Massage Therapy Program

Diploma

As more people learn about the benefits of massage therapy, opportunities for individuals skilled in massage therapy are expected to increase faster than average through the year 2020.* Those seeking the services of a professional massage therapist include spa clientele, athletes, the aging population, and a wide range of individuals seeking relaxation and rejuvenation from the stresses of everyday life.

Designed to prepare you for entry-level positions in the field of massage therapy, our Massage Therapy Diploma program introduces you to the following:

The history of massage therapy
How nutrition and organ structure and function affect massage
Proper massage table technique and basic hygiene procedures
Massage techniques such as deep tissue, neuromuscular massage,
sports massage, and the use of water as a therapeutic tool
Basic business procedures and charting client progress

Our massage therapy program is intended to prepare you with the necessary knowledge and skills to take a New Hampshire state approved written exam, if applicable. †

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are awarded a diploma.

Potential Massage Therapy Career Opportunities

As a graduate of this diploma program, you may seek future entry-level employment opportunities in areas such as:

Massage therapy
Spa management

Massage Therapy Courses and Typical Length of Study

The approximate length of study for this program is 43.5 semester credit hours.

Career Courses		Semester Credit Hours
MSTH111	Introduction to Body Systems	3.00
MSTH116	Introduction to Touch	3.00
MSTH121	Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology – Visceral	3.00
MSTH127	Massage and Energetic Modalities	3.00
MSTH131	Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology – Structural	3.00
MSTH141	Swedish Massage Therapy	3.00
MSTH146	Soft Tissue Release	2.00
MSTH156	Practice Management	3.00
MSTH161	Clinical Practice I	1.50
MSTH166	Sports Massage Therapy	2.00
MSTH171	Kinesiology	3.00
MSTH176	Clinical Practice II	1.50
MSTH181	Self-Care	3.00
MSTH186	Spa/Current Trends	2.00
MSTH191	Clinical Practice III	1.50
MSTH201	Career Capstone	2.00
MSTH211	Advanced Tissue Techniques	3.00
MSTH216	Advanced Clinical Practice	1.00
Total Credit Hours		43.5

Massage Therapy Program Outcomes

The massage therapy diploma program is designed to prepare graduates to meet the following outcomes:

Demonstrate and explain how to perform a full-body massage with focus on specific client conditions using a variety of massage techniques
Demonstrate the ability to take a client health history and develop a plan for treatment
Understand the anatomical systems of the human body and the pathologies that affect them
Write a resume, prepare for interviews, and conduct a professional job search

Click these links to view the Advisory Boards and Board of Trustees.

Read about Hesser College's massage therapy instructors.

For more information, view the Hesser College Catalog.

* Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012–2013 Edition, Massage Therapists, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/massage-therapists.htm (accessed May 2012). Expected national growth rate through the year 2020. National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

† The School cannot guarantee a student's eligibility either to take any exam or become certified, registered, or licensed. A student's eligibility may depend on his or her work experience, completion of high school (or its equivalent), not having a criminal record, meeting other licensure or certification requirements, or the program or School itself having appropriate accreditation or licensure. Externship sites may themselves require a criminal background check or medical examination.

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