NOTE:

For Gainful Employment disclosure information on this program follow this link: http://www.berkshirecc.edu/GainfulEmploymentDisclosure

Program Advisor: Judith Gawron, 413-236-4604.

The Massage Therapy & Bodywork (MBW) certificate program prepares students to become Massachusetts State Licensed Massage Therapists with the skills and knowledge to provide effective relaxation and wellness massage. Graduates are prepared to enter the healthcare field in various settings, including private practice.

Admission Requirements

Students must submit an application and a Massage Therapy Bodywork Certificate Matriculation Form (click on the link for a printable form).  

Potential students who have met all admission requirements are accepted into the program on a space available basis at any time.

Applicants who do not initially meet the requirements may take courses to become eligible by enrolling in BCC's Liberal Arts Pre-Bodywork & Massage program.

The sequence of courses begins in the fall semester. Admission requirements include:  

• Documentation of high school graduation or GED;
• Completion of ENG 020 and ENG 060, if applicable;
• Completion of high school college prep Biology within the past five years, or a "C" or better in College Biology (BIO 105 or 101);
• Documentation that the student has received one type of bodywork within the last two years.

Expected Outcomes

Graduates of this program should be able to:

• Demonstrate current academic, clinical and holistic skills necessary for the professional practice of therapeutic relaxation massage;
• Maintain professional, ethical, and client-centered com­munication with peers, faculty, clients, and other health care professionals;
• Integrate college level knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, and pathology while organizing safe and effective therapeutic relaxation massages;
• Identify various successful business practice strategies for massage therapists;
• Recognize appropriate strategies for self-care and professional lifelong learning; and
• Apply current research to organizing and implementing therapeutic relaxation massage.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a certificate in this program, a student must complete all program
credits and the additional requirements shown below.

Program		29 Credits
AHS 101	Intro to Complementary Care & Alternate Med	2
AHS 131	Orientation to Musculoskeletal System	2
AHS 162	Applied Visceral Anatomy	2
AHS 230	Pathophysiology	3
BIO 150	Intro to the Human Body	4
COM 104  ENG 101	Intro to Interpersonal Communication                           OR Composition I	3
MBW 110	Therapeutic Massage I	5
MBW 120	Therapeutic Massage II	4
MBW 130	Therapeutic Massage Practicum (see footnote 1)	2
MBW 131	Therapeutic Massage Seminar	1
MBW 150	Bus. Practice for Massage Therapy & Bodywork	1

Additional As Shown 

Minimum Cumulative Average Overall	2.000
Minimum Grade Required in Each Program Course	2.000

Suggested block for program completion

The following is a suggestion for completing this program in one year. The actual time to complete the program may vary according to each student's individual needs.

First Semester			15 Credits
AHS 101		Intro to Complementary Care (online).	2
AHS 131		Orientation to Musculoskeletal System	2
AHS 162		Applied Visceral Anatomy	2
BIO 150		Intro to the Human Body	4
MBW 110		Therapeutic Massage I	5
Second Semester			14 Credits
AHS 230	Pathophysiology		3
COM 104  ENG 101	Intro to Interpersonal Communication                       OR Composition I		3
MBW 120	Therapeutic Massage II		4
MBW 130	Therapeutic Massage Practicum (see footnote 1)		2
MBW 131	Therapeutic Massage Seminar		1
MBW 150	Bus. Practice for Massage Therapy (online).		1

Footnotes

1. Students must complete CPR and First Aid certification prior to enrollment in MBW 130 and maintain certification throughout the program. See also note below about immunization.

NOTE: MBW students must be immunized (or be in process) by October 1st of the academic year they are enrolled in the program (immunizations must remain current throughout MBW 130).

NOTE: Individual states vary in the number of course and clinical hours required for licensure. It is the students' responsibility to fully investigate the licensing requirements of any state in which
 they wish to practice. If further coursework is needed to meet those requirements, students should work with their advisor to plan specific additional coursework.

NOTE: Any prior criminal offense could hinder placement in clinical agencies and the ability to become licensed in this field.
See Criminal Offender Record Information Checks for details.