credits. Massage procedures and protocols for prenatal, infant, elderly, medical, critically ill, and other special needs. PREREQ: Admission to MSTH program. COREQ: MSTH 200L. Su 

MSTH 200L Special Issues in Massage Lab 0 credits. Skill building addressing special issues and needs in massage therapy. PREREQ: Admission to MSTH program. COREQ: MSTH 200. Su 

MSTH 203 Energetic and Asian Bodywork Theory and Techniques 3 credits. Basic Asian bodywork theory, reflexology, polarity, and other energy techniques for massage therapy. PREREQ: Admission to MSTH program. COREQ: MSTH 203L.  Su 

MSTH 203L Energetic and Asian Bodywork Techniques Lab 0 credit. Skill building lab for energetic and Asian bodywork techniques. PREREQ: Admission to MSTH program. COREQ: MSTH 203. Su

MSTH 210 Business Skills for Massage 2 credits. Business plans, accounting, record keeping, marketing advertising, office management, customer service, and résumés for the new massage therapist. PREREQ: Admission to MSTH program.  Su

MSTH 240 Clinical and Sports Massage Techniques 2 credits. Skills for working in clinical environments, communication, and insurance billing. Massage for clinical settings in hospitals,  pre- and post sports events, restorative and rehabilitative settings.  PREREQ: Admission to MSTH program. COREQ: MSTH 240L. S

MSTH 240L Clinical and Sports Massage Technique Lab 0 credit. Skill building in Clinical and Sports Massage. COREQ: MSTH 240. S