Program Objective:
The Professional Massage Therapy program is designed to prepare the student with the requirements for entry-level employment as a massage therapist. By combining advanced hands-on techniques with a strong academic focus, students gain an in-depth understanding of physiological and psychological processes. Emphasis is placed on law and ethics, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and principles of therapeutic massage.
REQUIRED COURSES:
 |
| Massage Foundations & Terminology Basic Swedish Massage |
6 |
| A&P Fundamentals & Systems of Control Neuromuscular Therapies |
6 |
| Skeletal System & Muscles Sports Massage |
6 |
| The Joints & Biomechanics Advanced Swedish |
6 |
| Indications, Assessments & Complementary Bodywork Systems Alternative/Eastern Therapies |
6 |
| Marketing Therapeutic Massage Chair Massage |
6 |
| Body Systems & Special Needs Multimodality Techniques |
6 |
| Clinical Practicum |
3 |
|
| Total Credits: |
Total Weeks in Program: |
45 Quarter Credits
(900 Clock Hours) |
48 weeks (Single Track)
|
|
| |
Course Schedules: |
Clinical Schedule: |
| Days: |
8:00am - 12:50pm, Mon-Thurs |
8:00 am - 5:00 pm M - F
10:00 am - 4:00 pm S & S |
| Afternoons: |
1:00pm - 5:50pm, Mon-Thurs |
| Nights: |
6:00pm - 11:00pm, Mon-Thurs |
|
If you have any other questions please contact us > |
Massage Foundations & Terminology /Basic Swedish Massage
Course Length: 6 Weeks
Credit Unit: 6.0
Prerequisite: None
The student will be aware of the ways in which culture, gender, age, life events, spirituality and diversity all influence the experience of touching and being touched. Inappropriate forms of touch will be identified, and appropriate forms of professional touch are explored. Understandings of the subjective experience of touch are addressed personally. The history of massage from ancient times to the present is presented, as are projections for the future. Decision-making skills using the problem-solving model and developing effective communication skills are studied. Record-keeping skills and necessary language base to keep records effectively are important parts of this course and professional development. The ability to communicate clearly through writing and when speaking fosters understanding and accurate exchange of information. The information in this course supports a safe professional practice. The student will understand the use of universal precautions and fire and premise safety measures to serve our clients in a health-promoting and hazard-free manner. The students will learn how to take care of themselves to avoid professional burnout so that they can continue to serve their clients in this wonderful and needed profession.
Modality: The student will learn the proper techniques for draping clients, body mechanics and the basic strokes of Swedish Massage.
A& P Fundamentals & Systems of Control / Neuromuscular Therapies
Course Length: 6 Weeks
Credit Unit: 6.0
Prerequisite: Massage Foundations & Terminology / Basic Swedish Massage
This course lays the foundation in the study of functional anatomy and physiology that the soft tissue and movement professional must have. It looks at the body as a whole and explores functional balance and the body's ability to maintain a relatively constant internal environment, regardless of external influences. After the mechanisms of control are understood, learning about the rest of the body becomes a matter of recognizing the structure of the pieces (anatomy) of each system functioning (physiology) under the direction of the control systems. This course is presented to establish the larger picture of the bodies' movement and workings.
Modality: This course offers deep tissue techniques to back and legs via massage therapy platforms. Within the parameters of this course, the student will define and develop adaptive massage movements related to deep tissue massage. Post-Isometric muscle releases of the back musculature will be taught to competency. Students will be introduced to neuromuscular therapy techniques and acquire successful skills. Students who successfully complete this course should be able to demonstrate neuromuscular massage and deep tissue strokes of the body from center out, anterior and posterior cervical spine as well as to perform successful patient postural assessments. Treatments of Hip and Chest conditions will also be taught to competency.
Skeletal System & Muscles / Sports Massage
Course Length: 6 Weeks
Credit Unit 6.0
Prerequisite: Massage Foundations & Terminology / Basic Swedish Massage
This course studies the skeletal system and muscles. The student will be able to predict the movement pattern of a particular bone or muscle unit. This knowledge is the foundation for the primary technical requirements of the soft tissue and movement discipline. The student will be able to work better with other health care and service professionals as part of an interdisciplinary team, sharing information and treatments to best serve each client.
Modality: This course will provide the student with the educational background needed to practice in one of the most rapidly growing areas of massage therapy. Pre- and post-event massage techniques, as well as an overview of athletic injuries will be discussed and demonstrated. Upon successful completion of course, the student should be able to explain the basic concepts of athletic related injuries and demonstrate pre- and post-event massage techniques.
The Joints & Biomechanics / Advanced Swedish
Course Length: 6 Weeks
Credit Unit 6.0
Prerequisite: Massage Foundations & Terminology / Basic Swedish Massage
This course begins with the study of the joint and ends with lessons in developing skills in assessment procedures, used to evaluate human movement, or biomechanics. The student will be familiar with the terminology that describes biomechanics. The student will be able to predict the movement pattern of a joint. This knowledge is the foundation for the primary technical requirements of the soft tissue and movement discipline. The student will be able to work better with other health care and service professionals as part of an interdisciplinary team, sharing information and treatments to best serve each client.
Modality: This course offers advanced Swedish techniques to the applied massage therapy platforms. Within the parameters of this course, the student will define and develop adaptive massage movements related to Swedish massage. The art of deep tissue professional touch, appropriate Range of Motion exercises and proper body mechanics are also taught. Students who successfully complete this course should be able to demonstrate ROM exercises and deep tissue strokes of arms, chest, and abdomen, as well as to the anterior and posterior Legs.
Indications, Assessments & Complementary Bodywork Systems / Alternative/Eastern Therapies
Course Length: 6 Weeks
Credit Unit 6.0
Prerequisite: Massage Foundations & Terminology / Basic Swedish Massage
This course teaches assessment skills which are the basis for developing intuition through learning. During the course, the student will learn to pay closer attention and becoming more skilled in the interpretation of the assessment information. The student will gain the skill to provide a more specific focus during the massage.
Modality: This course will provide the student with an understanding of how water is used as an external therapeutic device and the Eastern approaches to massage therapy will also be provided. Topics covered will include therapeutic modalities using cryotherapy and thermo therapy, an introduction to oriental medicine, shiatsu, as well as some of the specific techniques unique to eastern approaches. Upon successful completion of the course, a student should be able to demonstrate and explain the use of a paraffin wax, hot and cold packs, the contrast method and various other modalities. The student should also be able to name the benefits and contraindications associated with each modality.
Marketing Therapeutic Massage / Chair Massage
Course Length: 6 Weeks
Credit Unit 6.0
Prerequisite: Massage Foundations & Terminology / Basic Swedish Massage
This course presents fast, effective, safe, proactive, low/no-cost marketing to build a long-term career in massage. The course reviews the current environment of massage, what successful massage professionals across the country have in common so the student can learn from them, and what unsuccessful massage professionals have in common so students can avoid the mistakes that have cost countless practitioners their dreams. The course explores marketing techniques, establishing client rapport, developing referral business, simple marketing steps to achieve success and long-term planning.
Modality: This course offers the student the opportunity to learn the specific applications, modalities and conveniences of chair massage techniques. The course integrates different massage modalities into the specific applications for chair based massage in a public environment. In addition, the student will continue to develop and practice professional touch techniques learned in previous courses through open lab massage settings.
Body Systems & Special Needs / Multimodality Techniques
Course Length: 6 Weeks
Credit Unit 6.0
Prerequisite: Massage Foundations & Terminology / Basic Swedish Massage
This course covers the remaining body systems. Practical application sections explain how massage/bodywork affects these systems by interfacing with the anatomy and physiology. The correlation between bodywork methods and anatomic or physiologic functions should be explained so that students understand why methods are performed in a certain way. The second half of the course shifts the focus of education from skill building to applications for specific population of people. While this course describes those with unique circumstance, the result is still the shift from "technique" to "people with therapeutic goals", regardless of the circumstances.
Modality: This course offers platform integration of Swedish tissue techniques to the torso; arm, neck and shoulders via manipulative tissue massage therapy platforms. Students will be practicing massage techniques such as Neuromuscular Therapy, Aromatherapy and other modalities as it applies to Massage for Special Populations. Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to demonstrate the postural assessment; selection and use of essential oils and prenatal, geriatric and special needs massage while demonstrating massage skills by integrating upper torso platforms.
Clinical Practicum
Course Length: 6 Weeks
Credit Unit 3
Prerequisite: Completion of all courses in the program
The student will integrate the material presented and perform at least 20 professionally based massage sessions including intake, assessment, treatment plan development, charting, and application of massage methods in a working clinic environment. These sessions will be scheduled in the college's day spa based upon its hours of operation. Students are required to complete 10 hours per week over a 6 week period in the clinic. In the event that students are unable to schedule hours in the day spa or wish to perform the clinical practicum at another appropriate site, the college will assist the student in scheduling off-site clinical practicum hours at an appropriate massage facility.
|
|
|
Video: 
Video:
