Associate of Science (Massage Therapy/Asian Bodywork)

Associate of Science (Massage Therapy/Asian Bodywork) (AS)

Begin your massage and Asian Bodywork career with our associate’s degree. 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. 

The Associate of Science schedule is designed to complement and enrich your current lifestyle. Our innovative combination of online and in-class courses allows you to complete some of your coursework from the comfort of your own home, on your own time—in addition to building community with one’s peers and participating in practical training with our expert faculty on campus.

The purpose of the Associate of Science program is to develop the student into an expertly trained body therapist, while providing the general education units required to advance into the bachelor’s or master’s degree program. The massage therapy portion of the program emphasizes Oriental medical theory, tui na, and the development of the student's ability to understand the causes and symptoms of disease. In the bodywork portion of the program, students receive an introduction to the theories of Chinese medicine and specialize in a multitude of Asian bodywork therapies.

The Associate of Science (Massage Therapy/Asian Bodywork) is a five-semester degree program consisting of core massage therapy curriculum and 30 units of General Education to meet the requirements for advancement into the Master’s program. The Associate of Science Program is a total of 64.5 units. Graduates are eligible 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), as well as the requirements for California licensure.

Graduates of the Associate of Science (Massage Therapist/Asian Bodywork) degree will:

• Demonstrate ethical behavior in their personal and professional lives.
• Demonstrate fundamental body therapy skills.
• Know and demonstrate essential, hygienic considerations in the performance of massage.
• Know and respect conditions contraindicating massage.
• Be eligible for the examination administered by National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
• Demonstrate competent and professional communication and human relations skills.
• Possess the knowledge and skill to run their own private practice massage business or become employed by other healthcare practitioners who utilize massage as part of their client treatment.
• Possess skills that may lead to management positions in their industry.
• Possess working knowledge and the ability to utilize information literacy skills to do further research and study.
• Demonstrate a deeper appreciation of the historical/philosophical context in which Oriental Medicine is based.
• Be eligible to apply to the bachelor’s and/or master’s degree at Pacific or other higher education institutions.

The Pacific College Associate of Science (Massage Therapy/Asian Bodywork) program combines PCOM’s standard of excellence in quality education with the convenience of online activities and courses that are fully integrated with on-location hands-on training and clinical rotations. Pacific College offers students one-click access to college resources and support. One click and you are beginning a class. One click and you are receiving  one-on-one attention from distinguished and dedicated faculty members, and an open invitation to on- and off-campus programs and activities that can be tailored to each student’s preferred schedule. Once click and you are starting your new career.

Have questions on how distance education works? Visit our Distance Education Frequently Asked Questions Page.

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 AS degree program?
The total current tuition and fees for a student completing the program in normal time is $19,050 and the total additional cost for books and supplies is $1035 (F11).

What percentage of graduates complete the program in the normal time frame (20 months) as published in the catalog?
The AS program is too new to report on graduates during the time frame between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011.  The first AS cohort began in January, 2011.

How much student loan debt does a typical graduate have to repay after graduation and what is the median loan debt upon graduation?
The AS program is too new to report on student loan debt or median loan debt during the time frame between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. The first AS cohort began in January, 2011.

What percentage of graduates found employment related to their field of study?
The AS program is too new to report the percentage of graduates who found employment related to their field of study.  The first AS cohort began in January, 2011.