Associate of Occupational Studies (Massage Therapies)

Associate of Occupational Studies (Massage Therapies) (AOS)

The purpose of the Associate of Occupational Studies program is to develop the student into an expertly trained body therapist. This program integrates Asian and Western bodywork therapy, where the massage program emphasizes Oriental medicine theory. Some of the areas studied include anatomy, physiology, general pathology, kinesiology, and eastern and western massage.

The Associate of Occupational Studies in Massage Therapies is a 4-semester degree program consisting of 64.5 units/1125 clock hours/1192.5 credit hours 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 Associates of Occupational Studies (Massage Therapies) will be able to:

• Demonstrate ethical behavior in their personal and professional lives.
• Demonstrate a wide and well practices 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 AOS degree program?
The total current tuition and fees for a student completing the program in normal time is $27,460 and the total additional cost for books and supplies is $1,335.

What percentage of graduates complete the program in the normal time frame as published in the catalog?
For students who graduated between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, a total of 26 students completed the program, 2 of them finished in the published normal time frame of 16 months. However, 9 (35%) finished within 20 months and 5 (19%) finished within 24 months. Therefore, 16 out of the 26 students completed the program within 24 months (67%).

How much student loan debt does a typical graduate have to repay after graduation?
Of the number of students completing the AOS program between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, 13 students graduated with student loan debt.

The median loan debt for students who graduated between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011 was $13,858 for public debt (Title IV loans) and $0 for private debt.

What percentage of graduates found employment related to their field of study?
The most recent annual report to our accrediting agency (Fall 2011), the Accrediting Commission of Career Colleges and Schools (ACCSC), shows that 90% of graduates found employment related to their field of study. This sample of graduates included students who started the program in the Spring 2008, Fall 2008, and Winter 2009 semesters. Of 10 graduates available for employment, 9 are employeed in the field. These graduates were tracked using Alumni Department Tracking Forms.