University of Western States

Salem Campus
4000 Lancaster Dr. NE
Salem, OR 97309

Massage Therapy Program at University of Western States

Your Future is in Strong Hands

University of Western States (UWS) is a private, non-profit, professional school. UWS has been a pioneer in chiropractic education since 1904. In 2005, UWS added a one-year, 768 hour, 47.5 credit, 12 month certificate program in massage therapy.

UWS grants a massage certificate that prepares students for state licensing exams as well as the National Certification Exam.

Federal financial aid including Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans and Parent PLUS are available for those who qualify.

Accreditation

The UWS Massage Therapy Program is the only university based massage program in Oregon. Additionally, UWS is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, which means credits taken at UWS may transfer to other colleges and universities.

Certificate Program in Massage Therapy

The massage courses have been carefully designed by professionals in the health care and massage therapy fields so that students are well-equipped to take their state exams and to become successful licensed massage therapists.

Western States also has a cadaver lab where students can see and appreciate body structures in 3-D making the concepts of kinesiology and the vocabulary of anatomy more memorable and easily understood. The campus library maintains a print collection of over 12,000 volumes, 350 journal titles and extensive audiovisual materials. Our students also have access to the local medical school and research university library and others.

In addition to the sciences, massage theory and practice courses include:

• Swedish relaxation massage
• Deep tissue massage
• Trigger point massage
• Massage for cancer patients
• Medical massage
• Sports/orthopedic/rehabilitation massage
• Survey of specialized massage techniques

These courses are taught by leaders in the field of massage therapy who have years of clinical and teaching experience and have a passion for educating students about the art and science of this growing field. The communications and ethics, business, and professional development courses ensure that you are well prepared to join the workforce whether you choose a health care setting, a fitness center, a spa as a contracted provider, an employee or a business owner.

Opportunities for Hands-On Experience

Hands-on experience is an integral part of the massage curriculum. Students at UWS practice massage skills in a number of supervised hands-on classes and clinic opportunities. In addition to numerous hands-on classes, clinic rotations begin in the second quarter and provide real-world experience. The combination of classroom learning and clinical experiences help students develop the necessary skills and touch to be competent, professional massage therapists.

Outside of class, UWS offers students opportunities to practice their new skills. Through case studies, outreach events and class assignments, students will gain additional experience providing massage in various settings. In the past, UWS students have provided massage services at events such as the AVP volleyball tournaments in Seaside, the Hood to Coast Relay and Doernbecher Children's hospital.

Contact Us Today!

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