Western Career College - Stockton

Massage Therapy

The Massage Therapy degree and certificate programs are designed to prepare the student for entry-level employment as a massage therapist and/or to enter private practice. The technical portion of the program introduces a variety of massage therapy techniques to facilitate the graduate's ability to address specific problem areas and concerns presented by the client. Techniques include Swedish Massage, Myofascial Release, Trigger Point Therapy, Shiatsu, Sports Massage, Hydrotherapy, and site-specific treatment techniques. Anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, pathology, interpersonal communication skills, and clinic experience are incorporated to provide an integrated approach to learning the needed skills for competency in a professional massage practice. Business, marketing, advertising, and presentation skills as well as professional boundaries and ethics also are covered. Employment opportunities include positions in massage offices and private practice, physicians' offices, hospitals and medical centers, chiropractic offices, nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, health clubs and fitness centers, spas and resorts, hotels, cruise ships, beauty and hair salons, pain management centers, and sports team facilities.

Program Objectives

1. To prepare students to enter the work force as entry-level massage therapists.
2. To prepare students to use the principles and techniques of massage to assess and appropriately treat disorders of the human body which may benefit from massage.
3. To provide students with adequate information, demonstration, and practice to perform massage procedures competently and safely.
4. To provide students with the necessary information and knowledge to understand the business, marketing, budgeting, insurance, advertising, ethical, and legal principles, issues, and concerns of the profession.
5. To enable students to communicate effectively with clients, other health care providers, and the community at large as to the benefits and advisability of massage.
6. To provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to open and manage a private practice.

If you are interested in any of our programs and would like to find out more, please Request Information.