Massage Therapy (Certificate)

Program Advisor: Judith Gawron, PT, DPT

The Massage Therapy certificate program prepares students to become Massachusetts State Licensed Massage Therapists with the skills and knowledge to provide effective relaxation and wellness massage. Graduates are prepared to enter the health care field in various settings, including private practice.

Admission Requirements

Students must submit an application and a Massage Therapy Certificate Matriculation Form. Potential students who have met all admission requirements are accepted into the program on a space available basis at any time. Applicants who do not initially meet the requirements may take courses to become eligible by enrolling in BCC’s Health Science program.

This program cycles and is offered every other year. The next class will be admitted for Fall 2018. The sequence of courses begins in the fall semester.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:

Documentation of high school graduation or alternative high school credential;
Reading and writing competency at a college level as shown through the Accuplacer assessment, or by completion of a college composition class; and
Documentation that the student has received one professional massage within the last two years.

Essential Functions

Enrollment in the Massage Therapy program requires that the student, with or without reasonable accommodations (see Notes), must be able to:

Critical Thinking
- Integrate information from a variety of sources such as (knowledge content) text books, reference books, palpation, observation, communication (verbal/non-verbal) to guide decision making;
- Evaluate and implement appropriate actions for self-care to prevent injury and burn-out;
- Interpret information from multiple sources (tactile, verbal/ nonverbal communication, knowledge of physiologic effects) while maintaining massage flow;
- Recognize emergency or possible emergency situations and react in a safe and effective manner;
- Perceive signs of client discomfort by palpation, observation and receiver’s verbal/nonverbal response; and
- Determine if massage is indicated, needs modification, is contraindicated, requires clearance from a medical provider, or requires referral (beyond scope of practice).

Communication

Maintain professional verbal/nonverbal communication;
Demonstrate active listening;
Develop rapport;
Understand and to respond appropriately to nonverbal communication; and
Use effective written, verbal and nonverbal communication that is accurate and appropriate to the audience.

Professional Presence

Demonstrate attributes of empathy, compassion, tolerance and respect;
Function autonomously, effectively and ethically in an inti- mate environment;
Align with professional ethics and standards;
Maintain mental focus for uninterrupted, repeated periods of 60–90 minutes; and
Ensure physical/emotional safety of the environment.

Physical

Maintain continuous standing and moving with periods of sitting for 60–90 minutes;
Perform repetitive gross motor movements of arms and legs for 60–90 minutes at a time;
Maintain appropriate body mechanics for 60–90 minutes at a time;
Assist a person on and off a massage table;
Lift a person’s limbs while on a massage table;
Perform repetitive fine motor skills with hands to manipulate tissue; and
Use sensation of touch to accurately respond to tissue changes.

Expected Outcomes

Graduates of this program should be able to:

Demonstrate current academic, clinical and holistic skills necessary for the professional practice of therapeutic or relaxation massage;
Maintain professional, ethical, and client-centered communication and rapport with peers, faculty, clients and other health care professionals;
Integrate college level knowledge of human anatomy, physiology and pathology while organizing safe and effective therapeutic relaxation massages;
Identify various successful business practice strategies for massage therapists; and
Recognize appropriate strategies for self-care and professional lifelong learning.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a certificate in this program, a student must complete all program credits, plus the following Additional Requirements.

Program Courses

AHS-101	Introduction to Complementary Care and Integrative Health	2
AHS-131	Orientation to the Musculoskeletal System	3
AHS-162	Form and Funtion of the Human Body	3
AHS-230	Pathophysiology	3
AHS-115	Fundamentals of Human Disease	3
BIO-150	Introduction to the Human Body	3
MBW-110	Therapeutic Massage I	5
MBW-120	Therapeutic Massage II	4
MBW-130	Therapeutic Massage Practicum	2
MBW-131	Therapeutic Massage Seminar	2
MBW-150	Business Practice for Massage Therapy	2
Total Credit Hours:		29

MBW-130: See footnote 1

Additional Requirements

Minimum Cumulative Average

Overall	2.000
Minimum grade required in each program course	2.000

Suggested Pathway to Graduation

The following is a suggestion for completing this program in one year. The actual time to complete the program may vary according to each student’s individual needs.

First Semester

AHS-101	Introduction to Complementary Care and Integrative Health	2
AHS-131	Orientation to the Musculoskeletal System	3
BIO-150	Introduction to the Human Body	3
MBW-110	Therapeutic Massage I	5
Total Credit Hours:		13

Second Semester

AHS-162	Form and Funtion of the Human Body	3
AHS-115	Fundamentals of Human Disease	3
AHS-230	Pathophysiology	3
MBW-120	Therapeutic Massage II	4
MBW-130	Therapeutic Massage Practicum	2
MBW-131	Therapeutic Massage Seminar	2
MBW-150	Business Practice for Massage Therapy	2
Total Credit Hours:		16

MBW-130: See footnote 1

Footnote

1. Students must complete CPR and First Aid certification prior to enrollment in MBW-130 and maintain certification throughout the clinical.

Notes

Berkshire Community College seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. Therefore, to the extent practicable, the College will endeavor to make a reasonable academic adjustment for an applicant with a disability who is otherwise qualified.

There are specific sensory, motor and psychosocial skills needed to successfully complete the Massage Therapy program. Any student who feels he/she will require accommodations with these skills should contact the coordinator of the Services for Students with Disabilities program.

Massage Therapy students must follow College immunization policy (see Immunizations). Additional immunizations required by the program must be completed prior to MBW-130 and remain current throughout the course.

Individual states vary in the number of course and clinical hours required for licensure. Students are responsible to fully investigate the licensing requirements of any state in which they wish to practice. If further coursework is needed to meet those requirements, students should work with their advisor to plan specific additional coursework.