Program Components: Massage Therapy Education

Core 1

Massage 1 (52 hours):
Foundations of Touch (48 hours)
Practical exploration of touch; lecture and practice in the fundamental concepts of touch therapies including the use of touch to assess, calm, and invigorate. Also stresses correct body mechanics for massage therapist health and longevity.

Seated Massage (4 hours)
Explanation, demonstration and practice in seated massage basics including set up, adjustment, use, care, maintenance and packing equipment.

Anatomy and Physiology I (80 hours)
Anatomy and Physiology 1 (48 hours)
Beginning anatomy and physiology including chemistry of the body, cells, connective tissue, and the integumentary, skeletal and muscular systems. Inlcudes Universal Precautions.

Osteology and Myology (16 hours)
Nomenclature, structure and function of the skeletal system and structure and function of the muscular system, origins and insertions.

Pathology 1 (16 hours)
Pathology of body systems covered in Anatomy and Physiology 1 class, including integumentary, skeletal, and muscular systems.

Business 1 (28 hours):
Clinical Charting (12 hours)
Lecture and practice in the fundamentals of clinical charting including writing SOAP notes, client interviewing, and assessment skills for a successful massage therapy practice.

Communication and Ethics (16 hours)
Discussion style exploration of professional ethics for the Massage Therapist. Lecture, discussion and practice in communication fundamentals and setting business and life goals.

Self Practices 1 (32 hours):
Touchstone (16 hours)
An interactive exploration of challenges, change, and barriers to success.

Yoga, Stretching, Meditation, Movement (16 hours)

Ancilliary (4 hours):
Tutorial 1 (2 hours)
Students are required to give a massage/bodywork treatment to an instructor and receive constructive feedback to assist in the refinement of skills.

Professional Massage Experience 1 (2 hours)
Students are required to receive a massage or bodywork session from a licensed massage therapist and complete a report on the experience.

Total hours: 196 Cumulative: 196 hours

Core 2

Massage 2 (64 hours):
Deep Tissue and Trigger Point Techniques (48 hours)
Explanation, demonstration and practice in deep tissue techniques, integrating an introduction to the energy meridians, including definitions and history, theory and affects, contraindications, principles of techniques, and assessment and treatment using deep tissue and trigger point techniques. Correct body mechanics will be stressed.

Deep Tissue Clinic (16 hours)
Supervised practice of acquired techniques on the public including intake, assessment, treatment, and charting. Includes 6 hours of Community Outreach.

Business 2 (16 hours):
Practice Management and Massage Law (16 hours)
Practice management fundamentals including basic bookkeeping, legal structures, taxes, licenses, permits, insurance needs, development of practice policies and procedures, and insurance billing. Discussion and quizzes covering Missouri Law as it pertains to Massage Therapy Licensure and Practice, and Massage Therapy Businesses.

Anatomy and Physiology 2 (80 hours)
Anatomy and Physiology 2 (48 hours)
Anatomy and physiology of body systems including Digestive, Neurological, Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, Urinary, Reproductive, and Endocrine systems.

Pathology 2 (16 hours)
Pathology of body systems covered in Anatomy and Physiology 2 class including Digestive, Neurological, Respiratory, Cardiovascular and Lymphatic systems.

Kinesiology 1 (16 hours)
Beginning studies of the anatomy of movement.

Self Practices 3 (32 hours):
Touchstone (16 hours)
An interactive exploration of challenges, change, and barriers to success.

Yoga, Stretching, Meditation, Movement (16 hours)

Ancilliary (4 hours):
Tutorial 3 (2 hours)
Students are required to give a massage/bodywork treatment to an instructor and receive constructive feedback to assist in the refinement of skills.

Professional Massage Experience 3 (2 hours)
Students are required to receive a massage or bodywork session from a licensed massage therapist and complete a report on the experience.

Total hours: 196 Cumulative: 392 hours

Core 3

Massage 3 (128 hours):
Myofascial and Somatic Techniques (48 hours)
Lecture, demonstration and practice of a variety of myofascial treatment techniques with a somatic emphasis, including definition and history, theory and affects, contraindications, anatomy of the fascia system, principles of techniques, and the assessment and treatment of fascial restrictions using myofascial mobilization and release techniques. Passive Range of Motion, trigger points and pain patterns will be included.

Myofascial and Somatic Techniques Clinic (16 hours)
Supervised practice of acquired techniques on the public including intake, assessment, treatment, and charting. Includes 3 hours of Community Outreach.

Introduction to Asian Bodywork Therapy (48 hours)
A basic introduction to Asian Bodywork therapy principles and techniques including Zen Shiatsu, Amma and Jin Shin Do. Includes the concepts of Qi, Five Element theory, Shen and Ko cycle, the Chinese body clock model, the Four Pillars of Assessment, and the primary acupoints.

Asian Bodywork Clinic (16 hours)
Supervised practice of acquired techniques on the public including intake, assessment, treatment, and charting. Includes 3 hours of Community Outreach.

Anatomy and Physiology 3 (24 hours):
Pathology 3 (8 hours)
Pathology of body systems covered in Anatomy and Physiology 2 class including Urinary, Reproductive, and Endocrine systems.

Kinesiology 2 (16 hours)
Advanced studies of the anatomy of movement.

Business 3 (16 hours):
Marketing a Massage Practice (16 hours)
Lecture and practical application in fee setting, developing a marketing plan, and utilizing marketing tools including promotional activities, advertising, publicity and public relations.

Self Practices 1 (24 hours):
Touchstone (16 hours)
An interactive exploration of challenges, change, and barriers to success.

Meditation (8 hours)

Ancilliary (4 hours):
Tutorial 3 (2 hours)
Students are required to give a massage/bodywork treatment to an instructor and receive constructive feedback to assist in the refinement of skills.

Professional Massage Experience (2 hours)
Students are required to receive a massage or bodywork session from a licensed massage therapist and complete a report on the experience.

Total hours: 196 Cumulative: 588 hours

Core 4

Massage 4 (92 hours)
Swedish Massage (48 hours)
Lecture and practice in the principles of Swedish Massage including definition and history, theory and affects, contraindications, principles of techniques and practice using effleurage, petrissage, friction, and tapotement. Includes techniques for stretching as well as treatment of specific complaints.

Swedish Massage Clinic (12 hours)
Supervised practice of acquired techniques on the public including intake, assessment, treatment, and charting.

Special Populations: Pre-natal massage (16 hours)
Treatment of special populations including prenatal massage, massage for the elderly, and other special applications such as working with other-abled populations (physically challenged, visually impaired, etc.).

Special Populations: Massage for the Elderly/Disabled (16 hours)
Treatment of special populations including prenatal massage, massage for the elderly, and other special applications such as working with other-abled populations (physically challenged, visually impaired, etc.).

Ancillary (72 hours):
Energy Play: Developing An Awareness (64 hours)
Exercises and practice in developing energy awareness, intuition, scanning and sensing skills, grounding and centering. Useful for all massage therapists and vital for those interested in a somatic practice. Includes Reiki 1 and 2 attunements and Reflexology.

CPR, First Aid and Universal Precautions (4 hours)
Certification in CPR and First Aid, and instruction in Universal Precautions.

Tutorial 4 (2 hours)
Students are required to give a massage/bodywork treatment to an instructor and receive constructive feedback to assist in the refinement of skills.

Professional Massage Experience 4 (2 hours)
Students are required to receive a massage or bodywork session from a licensed massage therapist and complete a report on the experience.

Self Practices 4 (32 hours):
Touchstone (16 hours)
An interactive exploration of challenges, change, and barriers to success.

Yoga, Stretching, Meditation, Movement (16 hours)

Total hours: 196 Cumulative: 784 hours

MTE Additional Credit Hours
Students wishing to graduate with the MTE Certificate must complete Core 1-Core 4 and the following requirements, to be completed outside of the regularly scheduled program:

Introduction to National Certification Examination Preparation (12 hours)
Students will be introduced to exam preparation techniques.

Presentations (4 hours)
Students will present either an outreach project or their business plan.

Total hours: 16 Cumulative: 800 hours

MTE Advanced Requirements: Core 5 Intensive

Intensive Study (96 hours)
Students choose one of the following options:

• Asian Bodyworker
• Rehabilitative/Clinical Massage
• Spa Massage Therapist
• Energy and Somatic Practitioner

Clinical Practice (48 hours):
Supervised practice of acquired techniques on the public including intake, assessment, treatment, and charting.

Self Practices (32 hours):
Touchstone (16 hours)
An interactive exploration of challenges, change, and barriers to success.

Yoga, Stretching, Meditation, Movement (16 hours)

Exam Study Group (24 hours):
Intensive preparation for the National Certification Examination, required for licensure.

Total: 200 hours Cumulative: 1000 hours