Dec 21, 2024  
Catalog 2019-2020 
    
Catalog 2019-2020 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]


Fully Online Program

Massage Therapy



Important Information


Short Description


The Massage Therapy Program at CCBC is a comprehensive and well-established program that has a 19-year history of providing the highest quality education, experience and training for students by developing their core skills, abilities and values in preparation for the national licensure and state jurisprudence examinations required to become a Licensed Massage Therapist in the state of Maryland. The Massage Therapy Program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA), has an exceptionally high passing rate on required licensure testing and job placement, and is recognized as a leader in massage therapy education because of its commitment to excellence.

Type of Credential


Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)

Program Code


S 630

Contacts and Additional Information


Program Director:

Robin B. Anderson, MEd, LMT, BCTMB, CEAS
443-840-1069, randerson2@ccbcmd.edu

Additional Information:

Semester Sequence


This is a suggested schedule for a full-time student or a student in the Fast Track Blended Learning Option (see below for more information)** who has completed any developmental course work and has no transfer credits. Refer to the College catalog for specific requirements in selecting General Education Courses .  Students interested in pursuing the degree as a part-time student should plan for an additional 1 to 2 semesters to complete the program, depending on credit load taken and course offerings.  Students are admitted in other semesters besides the Fall as suggested in the sample schedule.  For more information about applying to the program, please refer to the section on Admission.

Semester 1* - Fall


(Some students may have completed these courses prior to acceptance into the program.)

Semester 2 - Spring


Short Session (Summer)


Semester 3 - Fall


Semester 4 - Spring


Courses Needed for this Program*


Prerequisites - 7 Credits


BIOL 109  also fulfills a General Education requirement.

General Education Requirements and Electives - 15 Credits


Program Requirements and Electives - 38 Credits


Total Credits Required for Degree 60*


Notes


*Credit students who are new to college (no successfully completed transferable college credits from other institutions) are required to take ACDV 101 - Academic Development: Transitioning to College . This 1-credit course is designed to be taken in the first semester at CCBC. Students must provide an official transcript(s) from an accredited institution to document successful completion of college coursework for the ACDV 101 requirement to be waived.

 ** The Fast Track Blended Learning Option allows students who are comfortable with an online learning environment and need some flexibility with course scheduling to complete the degree at a faster pace.  For many of the general education requirements and courses required from other departments, these course offerings may be taken completely online.  Within the Massage Therapy program, courses that are offered in Blended Learning or Online Learning formats will have required completion of course components online through the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS).  When applying to the program, you must indicate that you are interested in pursuing the Fast Track Option, meet all of the required elements of the college for online learning, and complete an online readiness evaluation prior to acceptance.  For more information, contact the Massage Therapy Program Director.  If you do not prefer a Blended Learning option, the Massage Therapy program courses are still offered in fully face-to-face options, with the exception of MASS 223  and MASS 240  , which are fully online for all students in the program.

Students must be admitted into the program through the School of Health Professions Admissions Office to take any other program courses beyond MASS 101 . However, required courses from other departments such as ALHL 115  and MNGT 101  may be taken prior to admission to the program if desired.  For more information, see the School of Health Professions website. 

Program Description


The CCBC Massage Therapy program is a comprehensive educational program that leads to an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Massage Therapy.  The course work covers a vast breadth of knowledge and skills of massage therapy as an allied health profession.  Students develop competencies in therapeutic massage techniques via in-depth study of anatomy and physiology, pathology, and kinesiology. Students are exposed to evidence-based research and practice providing them with a solid foundation for safe, effective assessment and treatment.  Professional communication, self-care, ethics, business development, and applicable laws and regulations are also emphasized and explored.  These curricular components extensively prepare graduates to pass the national Massage and Bodywork Licensure Examination (MBLEx) and the Maryland State jurisprudence exam leading to state licensure and to work effectively in any professional massage therapy practice setting. Beginning in 2018, graduates have the option to earn an additional specialty certificate in Integrative Health from the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). 

The CCBC curriculum is rigorous and challenging; however, the program takes pride in its admirable reputation in the metropolitan region and nationwide for its level of excellence in developing quality massage therapists.

School of Health Professions Policies


Students in the School of Health Professions are expected to conduct themselves according to an honor code; exhibit professional behavior; communicate effectively in English; provide proof of health insurance, immunizations, and a tuberculosis (TB) test; and submit to a criminal background check and drug testing. Students are expected to pay the costs associated with these requirements.

Admission


Applications for all School of Health Professions programs, except Dental Hygiene and Physician Assistant, are processed in a Central Application Service called CCBC CAS. The link to the CAS and the application instructions are located in the program admissions packet at the School of Health Professions website. You will need a CCBC student ID number and a CCBC student account password to complete the application. If you have questions about the CCBC CAS process, contact the School of Health Professions Admissions Office at (443) 840-1989 or read the FAQ selections at the bottom of each page inside the CAS application.

 

Admission to the Massage Therapy program is competitive and selective. Students must submit an online selective admission application through SIMON along with three character references and a short biography stating the reasons for pursuing a Massage Therapy career. In addition, students are required to participate in an interview with program faculty members. 

The Massage Therapy program courses are only offered on the Essex Campus.

Program Outcomes


Upon successful completion of this degree, students will be able to:

  1. utilize knowledge of human anatomy and physiology and musculoskeletal kinesiology in the application of massage therapy;
  2. identify, evaluate, and explain current outcome-based research in massage therapy;
  3. provide a full body massage using a variety of professional therapeutic massage techniques;
  4. recognize client pathologies, health conditions, cautions, and contraindications to massage;
  5. create a therapeutic massage treatment session for each individual using appropriate techniques, goal setting, assessment skills, session planning, and outcome evaluation according to client intake information;
  6. cultivate a therapeutic relationship with clients by maintaining boundaries, providing a supportive and safe environment, and effectively communicating with clients and professionals using appropriate written and verbal skills, including documentation/maintenance of client records;
  7. specify and select viable employment options in the surrounding area including allied health centers, integrative medicine teams, wellness centers, spas and salons, franchise locations, health clubs, and others; and
  8. successfully prepare for and pass the national Massage and Bodywork Licensure Exam (MBLEx) and the Maryland jurisprudence exam to become a Maryland State Licensed Massage Therapist with the ability to work as a professional Massage Therapist in the setting of their choice upon graduation.

Other


Students who have successfully completed college level work at other institutions may be eligible to transfer in any equivalent courses that they have already taken which also meet program requirements and accreditation standards. Details of the CCBC transfer policy are located in the Admissions section of the college catalog. Transfer students must meet with either an Academic Advisor or the Director of the Massage Therapy program to determine possible transfer credit, course waivers, and substitutions.

Mission:


The Massage Therapy Program at CCBC provides the highest quality education for our students.  We successfully educate and prepare our graduates to become exceptionally qualified massage therapists who display advanced skills, professionalism, and quality consumer and patient care and execute core principles of the body of knowledge for the profession.  Our unique and evolutionary course work aims at preparing our students to be allied health care professionals that are able to work in interdisciplinary teams and to become leaders in the community, helping to shape the future of the massage therapy profession.  We strive to earn the distinction as an innovative leader in massage therapy education in the region and nationwide.

Vision:


The CCBC Massage Therapy program will be the program of choice for students desiring to become exceptional licensed massage therapists at an affordable cost and at the highest value.  This is achieved through the expansion of knowledge and learning experiences within the curriculum and development of effective collaborations with industry-related partnerships and other disciplines within the community, including health care environments.

Values:


Learning: We are committed to providing quality instructional design for optimal learning transfer and teaching our students the value of lifelong learning and the pursuit of excellence for all professional endeavors.

Responsibility: We foster understanding and compassion with the knowledge that clients place their trust in our faculty and graduates to ensure that respect, service, cultural competency, knowledge, and professionalism are at the core of all aspects of the program.

Integrity: We uphold and maintain the highest ethical principles in relationships with our faculty, students, graduates, clients, colleagues, and the community we prepare them to serve.

Health and Wellness: We are advocates for our profession and support our role as allied health professionals in our contributions to the overall health and wellness of our clients, but also for ourselves.  We demonstrate its importance to our students through the emphasis of self-care in creating work-life balance.