Associate of Applied Science (Massage Therapies)

Associate of Applied Science (Massage Therapies) (AAS)

Our program ties together massage therapy with Oriental medicine theory, giving you the tools to best serve your future clients’ needs with a unique blend of East and West. Your future massage career starts here. 

The purpose of the Associate of Applied Science program is to develop the student into an expertly trained body therapist. Focus is on Oriental medical theory with a comprehensive training in practical massage skills, including tui na, shiatsu, Thai massage, and a variety of Asian bodywork therapies. The wide array of electives allows the student to study specific areas of interest, such as pediatrics, sports massage, or reflexology.

The Associate of Applied Science (Massage Therapies) is a 5-semester degree program consisting of 64.5 units that meets the requirements for national massage certification by the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).

Graduates of the Associate degrees will:

• Demonstrate ethical behavior in their personal and professional lives.
• Demonstrate a wide and well practiced variety of body therapy skills.
• Understand the integration of body, mind and spirit.
• Know and demonstrate essential, hygienic considerations in the performance of massage.
• Know and respect conditions contraindicating massage.
• Demonstrate knowledge of massage, biomedical science and Oriental medicine sufficient to pass the massage exam administered by National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).
• Demonstrate competence in basic business skills related to the practice of massage.

Federal Consumer Disclosure Information About This Program

How can I find out more about this career?
For more information about a career in Massage Therapy, please visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET website. The Standard Occupational Code (SOC) for the career is 31-9011.00 (Massage Therapists) and the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code for this program is 51.3502 (Asian Bodywork Therapy).

What is the total cost of the AAS degree program?
The total current tuition and fees for a student completing the program in normal time is $22,283 and the total additional cost for books and supplies is $988.

What percentage of graduates complete the program in the normal time frame (20 months) as published in the catalog? And, how much student loan debt does a typical graduate have to repay after graduation?
Since the number of students who completed the AAS program between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012 was less than ten (10), the federal government requires that for privacy reasons the following information not be disclosed to the public:

• On-time completion rate
• Median debt amounts (Title IV debt, private educational loan debt, and debt from institutional financing)

What percentage of graduates found employment related to their field of study?
The most recent annual report to our accrediting agency (Fall 2012), the Accrediting Commission of Career Colleges and Schools (ACCSC), shows that 71% of graduates found employment related to their field of study. This sample of graduates included students who began their program in the Winter 2009, Spring 2009, and Fall 2009 semesters. Of 7 graduates available for employment, 5 are employed in the field. These graduates were tracked using Alumni Department Tracking Forms.